Fibroid, thickened womb lining and polyp- referred for biopsy

[jennylamb1]

Had a period four years after menopause and went to the GP to get it checked out. I had a scan last week and a follow up appointment today with a doctor. She said that I have a fibroid, a polyp and a thickened lining of the womb which means that they want to do a hysteroscopy and a biopsy within two weeks. She said that it would be put on a 'cancer pathway' but not to worry too much about this, although obviously I am. Asking if I was going away on holiday or anything. Has anyone else had similar issues and what have their outcomes been?

Yes, it's very common, I had it earlier in the year and had the all clear, there have been lots of other threads where women have had the same, you are definitely not alone. It's natural to worry but chances are all will be well.

Thank you, did you have a hysteroscopy? Just reading a bit about it and wondering about requesting a general anaesthestic given that there are a few things for them to remove or to do a biopsy on.

I went through the same sort of process last year and would recommend spinal or GA.
Not every woman finds it absolute agony, but I also had trouble with smears and I knew that it would be more than “discomfort”.
I had to be firm about it.

Thank you, I will request a GA I think, just reading the NHS website and they’ve lost me at ‘for many people a hysteroscopy can be very painful.’

Good luck OP. I’ve had a couple of these, always under GA as menopause has made simple smears agony and I’m not prepared to put myself through it anymore.
They’ve never found anything sinister if that helps 💐💐💐
ETA If you request GA it may take a little longer to arrange and you’ll need someone to collect you afterwards.

As they will probably remove the polyp I would opt for a GA. Try not to worry about being on the two week pathway as only a tiny percentage of women on the pathway will have anything problematic identified.

Thankyou, will definitely go for the GA or similar, had a somewhat traumatic birth with my son 15 years ago and was very happy then that I could get an epidural. Like the midwife said, they don’t give our prizes for withstanding pain.

I didn't need a hysteroscopy, just the biopsy, which was ouchy but not unbearable, and very quick. They said depending on the result of that they might do a hysteroscopy but that it would be under GA, so I wouldn't have had to request it specially.

How did you have a biopsy without a hysteroscopy could I ask?

Well, they said a local anaesthetic and gas and air was fine. When I asked about a general anaesthetic it seemed as if it would elongate the process and push things on a number of weeks. I’m going to take some Migralieve and ibuprofen before.

Have access to all the notes now on the NHS app, I understand that 90% of people on the 2 week pathway do not have cancer, however reading the ‘USS suspicious of cancer,’ and the result as ‘abnormal,’ is pretty stressing. At least have the hysteroscopy and biopsy booked and will have blood tests on Monday. Have others had ‘suspicious of cancer’ and suchlike on their notes?

The biopsy was just done using a speculum. Sorry you have got the worrying notes, I'm glad you are being seen quickly for the rest of the procedures.

That's the language they would use for anyone on the cancer referral pathway. It's a suspected cancer pathway.

And if your result had been normal you wouldn't need any investigation. Abnormal covers a multitude of things.

Thankyou, it feels difficult working whilst having this in the background too. Want to keep it private to just my partner and close family until I know the biopsy result, however I’m finding it a challenge to send work emails where we’re planning events in November etc. I can take 14 week’s sick with full pay if needed, will have to be in limbo until get a verdict. How long did you have to wait post biopsy for a result?

I have had 3 hysteroscopies, and 2 failed attempts without GA. For me it was absolute torture without GA. I haven't given birth so that might have been one reason. I am angry on your behalf you are being told the GA you want will delay things. Women are being fobbed off on this issue.

I am in Scotland and I don't think we can see notes. However I was told after my final hysteroscopy they suspected pre-cancerous cells and I might require a hysterectomy. I didn't stress out about this, and looking back I'm not sure why.

I was then diagnosed with stage 1a womb cancer, but this was dealt with by the hysterectomy. I don't want to worry you, but caught early it's treatable, although I appreciate a hysterectomy is major surgery. It wasn't an easy experience but I now look back and count my blessings every day that I went to the GP about the post menopausal bleeding as the thought of another hysteroscopy nearly stopped me. Good luck and here's hoping you're one of the 90%.

