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Cancer

Find advice & support if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer

Thought it was peri, now diagnosed with endometrial cancer

82 replies

Tarkan · 01/05/2026 13:06

Hi all, it’s taken me a little bit of time to get the courage up to post here. I ramble a lot so will try to stop this becoming too long while sharing my story so far.

Back in December I went to my GP thinking I was hitting perimenopause. I honestly only went because I was going through the craziest mood swings and paranoia and I was pushing DH and my friends away. My periods had also changed and I was flooding badly every few weeks with lots of lighter bleeding in between so GP suspected fibroids and referred me for a scan for that while putting me on HRT.

Mid-February was that scan, both a vaginal and external ultrasound. Results from that showed an enlarged womb so GP told me to immediately stop the HRT in case it was “something untoward” (her exact quote).

After that it’s felt like a whirlwind. I was so petrified of it being cancer but felt I didn’t have anyone other than DH and one friend to talk to (my two other closest friends both recently lost close family members to cancer and one told me to stop talking about the possibility as it was triggering for her).

Hysteroscopy was in March. I had multiple polyps removed, biopsies taken (which I had been told they were going to do anyway “just in case”) and a Mirena inserted. Afterwards DH and I were taken to a private room and told my endometrium had looked abnormal so they’d try to get the biopsy results ASAP for me and just over a week later I got the phone call to say Grade 1 endometrial cancer.

All the previous appointments were at different hospitals in our area so on Monday just gone I got to meet the team I’ll be under.

The next step is an MRI which is booked in for the 12th and after that I have the choice of a hysterectomy or because my BMI is high which makes the surgery riskier, as long as the MRI doesn’t show it anywhere else I can choose to wait for a year or two while working on my weight loss and having biopsies every 4 months.

At the moment I think I’m going to go towards the surgery anyway. Despite the Mirena I’m still bleeding every day although thankfully much lighter than it was and what I didn’t get to tell the doctor was that I’ve been trying to lose weight for years and in that time I’ve only lost a stone. My main issue there is really that I’ll do well losing weight but because I have fibromyalgia I’ll end up having a really bad flare up or my back will seize up (had back issues since my teens) and end up just surviving on the unhealthier food then. A lot of my calories previously were from fizzy drinks and alcohol as well so trying to work on cutting them out (not easy when I can’t have artificial sweeteners and one of my hobbies involves being in a pub but I have a plan in place for that now).

I know this has ended up being super long but that’s pretty much everything so far. Oh and I have always had health anxiety so that’s spiralling like crazy right now as I’m sure you can imagine.

OP posts:
CalliopeFosterBeauchamp · 02/06/2026 05:44

Hi OP,

i wanted to wish you the very best with the op today. No experience of cancer but I had severe endo for 30 years that involved 8(?) operations (honestly, I lost track!), culminating in a full hysterectomy.

My tips:

  1. Trust your surgeon. This is huge and scary for you- but for them it’s a normal Tuesday. They’ve done this thousands of times and they absolutely know what they’re doing x
  2. There won’t be any pain you can’t handle. You can always ask for more drugs - they don’t want you to be in pain
  3. Hospitals are HOT! Get your DH to bring in a fan (the old fashioned kind you wave rather than a noisy battery-operated one). Also get him to buy one or two of these (they’re in boots and supermarkets next to suntan lotion): https://www.superdrug.com/make-up/face/face-cooling-mist-sprays/evian-facial-spray-150ml/p/397702
  4. Get him to bring you light nutritious snacks: fruit, dried fruit, nuts - things like that. You want to drink as much water as possible, and eat lots of fibre
  5. Take earplugs!!
  6. After the op, they will get you up and walking asap. This gets everything moving again - bladder, bowels, digestion, and gets the blood pumping. When you’re walking around afterwards, hold a pillow against your abdomen to support it and your back.
  7. Anaesthetic and painkillers are depressants. Your mood may be low and you might feel weepy: this is totally normal and won’t last. If it goes on for more than two weeks, speak to a doctor
  8. While you’re waiting to go down to surgery is the worst part. Use the time to talk to other women who are also waiting, or make lists on your phone - a shopping list for your DH or a list of stuff you want to watch or read while you’re recovering.

