Went through menopause at 52. One year later I had a “period”. Ok weird, but didn’t we all learn that menopause was ‘on and off”? I happened to have my annual GYN a week later. The pap showed some troubling cells, thankfully due to the “period” sloughing off some cancer cells and they could be seen on the slide. Biopsy came next (ouch!!) Then a D and C. No doubt - cancer.

OK - Hysterectomy in 2006. Cancer didn’t break through the uterus - good sign! Stage I. Most curable kind. Few days later - call came - cells were found in the fluid around the uterus - peritoneal fluid - OK how did that happen when the cancer didn’t break through the uterine wall?? Fallopian Tubes - cancer leaked out through the Fallopian Tubes. Now I went from Stage 1A to Stage III. Not good.

First line of treatment at MCV was external broad abdominal radiation. Even I know that would have screwed up my bladder, bowel and whatever other organs were in the way of the rays. I went for a second opinion at UVA. Dr. Taylor said let’s wait and see, and the radiologist said we have to do vaginal brachial radiation to ensure it doesn’t affect the Vaginal Cuff (what’s left after the uterus and cervix are taken out - the top of the vagina…) That was a lot of fun - picture your regular gyn exam except that they stick a big fat rod up you and everyone leaves the room so they don’t get zapped. Had that done three times. Well - 2007 went for a CT Scan and they found “something”. They went in for an aspiration, but the “something” kept moving out of the way! So - laproscopic surgery to take a look - came out of the anesthesia and Doc said “it’s all over your abdomen”. I had pencil eraser size tumors on my liver, diaphragm, omentum and lots of “floaters’ in the fluid. I then went on chemo trip for 6 months of hell.

First they had me on a ‘trial” and it almost killed me. Had to have several transfusions and I couldn’t stop throwing up. Finally they changed the Cicplatin to Cytoplasm or the other way around, along with two other drugs. The hair loss didn’t bother me - kind of a badge of honor. But the throwing up violently and constipation from the pills that were supposed to stop me from throwing up - well… let’s say I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

October 2007 I was through with chemo They went back in to look and said scar tissue was all that was left of the little tumors. Yay! Every 6 months now I get a CT scan or MRI So far - clear!! Problem is - people who have it outside their uterus don’t usually survive. I’m kind of an exception. No one can tell me anything about what I can expect for the future. I’ve had the biggest baddest drugs, so if it comes back again - what next? No one seems to know, even the God-like Dr. Taylor, who saved my life. I’m getting anxiety because I’m due for a CT in early October and I always start thinking - is this the time?? Anyone else survive endometrial cancer outside the uterus that can share your story?