What are the risks of a hysterectomy?

Hi Smockdanelle - As a cncer survivor, I know that what you're going through right now isn't easy, and that you have a lot of worries. I'm glad you reached out to us and that we can help you in your journey.

You have most likely been told that Stage 4 cervical cancer is the most advanced stage, and this level of staging means the cancer has spread to nearby organs and/or to other parts of the body. Your top priority right now has to be dealing with the cancer as it will spread to other organs if it is not stopped.

I am the kind of person who wants all the information I can get, some people do not. If you want to better understand staging, and the risks you are dealing with, please read this: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_cervical_cancer_staged_8.asp

I can't tell from your comments if you are under the care of a gynecologist or oncologist (cancer doctor). You need to be under the care of an oncologist, and if you have a gynecological oncologist in your health plan that would be even better.

From my own experience, and my work with many other women, I strongly advise you to join a support group and get assistance from other women who have been in your shoes. Support groups can help you with issues such as employment rights, financial concerns, insurance issues and more. Here is a link to a page which shows how to find a local chapter of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition: http://www.nccc-online.org/community/chapters.html
If you do not have a local chapter then the American Cancer Society will most likely have a local chapter that can help you: Call them at 1-800-ACS-2345

The questions you need to be asking right now are what is the state of your cancer,what are the recommendations for treatments that will save your life and what are your options. Other conditions, such as having endometriosis, are secondary to dealing with the cancer. If a hysterectomy is needed, the surgeons know how to handle the surgery in the best possible manner and for your best health. Having surgery does not "spread" the cancer: ignoring the cancer will cause it to continue to grow and it will spread.

It's perfectly understandable that you're scared and confused right now, but you've done the right thing in reaching out for support. I encourage you to reach out for more. Your boys will need their mom to be stong for them during this time, and to do that it will help you to have others that help you get the information and tools you need to make the right decisions and choices in the days ahead.

Please stay in touch, and let us know how we can help. We want the best for you.

Take care,
Pat

Smockdanelle,

I can tell what a stressful and worrisome time this must be for you. But your first priority HAS to be to get better. You HAVE to take care of yourself first. There's really no other way to deal with this. The bills will be large (do you have insurance?) and they will be hard to deal with. You may have to take a semester off from college. But you have to make your health the No. 1 priority right now.

How much has your doctor talked to you about your cancer? I am concerned that he left you with explanations that confused you. I assume that by "getting scraped" you mean that he said you would need a couple of D&C's? Is he also recommending a hysterectomy?

Anywhere in this process have you been able to get a second opinion? And did your doctor give you any time frame or a recommendation to an oncologist?