Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mojo61]

I had a scan last Thursday after having some post menopausal bleeding. I have been on Conti HRT since February (4 years post meno) Anyway, the Dr phoned today with the results which showed some small fibroids and a thickened womb lining so she has referred me for a hysteroscopy and possibly a biopsy and I'm absolutely terrified now after looking on Google and reading it could be a sign of cancer! She said they move very quickly with these things and I should get an appointment within 2 weeks. I'm so scared...

[clare663]

Dont panic Mojo its probably only that your body has built up too much oestrogen and the progesterone hasnt done its job properly. xx

[Mojo61]

Thank you Hasty. I really am terrified because I've had a lot of symptoms recently - anxiety, nausea, weight loss, back pain, tiredness, of course now I'm adding all this up..

[Cazikins]

Try not to worry mojo, a similar thing happened to me a few years ago & all was ok apart from a few benign fibroids.
It is quite usual to get it looked at quickly for woman who have bleeding like this.
I'm sure this is just a precaution, try not to read too much into it, you will be ok.
Let us know how it goes.
Cazi x

[Mojo61]

If it was cancer would it have shown on the scan? I had an ultrasound scan and then a transvaginal scan. The lady said she couldn't see anything that caused her undue concern, just a few fibroids. Now my Dr is telling me I have a thickened womb lining and I have to go to hospital for more tests!

[Taz2]

Your doc wont have any option but to refer you for more tests Mojo so try not to worry. It's part of the NHS guidelines that any post meno presenting with a thickened womb lining should be referred and be given an appointment within two weeks so that anything sinister can be ruled out. Far better to be checked than for it to just be left. As Cazikins says it is just a precaution.

Taz x

[Mojo61]

Thanks Taz. Does a thickened lining mean a high chance of cancer then?

Please excuse me, but I have awful health anxiety. My mum died of cancer when I was 6 months pregnant, and then my husband got a brain tumour and died when our son was 9. And now my lovely neighbour who is only in his 50's has been diagnosed with stage 1V lung cancer. I think this is where all my fears of this disease originate from...

[Taz2]

It's very understandable that you would worry about this Mojo after all you have been through.

One of the reasons for a thickened womb lining can be endometrial cancer which is the reason that progesterone has to be used alongside oestrogen as it helps to protect the lining. There are members on here who have been for the same tests as you and the results have been fine. It is a precaution that is very necessary. I can appreciate that if you have read things online then the word "cancer" will leap out at you but there are other causes. The important thing is that now it has been discovered, due to your prompt reporting of the bleeding to the GP, then you can have the correct treatment to thin the lining down again.

We are all here for you.

Taz x

[Ju Ju]

Yep, I went through all the tests last year. My womb was very much thickened, but as my GP said, it was probably due to oestrogen build up, as Taz says, which is not uncommon if the balance of oestrogen and progesterone is not right for you. They have to check....belt and braces! All was ok for me, just a rethink on my HRT and treatment. Don't panic.

[Annemaria]

Mojo, I've just been through exactly the same situation you are in. Post meno 8 yrs. and sudden bleed. I freaked out when I googled as well. I had thickened lining 8mm, had d&c and hysteroscopy two weeks ago. When I woke up my GYN told me the lining was actually thin and she doesn't see anything suspicious. Although a biopsy was still taken to make sure.

[Mojo61]

Thank you everyone for all your support and kindness.

 I'm trying to use my rational head; I didn't have any problems prior to starting the HRT, the sonographer at the scan said she couldn't see anything to concern her unduly, another doctor had actually phoned me on Wednesday to say he couldn't see anything of concern on the scan, and this was just my own GP ringing me with the full results. Hopefully, as you say, it is just NHS protocol to fast track in cases like this to be on the safe side.

[CLKD]

The most rational thing is to stay away from GOOGLE  .

Your GP is following guidelines because he's a GP not a Specialist  .  That doesn't alleviate worry though particularly as you have first hand knowledge of cancers.  If the sonographer couldn't see anything untoward then your GP is following protocol.  You could ring and ask if he suspects anything …… so that he is aware of how worried you are.

 

[Mojo61]

I'm getting myself into a tizz here! The GP surgery phoned this morning to say there was a letter waiting for me to collect and then I could book my urgent appointment online. The letter contained a unique number and password to enable me to do this.

On the letter it gave the necessary details and I booked the first available appointment - next Wednesday at 2pm - but on the bottom of the letter it said:

'Under the NHS Constitution you have the right to start non-emergency consultant led treatment within 18 weeks from referral - or where cancer is suspected, to be seen by a specialist within 2 weeks of an urgent referral'

I'm panicking now I've read that because the doctor must suspect I have cancer if she's referred me under the 2 week rule!

Sorry about all this, I feel awful keep bugging you all about it but I don't have anyone else to talk to.

[CLKD]

  I suspect that these are Government Guidelines so that patients are aware that the GP Surgeries are under pressure to meet certain Targets!  Which puts enormous pressure on the whole NHS system 

Give your Practice Nurse a ring to ask whether the recommendations are 'usual' on patient letters?  'urgent' does not necessarily mean 'terminal' but is a push for patients to be seen within time scales.

Doesn't help those who have anxiety does it 

[ancient runner]

I think you tick the boxes for the 2 week referral even if everybody concerned thinks it's probably OK. Your GP would get censured if he or she didn't treat you "as if" it might be cancer - even though it most probably isn't. On the bright side it means you get to find out very quickly indeed if there is a problem or not.
I'm not sure if I've expressed this well. Put it another way - there is a certain amount of box ticking and unexplained post-menopausal bleeding is one of those boxes even if all is likely to be well. Please don't worry too much, and you will find out fast what's happening.
I've had those letters myself and it just feels awful - like they're telling you something. But it's just the wording they have to put there. Don't take it personally (very hard, I know). xxx