"Officially my journey began in September 2012 when I visited my GP because of very minimal post-menopausal spotting but with pelvic discomfort. I was 64 at the time and the previous year had embarked on a fitness programme with a personal trainer and a weight loss of one and a half stone by following weight watchers. There I was, more aerobically fit than I had ever been.
However I must have been stupid because for 18 months I had ignored occasional tiny streaks of blood that didn't stain my underwear and only occurred after a bowel movement though via vagina. Following what I thought was a minor back injury at the gym, I felt as if I was sitting on a nerve and following a more copious, though not large blood loss, I made that appointment. What's the point of being aerobically fit if you ignore warning symptoms!
My GP thought it would be nothing as I wasn't typical but had to fast track to me. After a hysterescopy done without pain relief I had to wait three weeks after which I was told "you have womb cancer" and with my first grandchild due at Christmas, my world fell apart.
I was referred to a second specialist who informed me I had a sarcoma which is very aggressive and he might not be able to operate. After a CT and MRI showing no spread I had keyhole surgery on 7 November by a very good and experienced surgeon. I had lymph nodes removed in my pelvic area. My fitness plan did pay off as I was a textbook case and went home the following day.
I had my results in 10 days and was told it was not a sarcoma but an adenocarcinoma and it was staged at 1b but as a grade 3. I was told I could have brachytherapy but didn't have to. I just wish they would say you have to! Anyway though more terrified of this than the hysterectomy, I had this on 8 January 2013 and it wasn't anything like as bad as I imagined. My main problem with lying still for 24 hours was my back ached terribly and I don't like anything stronger than paracetamol.
I was well cared for but I wish they would get a grip on my white coat syndrome blood pressure problem, as it only takes a Valium and BP is back to normal but this was more of a worry to me than the operation and treatment as we had to go through the same procedures of them having a wobbly over my BP. If only your records followed you round and if it said that if my BP is up to give me Valium!
I have had one check post brachytherapy (I have had no apparent side effects) and then they lost me in the system but I have phoned my support nurse and I go for a gynaecology checkup on 6 July.
To say I am anxious is an understatement though I am well but have put on some of that weight I purposely lost. If I want cake now I tend to have it! I am exercising a lot so that is my excuse.
I have to say the support nurses are excellent and I just email any questions if I have them. But what a journey. I think one of the main problems is waiting for test results. If only they would fast track them. I do try to put it out of my mind but the anxiety is there underneath somewhere.
The good news is I got a little grandson on Christmas Eve and was so grateful to be able to enjoy him."