You’re going to be absolutely fine. Take all the drugs they offer, and tell the nurses if you’re in pain or feel unwell. They want you to feel well and they want to help you recover.

You can do this x Flowers

suggestionswelcomed · 02/06/2026 05:46

All the best for your surgery OP.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 02/06/2026 05:47

Wishing you all the best today OP Flowers

Tarkan · 02/06/2026 05:50

Thanks all. You all help so much more than you realise. 🥰

DH is now looking after me which has helped to calm me down a lot too. Everyone else is still sleeping but the dog knows something is wrong. He’s one reason I didn’t get much sleep, DC left him in the hallway and I was woken by him having little doggy nightmares as he was barking and howling away. He’s a rescue and definitely “my” dog. He’s been attached to me recently and he’s really sensitive to my moods so he’s been very clingy with me in these last few weeks. I’m definitely going to miss his cuddles while I’m in hospital.

Anyway that’s us about to leave. Hopefully my next update will be when I know the surgery time. I hope it’s not going to be too long as I’m already hungry since I’ve been awake for so long. DH was even going to make me breakfast until he remembered I couldn’t have anything. 🤣

OP posts:
2021x · 02/06/2026 06:13

Oh love that’s a shocker x

JustMyView13 · 02/06/2026 06:16

Tarkan · 04/05/2026 22:40

The doctor did say if I waited then they might help but honestly we can’t afford it and I don’t actually eat very much usually so I don’t know if they’d do anything for me anyway.

DH has been taking a lot of time off work to be with me and I’ve been a carer for my youngest who is now 18 so their CDP has stopped and we didn’t get their ADP application in on time so even basic expenses are tight for us for now so something like that is definitely bottom of the list for now.

Did they tell you that you’d need to obtain GLP1 privately if that was something you wanted to explore?

Chimchar · 02/06/2026 06:58

Wishing you the very best of luck for today. I hope all goes well for you. Xx

Tarkan · 02/06/2026 08:52

Thanks again everyone. In the SAU now, I’m second on the list for today and the woman before me has just been taken in. I have to say the way this is run is absolutely amazing. The staff are all so lovely and they’ve done an amazing job at curbing my anxiety so far. My surgeon is lovely and I know I’m in the best possible hands with her, the anaesthetist and the rest of the team I’ve met.

OP posts:
Villanousvillans · 02/06/2026 08:56

All the very best for today. You’ll be very well looked after. I found the theatre staff completely amazing when I had my operation. 🌺

Whosthetabbynow · 02/06/2026 09:25

Good luck xx

P00hsticks · 02/06/2026 09:45

Thinking of you and wishing you well

NugsNotDrugs · 02/06/2026 09:47

Good luck for today xxx

Tarkan · 02/06/2026 19:54

All went well. No complications. Huge amount of pain now despite morphine so just resting when I can. Doctor actually said I could go home today if I wanted but they’ve decided keeping me in overnight is better.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 02/06/2026 19:56

Excellent news! Have you told the nurses you have pain? You get no medals for not mentioning it...

Have you started to drink, and eat?

Tarkan · 02/06/2026 21:13

Yeah I’m letting them know whenever I need something.

I got some toast when I got back to the ward but I struggled to eat more than a slice of it. Then for dinner I had fish Mornay with mashed potato and peas. I didn’t eat much of that either just because I do struggle to eat a lot at a time when I’m sore. They’ve offered me more toast but again I’m not too hungry. DH got me some Percy Pigs so I’ve got those if I just need something little. Just drinking water when I’m awake but I’ve been sleeping tons too.

It’s actually a really lovely quiet ward I’m on. The woman opposite me went home and another bed is empty so it’s just one other person here and they’ve been sleeping a lot too.

