The title says it all. How long was it from your diagnosis to your hysterectomy?

I realize this will be different for everyone, but I'm trying to get an idea in my head.

Hello all,
I was looking for some information for a friend when I saw your question and decided to answer. Anyway, from diagnosis to surgery 7 days.

I was in the military stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana, and one night after sex I noticed that there was blood all over the sheets so I went to the doctor the next day. This was in April. I was told that I had a wicked yeast infection and was sent home with the appropriate meds. It didn't go away so they thought it was a different kind of yeast, so I was sent home with a different set of meds.

While all this 'yeast' thing was happening, we were gearing up to go to desert training in California. I noticed that there was an odor that was unpleasent to me so I tried everything I could think of to try to combat it, ie douching and more douching with various things. Nothing worked so I started to wear tampons so the smell wouldn't get out. In hindsight this probably was NOT a good idea.

Anyway, I went to the desert training and it lasted around 30 days, this was in May. When I got back to Louisiana in the first part of June, there was a message waiting for me to go to the hospital to see a different doctor. This was on a Thursday.

The next day, Friday, the doctor did some biopsies that really hurt and sent them off to the lab. She told me that she just wanted to make sure that I was OK and not to worry. I began to worry because she called me on a Saturday. Military clinic doctors do not work on Saturdays unless they are in the Emergency room on duty. She told me that she had made arrangements with the doctors at Fort Sam Houston hospital in San Antonio Texas and that I had to be there that Monday morning. They were going to do some different tests. I had to find someone to watch my children for me like right now. My best friend helped me out, :angel: thank you Betty. I left the next afternoon, this was Sunday.

I was driving there and was somewhat worried but I tried to stay positive. That monday it seems all hell broke loose. I was admitted to the hospital and they did a lot of invasive tests that hurt. Combined with the fact that I was alone, I hadn't had the chance to talk to anyone, I didn't really know what was to happen with my children, I didn't really know what was to happen with ME, and I was really scared, It was too much to handle and psychologically I freaked out.

Monday they did more biopsies, Tuesday they checked my colon and bladder to make sure that nothing else was involved, and I had different types of x-rays. Wednesday all the results came back. I was informed of what I was dealing with and was scheduled for surgery the next morning, Thursday.

The next day the doctor came to talk to me to tell me how the surgery went and what they removed. They removed my uterus, both ovaries, my appendix, lymph nodes, and 25% of my vagina. I was NOT happy about the vagina thing. He said that they wanted to make sure that they got everything and the part of my vagina that they removed was included in the safety margin.

This was in 1992, I was 32 years old. I was in the hospital for 27 days where previously I was only in the hospital to have babies. What I got from having this surgery was my life ------ and a big giant midline scar that keloided. But I look upon that as a positive thing. I didn't have to have chemo or radiation or anything else. I was on hormone replacement therapy for a time but decided to forgo this because of other cancer risks in my family (my mother has had cancer 4 times).

I'm not trying to tell you my lifes story so I apologize for the length of this post. I hope it helps you and any body else that reads it........

One month. I was dx in early august and was operated on on September 8th. I had a complete hyst followed by 6 chemo treatments. My cancer was 1A but it involved the falopian tube. I had uterine stage 1A and the falo tube.

Fal tube cancer is very similar to ovarian so they needed to be sure.

This is 2 1/2 years later and I am diong grat, back to work and enjoying life again.

cuzinaddie and annie 57, thank you for sharing your timelines with me. I've felt mine is going so quickly, but now I am reframing that thought!

Seven days! ACK! and to be alone. Though, cuzinaddie, your sentence saying "and what did I get from this? my life" WOW! That is the truth! Thank you so much for sharing so much with me!

Annie, I'm wondering if my dx to surgery will be about 1 month. I'm wondering what other tests will have to be run (and what doctor appointments I'll have) before surgery. I haven't even sat down to talk to my doctor. We talked on Friday, over the phone. So it was quick. I know the basics. I need a lot of specifics, though! ;)

I hope other ladies join in with their timeline histories!

Cuzin,
What type of cancer did you have?

Kerri

Hey Pickle eyes- thanks for the last minute wishes last week and I guess since Ive last checked here - you are now facing another challenge-
Im sorry for that but can tell you that by your posts here your clearly a survivor- so keep the chin up and we'll be sending you hugs.... :wave:
Let us know how it all goes...
still waiting for my results.... keeping my fingers crossed!:angel:

Thank you Nikka! It is good to know that others see me as a survivor!

I just posted in your other thread. I hope you have peace and understanding as well as health! I look forward to hearing how your pathology reports come out. Please let me know!

Cuzin,
What type of cancer did you have?

Kerri

PLEASE let me apologize for the length of time it took me to reply. I have been a busy girl!!!

Let's see, if memory serves, the diagnosis of my cervical cancer was poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. I hope this answers your question.....

We understand busy, Cuzin! ;)

Thank you for writing back, though.