Surgerys 4th week recovery

[Nanc257]

Hi Angels,  I have been sick and a lot of pain.  Finally the last 2 days a breck and I am able to get around and do some things. I now consider myself on the road to recovery.  On the 20th I return for test before Chemo is started and then on the 23 a course in Chemo.  Then I guess I go back and Chemo is then started.  I am so depressed and I am so frightened.  I am thinking of the effects of the chemo and of course where else is the dirty little alien trying to set up housekeeping?  The cancer was a stage 1, grade 3, adenocarcinoma.  Its so hard to deal with this. :(

The  Surgical Pathology Report reads as follows:  I consider this is a mixed endometrioid and serous andenocarcinoma grade 2/3 arising on the background of an adenofibroma.  I think the endometriod component dominates.  I think this is analogous to what has been described in the endometrium recently, namely a tumor that is endometrioid in the background but is transforming over to serious carcinoma. It is obviously good that the tumor is stage 1 although I'm not surprised as cancers arising in adenofibroma are more often stage 1 then others.

Have another report as well.  They sent the tumor to Harvard for a second opinion, but do not have this one to share at this time but will get a copy.

Also if some do not know, you can go to your local Cancer Society and they will help you with gas expenses  for treatment and help you with the purchase of a wig. Love to you all.

[shewrites]

I'm also a stage 1, and I insisted on attending an important annual convention which was scheduled six weeks after my surgery, BEFORE I got my port or started chemo.  The  doctor agreed that it wouldn't hurt me to wait a couple extra weeks.  It certainly made me a better patient to have my treatment "customized."  

So don't hesitate to insist on healing from the surgery before you start the chemo.  

That said, your doctor should prescribe a combination of anti-nausea and other meds to help you during chemo and the first few days after.  I did well on the doctor's standard combo, but I've learned on this forum that there are lots of alternatives, so make sure the doctor and nurses know how you feel and what you need.  Pay attention to this forum for guidance on laxatives.  I didn't know what to do for the constipation and so I suffered about the 5th day after my chemo each month.  But that was my only bad day, and I arranged it so it would be a Saturday.  Not sick, just "bound up" on day five.  

Good luck.  You can do this.

[worldtraveler23]

Hi Nancy,

I am a 1c, diagnosed in early Dec. I did not rfeel like I was really recovering from the surgery until the end of Feb. I think it takes a while to physically heal.

I was very scared also as I had lost my husband 11 months prior to my diagnosis and I had to go through it basicially alone. I did not know how I was going to do it. I had alot of depression both due to my husband's death and then being hit with the diagnosis. I am here to tell you, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

My gyn-onc gave me a combination of anti-nausea drugs which worked for me and I never had any nausea or vomiting and in fact ate my fill during treatment - donuts, steak (got to have that protein!), pizza and more! Everyone is different, but I just wanted you to know that not everyone becomes nauseated from the treatments.

I bought my wig before treatement started and started wearing it before I had hair loss as I work and just felt it would get everyone used to seeing me with a new look before treatment. I had alot of positive reaction to my wig.  

Finally, I want to tell you that I had my post-treatment appointment with my gyn-onc just recently and everything is normal, my CT and PET scans were clear, and I am ready to enjoy life!.

Take each day a step at a time....... you will get through this.

Mary

[jane65]

Hi Nanc,
I'm glad that you're feeling better now, and on the road to recovery.
I'm sure you know that being stage 1 means the cancer was found early, and that's so lucky for you. My cancer was staged 4B and had spread to the lymph nodes by the time it was discovered. Take a deep breath and thank G-d that yours was found early.

You're facing chemo soon and you must think of it as killing off the dirty little aliens, I used to think of chemo as little blue soldiers with guns, patroling my body shooting all the little ugly, yellow globs of cancer cells. What ever floats your boat!

Are you having carbo/taxol or another chemo? I'm curious, what kind of a test are you having on the 20th? Two years ago I met with my medical oncologist,who discussed chemo with me. Then at the hospital I had my surgery, I had a port installed in the upper right part of my chest, and then started chemo when that had healed.

I understand that you're depressed, no one plans this for their life, I go between being depressed, and being angry at the situation. There's nothing we can do to change things, this is the hand we've been dealt, and we have to deal with it.
Be strong, and be ready for a battle, you know you have the support you need here.
Jane