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 02/06/2026 21:35

Wishing you well lovely - xx the first 24 hours can be incredibly uncomfortable after a lot of OPs and abdominal ones often result in a lot of trapped air which kind of makes it even more uncomfortable - but it usually is a lot easier after the first 3 or 4 days

suggestionswelcomed · 02/06/2026 21:35

I'm glad you're through it and resting OP. Hopefully this is the worst of it for you almost over.

Pistachiocake · 02/06/2026 21:39

Tarkan · 04/05/2026 22:40

The doctor did say if I waited then they might help but honestly we can’t afford it and I don’t actually eat very much usually so I don’t know if they’d do anything for me anyway.

DH has been taking a lot of time off work to be with me and I’ve been a carer for my youngest who is now 18 so their CDP has stopped and we didn’t get their ADP application in on time so even basic expenses are tight for us for now so something like that is definitely bottom of the list for now.

I'm so sorry. Why can't they give them to you on the NHS, if they're medically ok for you? I realise you might not hit the normal criteria, but in your situation why won't they make an exception (again, if medically recommended)?
I am glad your doctor checked and didn't just go down the if it's a midlife woman it's peri route.

mechanicalpencil · 02/06/2026 22:06

Sending strength x

P00hsticks · 03/06/2026 09:51

Glad to hear all went well - sorry that you are in pain but fingers crossed it will ease off over the next few days. You've had major abdominal surgery, so it will take several months to fully recover - I was told that I wasn't to lift anything heavier than a kettle with one cup of water in it for six weeks.

Let DH and other relatives look after you and carry your load as you gradually recover

Wishing you all the best and keep us updated on how you are getting on. fingers crossed the surgery will have removed all the cancer and you won't need any follow up treatment.

Tarkan · 03/06/2026 16:25

That’s me home (well at my parents’ house now).

Thanks for all the well wishes. I have read them all but partly while still full of morphine so I will go back and read everything properly later to make sure I’ve thanked everyone.

Still in a little pain but it’s mostly just gassy cramps and my chronic back pain I’ve had for months and months has mostly gone. It’s such a relief and I don’t think it’s just the painkillers as I’m just on cocodamol again now which is what I took every day before and it didn’t touch the back pain then so I will see if it comes back or if it really was my womb causing that.

DH has been absolutely amazing at looking after me. He’s having a well deserved snooze now as he’s been so worried I think I’ve slept more than him over the last couple of days.

OP posts:
Janie934 · 04/06/2026 08:54

@Tarkan I'm pleased you're home and not in too much pain. I hope the recovery goes smoothly for you.

Jellybelly80 · 05/06/2026 15:47

How are you today Tarkan?

Tarkan · 05/06/2026 19:06

Jellybelly80 · 05/06/2026 15:47

How are you today Tarkan?

Thanks for asking. 🥰 Mostly been ok but the pain hasn’t been the best today. Had some really bad cramp sort of pains a couple of hours ago and I honestly thought I was going to pass out or throw up it was that bad. I’m feeling better after a little nap at least but I wasn’t due more painkillers yet which made it really annoying as I just had to wait it out.

My friends have been to see me in the last couple of days and I’ve had some lovely gifts from people (still no flowers at all though LOL) but I’m glad I had a quiet day today.

My parents leave tomorrow for their holiday and DH has arranged another week off work because he was really worried about the level of pain I was in today and he didn’t want to leave it to DC in case I have it again and I do faint or whatever as they wouldn’t be able to manage if that happened.

I’ve had a lot of messages from friends and family too although I’ve been really bad at replying right now so I hope they understand. The brain fog has been pretty bad this week.

OP posts:
Jellybelly80 · 05/06/2026 19:18

It sounds as if you’re being very well taken care of. And yes, it makes good sense for your husband to take the extra week off work.

Im sorry your pain has been bad and I hope it’s easier for you soon.

As for the flowers - I’d be glad not have any. It can be pretty scary wakening up after a sleep and finding yourself surrounded by them. 😆

Oh and if your friends ask how they can help you - give them a job to do. Even if it’s going to the shops.