Coping with Women's Cancers
Still Life: Basket of Peaches by Raphaelle, Peale, 1816 Display Peach for Uterine Cancer Yesterday, June 14, 2016, I saw my regular gynecologist at the 30-month mark post-hysterectomy for uterine (endometrial) cancer. I thought the “no-Pap policy” discussion had been lain to rest . . . but not quite. You Can Say Anything If You Smile Since… Continue reading My Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer Story: Two-and-a-Half-Year Checkup–Pap or No Pap?
Image: Micrograph of a Pap Stain Update: As noted in the March 5, 2015 post, since my hysterectomy for uterine cancer (endometrial adenocarcinoma) on December 13, 2013,* I have had five Pap tests, all but one of which were normal. It was that pesky first test done last summer because of ongoing vaginal discharge, which… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: Pap-Free at Last
“Enchanting” - Peach flower on teal background—the colors of gynecologic cancers Two weeks is long enough to wait for lab results—in fact, it’s too long. When I saw my regular gynecologist on February 18, the first time since my hysterectomy, we discussed my ongoing vaginal discharge. He took cultures for bacteria and yeast and did yet another… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: Positively Peachy
On Valentine’s Day 2014, I finished my vaginal radiation treatments (brachytherapy) for uterine cancer. My total robotic hysterectomy was performed on December 13, 2013—which turned out to be a lucky Friday. Although my endometrial adenocarcinoma was stage 1b, grade 3 (stage 1a, grade 1 would have been better), all lymph nodes and peritoneal fluids were negative for cancer… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: Post-Valentine Anniversary
eleven is peachy . . . Today I had my 11-month post-hysterectomy visit (my surgery was December 13, 2013). My checkup regularity was thrown off by an abnormal Pap test this summer. Fortunately, it was followed by a normal Pap test—and also by a normal vaginal biopsy, taken during a colposcopy. Doing due diligence, my… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: 11-Month Checkup on 11/11 . . . and Another Pap
A beautiful bowl of summer cherries . . . Yesterday, as I was preparing to leave the house to visit my friend Pat R. for lunch, I saw that I had missed a call on my cell phone while I was upstairs getting ready. An assistant from my gynecologic oncologist’s office had called, something that… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: A Surprise Bowl of Summer Cherries
Yesterday began another two-week waiting period for more Pap results. In the July 22, 2014 post, I described the results of the uncomfortable colposcopy and biopsy I had earlier in the month (reported on July 10). I returned to the doctor's office yesterday for what I thought would be a routine Pap test. However, after the doctor… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: Second Colposcopy and Repeat Pap
Photo Copyright 2003, Nelson Soucasaux In the July 10, 2014 post, I explained why I underwent a colposcopy and biopsy on July 9. It took two weeks minus one day to get the results, which I received by way of a phone call from an assistant in the doctor's office at noon today. I don’t know why it… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: Biopsy & Re-reviewed Pap Results
As I reported in the July 2, 2014 post, my gynecologic oncologist (surgeon) performed a Pap (Papanicolaou) test during my six-month post-hysterectomy pelvic exam on June 19. The results showed “Epithelial Cell Abnormality; Atypical Glandular Cells of Undetermined Significance (AGUS).” This was unwelcome news. So, yesterday I had a colposcopy (from the Greek word kolpos, referring to the vagina and/or womb, + -scopy, examination with a… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: Post-Colposcopy Report
As I reported in the June 20, 2014 post, my gynecologic oncologist (surgeon) performed my six-month post-hysterectomy pelvic exam on June 19 and said that all looked well. However . . . because I told him that I'd been having a light, clear discharge since undergoing vaginal radiation (brachytherapy) in January and February, he took a… Continue reading My Story – Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: Pap Smear Uncertainty
The Patient Path 