Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear that you weren't given any other option. Do you have children already? How old are you??

A trachelectomy is an operation that removes the entire cervix but leaves the uterus. The uterus is reattached to the top of the vaginal vault. It is not used often as only patients with small stage 1a-1b1 tumours are able to have it and most doctors won't perform the operation unless the patient is quite young and the uterus has been examined through MRI and internal examination during the operation and is completely clear of further tumour. Luckily I fulfilled all of these criteria, and post operatively the pathology of the removed cervix showed healthy margins, plus there was no cancerous tissue in any of my lymph nodes.

How is your recovery going after your hysterectomy? I am finding it quite hard going, the internal stitches aren't bothering me, but the external wound is painful and stops me from sitting up for extended periods.

Let me know.

kylie




-----Original Message-----
From:   Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Virginia O'Malley
Sent:   Mon 3/5/2007 12:08 PM
To:     Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com
Cc:    
Subject:        Re: [Cervical-Cancer] Same situation?

Hi Kylie,
So sorry to hear about all you have gone through.  I was in similar situation with the cone biopsy showing unclear margins and staging being 1b1 and MRI showing lymph nodes clear.  I on the other hand was not given another option so I had a radical hysterectomy on December 12, 2006.  I am curious, what is a trachelectomy?  What did your doctors say to you about the success rate? 
Thanks for posting because I never knew there were other treatments out there.
Vicky
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: koali333
  To: Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 4:25 PM
  Subject: [Cervical-Cancer] Same situation?



  Hi,

  I am hoping to talk to someone who may have been through a similar situation as me. It
  would be great to chat to women who have been through this and can tell me their
  experiences.

  My story started in December 2006. I had some abnormal bleding and went and had a pap
  smear. I got high level abnormality as my reslt and on December 22nd I had a colposcopy,
  biopsy and cystoscopy. The surgeon believed I had a stage 1A cancer and recommended I
  have a cone biopsy to excise the tumour.

  I had the cone on January 18th this year and when the pathology came back, the cancer
  was re-classified as a 1b1 cancer. Plus, cancerous cells were found on the upper margin of
  the cone. My doctor recommended a radical hysterectomy as the standard treatment,
  which I found horrifying. This completely shattered my dreams of becomming a mother.

  The surgeon said that although it is considered experimental, he would consider me for a
  trachelectomy instead, taking into consideration my age, the size of the tumour and that
  my MRI showed the cancer was localised.

  After talking with my partner, the doctor, cancer councillors and much research on the
  internet I decided that I wanted to have a trachelectomy. This was done abdominally on
  February 15th, just over 2 weeks ago. I am feeling better every day and have my first
  check-up appointment on the 13th of March. Hopefully it will go well and I can return to
  my regular life.

  Something I really want to know about and hear from others is trachelectomy success
  stories, especially those that have since had children.

  Hope you are all well.

  Kylie



  


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