In which I am Grateful for an Ear Infection....
On Sunday night I noticed two things regarding my body, one was my ear was draining (never a good sign) and second off cycle bleeding happened (also not good as my cycle had ended more than a week prior). On Monday of the two I was more worried about my ear. I tried to get an appointment for as soon as possible to see my ENT. Alas or so I thought my ENT was on vacation and they had to fit me to someone else’s schedule. They did, the next day.
I already was taking time off for another appointment on Tuesday. I decided since my work day was going to be blown by the two appointments that I might as well try to get other doctor visits done as well. The bleeding instantly to mind (it just was not right) so I called and begged for an OBGYN appointment. I got one. I said to myself, "Now, I can put the worries to rest about this off cycle yuck."
Tuesday came. I was still more concerned about my ear, but that appointment would not be until later in the day. I went to my first appointment - a meeting with my psychologist - which went as these appointments do. Then it was off to the OBGYN. At the appointment I shared about my symptoms du jour. I shared that this was something that happened to my mom and she had ignored it. And explained how my mom had gone through treatment for stage 3c endometrial cancer previous year so I was nervous. I also brought up that I had had a uterine infection over 10 years prior that had not been diagnosed for a full year. A biopsy was what finally showed what was going on. That my symptoms were similar with respect to the output and that I was concerned that I was having another infection. My other thought is that perhaps it was due to peri-menopause. I was of an age and my cycles had gotten light for me in the last year. I was not thinking cancer. The doctor was.
The OBGYN insisted on that I should have a biopsy that day and also some other tests (which are routinely part of the regular checkup and for which I was overdue). The biopsy would rule out the infection, the per-menopause or even the cancer. At this point I will say I knew that biopsies are not in any way painless, but I was willing to do this to find out if I had an infection or was starting my journey toward being a crone. I was sure it could not be cancer. He let me know that I should have results within a week to ten days. We also scheduled a ultrasound to rule out fibroids. I left satisfied that nothing harrowing was wrong and went to deal with my ear which in my mind was more troublesome.
Wednesday around two I got a call from a nurse. My first thought was they want to change the medication for my ear and I heard the words, “your biopsy test was abnormal”. The nurse would not share how it was abnormal so I had hope that the infection was a doozy. I even joked to the nurse that that was what I thought it was and how it can’t be cancer because I had just gone through it all with my mom. She was silent. This made me nervous. The doctor called after 5pm and broke the news - they had found both pre-cancer and cancer - Endometrioid adenocarcinoma FIGO grade 1 of 3 to be exact. Of the grades 3 is the worst so one was not that bad. I cried, talked to a friend, and cried again. Called my mom and then started the process of informing people who I thought should know before I made this more public. I know I missed people....put that to state of mind.
So this is the story in which I am grateful for an ear infection because I found out I had endometrial cancer early. For if I had not had an ear infection, it is very likely that I would have waited for more symptoms or just put off getting an appointment until next year. This is my story.
What I know so far:
I already was taking time off for another appointment on Tuesday. I decided since my work day was going to be blown by the two appointments that I might as well try to get other doctor visits done as well. The bleeding instantly to mind (it just was not right) so I called and begged for an OBGYN appointment. I got one. I said to myself, "Now, I can put the worries to rest about this off cycle yuck."
Tuesday came. I was still more concerned about my ear, but that appointment would not be until later in the day. I went to my first appointment - a meeting with my psychologist - which went as these appointments do. Then it was off to the OBGYN. At the appointment I shared about my symptoms du jour. I shared that this was something that happened to my mom and she had ignored it. And explained how my mom had gone through treatment for stage 3c endometrial cancer previous year so I was nervous. I also brought up that I had had a uterine infection over 10 years prior that had not been diagnosed for a full year. A biopsy was what finally showed what was going on. That my symptoms were similar with respect to the output and that I was concerned that I was having another infection. My other thought is that perhaps it was due to peri-menopause. I was of an age and my cycles had gotten light for me in the last year. I was not thinking cancer. The doctor was.
The OBGYN insisted on that I should have a biopsy that day and also some other tests (which are routinely part of the regular checkup and for which I was overdue). The biopsy would rule out the infection, the per-menopause or even the cancer. At this point I will say I knew that biopsies are not in any way painless, but I was willing to do this to find out if I had an infection or was starting my journey toward being a crone. I was sure it could not be cancer. He let me know that I should have results within a week to ten days. We also scheduled a ultrasound to rule out fibroids. I left satisfied that nothing harrowing was wrong and went to deal with my ear which in my mind was more troublesome.
Wednesday around two I got a call from a nurse. My first thought was they want to change the medication for my ear and I heard the words, “your biopsy test was abnormal”. The nurse would not share how it was abnormal so I had hope that the infection was a doozy. I even joked to the nurse that that was what I thought it was and how it can’t be cancer because I had just gone through it all with my mom. She was silent. This made me nervous. The doctor called after 5pm and broke the news - they had found both pre-cancer and cancer - Endometrioid adenocarcinoma FIGO grade 1 of 3 to be exact. Of the grades 3 is the worst so one was not that bad. I cried, talked to a friend, and cried again. Called my mom and then started the process of informing people who I thought should know before I made this more public. I know I missed people....put that to state of mind.
So this is the story in which I am grateful for an ear infection because I found out I had endometrial cancer early. For if I had not had an ear infection, it is very likely that I would have waited for more symptoms or just put off getting an appointment until next year. This is my story.
What I know so far:
- The biopsy found both pre-cancer and cancer cells.
- Thus far all indications point thus far point to Stage 0 or early stage 1 endometrial cancer.
- The ultrasound showed no masses.
- I have an appointment with an gynecological oncologist next Friday to discuss my options. I won't know more until then.
- It tends to have a slow growth rate.
- It has a high 5 year survival rate, especially if caught early. Stage 0 (90%), Stage 1 (75-88%)
- Recommended treatment is a hysterectomy. Depending on what is found during surgery, I may be allowed to keep my ovaries.
- Anything over stage 1 will involve chemo and/or radiation in the course of treatment
- Each case is different.