I realize I haven't been here all that long, although I've been reading far long than I have been posting. I intended to post WIWs, but health issues snuck up on me. I am posting mainly because I think some others here have gone through something similar.

In October I started bleeding and did not stop. I finally went to the dr. and my hemoglobin was at a 5.8; the dr. was shocked that I was still standing I was so anemic, and we scheduled a D&C immediately. I had the D&C and ablation at the same time and I thought that would be that. But lab results indicated I had complex hyperplasia with focal atypia - in other words, precancerous cells in the endometrium. Hysterectomy was suggested.

I sought a specialist in an effort to avoid it, but all expert opinions were the same. Fortunately, an MRI and a blood test indicated that if there are cancerous cells, they have not spread. I am scheduled for the surgery on February 6th, and it will be an abdominal hysterectomy because they want to remove the uterus whole and not risk any cells entering the abdomen from a laparoscopic procedure.

Then we wait for pathology. If I do have cancerous cells but they are Stage 1 level A or B, the hysterectomy ought to be sufficient. If there is anything more than that, I will need to go back in to have my ovaries removed and all lymph nodes in the area removed.

Anyway, if you have any positive thoughts to spare I would appreciate it. This is a surgery I wanted to avoid at all costs, but the possible cost of my life is too high, so I will do what I need to do. I have three young children at home and cannot risk anything more serious (cancer). If anyone has been through anything similar, I would love to hear your experiences. I am afraid and apprehensive, but hopeful that the one surgery is all I will need (I really don't want to be thrown into menopause full-force at 42).