Yes, understandable. I’m just wondering if when the ‘specialist’ gets in contact, which I think is within two weeks, they will give you an idea of your particular profile, i.e. to what degree there are concerns.
I read that they should be able to give an idea of findings immediately following the hysterectomy based on the visual imaging of the polyp and lining.

Mine was done without GA and by a team of specialist nurses who do nothing else. I had local anaesthetic to get the camera in. The biopsy was a sharp stabbing pain for a couple of seconds. The worst bit was waiting for the saline solution to empty (tmi sorry). The nurse described what she could see and what she thought. I declined to watch it live. They said I'd hear within two weeks and called after about a week. Told to get back in touch if any more bleeding and the fibroid would shrink naturally with ageing. Decided to leave the polyp as it didn't appear to be causing any problems; still hasn't about three years on. I'd do it again without GA. Not sure if I was lucky but the nurses were very good.

It was a few months ago now but I think it was about a week.

Hi OP. I had unexplained bleeding about this time last year, I'd been on HRT for 4 years. Initial tests showed thickened lining and polyps. Had a hysteroscopy under a general which later confirmed cancer. I had a full hysterectomy followed by radiotherapy as the cancer had spread into surrounding tissues. I have 3 monthly checkups with oncology and gynaecology and will do for a couple of years. Am fine, I hardly think about it though at the time it was really tough. I had approx 3 months off work. Am pissed I can't take HRT now as it was a lifesaver for sore joints and night sweats. I think I'm going to be absolutely fine. I stopped googling before I had radiotherapy as it wasn't helping.
good luck with it all.
my advice - ask for a general for your hysterectomy, no need to grin and bear it so to speak

I had similar. I'd previously had polyps removed under GA. That was what was causing the bleeding. No cancer.

Two years later - a bit of spotting. Was terrified of the hysteroscopy - I have vaginismus and have never given birth...plus I was 64 at the time.

There was a bit of discomfort with the speculum going in. Apart from that, I didn't feel a thing. Local anaesthetic into the cervix. Didn't feel it.

Had a 'more extensive biopsy' taken plus a Mirena coil fitted for progesterone to protect the uterus. It was over in minutes. I didn't even realise that the gynae had finished.

General for hysteroscopy

Was referred on the 2ww pathway last Thursday after an
ultrasound found thickened endo, adenomyosis and intra-mural fibroids. Due to a cancellation actually have the hysteroscopy today so this thread has been very helpful.
All my reports are on the NHS app and ´suspected endometrial cancer’ is at the top of each one.

Best wishes with it, do let us know how it goes, have the same though not with adenomyosis, have a thickened fundus, fibroid and a polyp and poorly defined endometrium, heterogeneous. Good that you’re having it done so quickly, though totally understand what you mean about the ‘suspected endometrial cancer’ headings, you know that it’s being investigated today so that’s reassuring.

How did it go Pharos?

@jennylamb1 Went ok, thanks. Consultant was excellent - apologised if they'd worried me by offering an appointment so quickly! She thought the thickened endo was due to the fact I'm still in peri and still menstruating, that's the reason for the odd bleeds - the adenomyosis makes them more unpredictable. She also suspected I might have a polyp which would explain the 'full' sensation and pains plus the cystic appearance on the US.

Hysteroscopy was fine - uncomfortable but nothing more thanks to copious amounts of gas and air. There were 2 polyps - a large one in the uterus and a smaller one on the cervix, near where I'd had a Lletz procedure a few years ago - so she removed them both using Myosure plus took some endo tissue. I was a bit sore afterwards and crampy today. They'll talk you through everything beforehand and had I needed them to stop, they'd have got me back in to do it under GA as day surgery.

Histology should take a couple of weeks but she didn't see anything which unduly concerned her. If there's hyperplasia she's going to recommend fitting an IUD, otherwise they'll keep an eye for the next few months.

Good luck with your appointment, let us know how it goes.