Living with Endometrial Cancer

I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer one year ago. The previous fall I had had a thyroidectomy and found I had thyroid cancer, which was a big shock. I was treated with radioactive iodine, and just couldn’t seem to recover. I was always exhausted, although my TSH was at the level the doctor wished it to be. I had some vaginal bleeding after that surgery, so my doctor recommended seeing a gynocologist about it, but with all these other things going on it took until last May. She did a biopsy, and we both got a big surprise. At the end of June I had a radical hysterectomy and some lymph nodes were removed as well. After the surgery the incision didn’t want to heal, it was ultimately infected and I was on a wound VAC all summer with a huge open wound on my abdomen.

Finally in September I got to have that removed, and just as I thought things were improving I noticed some spotting, and pain with intercourse. The cancer had recurred; it was still considered stage I as it hadn’t been detected outside the uterus at the time of my surgery, although it was close to penetrating the wall of the uterus. I had external and internal radiation, and received some really painful radiation burns. Perhaps it was the location of the cancer; it was near the urethra. I still have burning when I urinate, although it is finally improving. The wound on my abdomen, which was only 1 cm. long when the radiation began, opened up to 6 cm. and was pretty messed up for a while. Last week it closed up finally, although some chafing has opened it a little again. The light at the end of the tunnel again, and I am at this moment waiting biopsy results from my last checkup.

I am a music minister at my churh, and I have made it a priority to keep working. I tell people over and over that in the darkest night, God is always present to us all, whether we can perceive him or not. My husband of 37 years has had to deal with all of this, and he is my pillar of strength. We certainly realize more than ever how important we are to each other, and how precious our family is. Tears come often; there has been a lot of pain with my treatment, and I feel like a little girl who is being hurt for no reason, very helpless. I am so glad spring is here and I can go out and work (a little) in my yard, and feel the healing sun on my face.