Hysterectomy planning

Hi Tracy,

I kind of know that feeling as while I am still in early Chemo I too have been told Tamoxifen will be the lond term treatmwnt and both my maternal grandmother and my mum have had uterine cancer and radical hyhysterevtomies.

I did speak to my gyno about it who did assure me uterine cancer is one of those they are certain has no herredatory/genetic component but having 2 immediate family members that have had it it is too close for comfort and he understood my concerns.

He suggested that once I am done with Chemo and Radiation we have another chat regarding my options as he seems to think there are alternatives to tamoxifen. He is very closely involved in BC treatmwnt as he is on the BC panel in one of major Sydney hospitals and knows that I am not that keen on surgery as general aneasthetoc is a highly risky for me so I have never had it.

Both my lumpectomy and 4 years ago removal of an ovary were done with local and nerve block and I cannot have keyhole surgeries so hystorectomy would be problematic for me as may not be possible to do with just a nerve block.

He is ademant that post Chemo Inam goinf to be thrown into menopause (or that maybe there is a way to push me into it without thensurgery) in case I would not require Tamoxifen but some other meds.

I am not sure if it is worthwhile chatting with your gyur to see if there are other options than just hystorectomy.

If nor and you are definitely going with hystorectomy one thing I would very highly reccomend based on mum's experience is to ensure that your bladder is lifted during surgery and secured to the tummy wall and to get that done properly best to have a renal surgeon there too.

In mum's case gyno surgeon did that him self and buggered it up which resulted in severe problems for months. 2nd surgery to correct it and very troublesome and long recovery. 

I guess having seen her complications combined with my own preexisting conditions I am probably goinf to research all options before deciding to go down the path of a hystorectomn but if you are having it done just make sure you cover all the bbasi.

Also it really is a major surgery and unless they have a way to do it these days as a keyhole type procedure do plan to be completely out of action for 6 weeks and it will take full 3 months to recover properly. I remember being told that by the surgeon before I had my ovary out but I brushed it off. It is true though. Once they slice through those tummy muscles you really are out of action that long in which case you really need a good support mechanisam at home to cope.

All the best either way

Jel.