Is 33 too young for uterine or endometrial cancer??

jicardi · New User Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

Hello. This is my first post. I didn't know such a place existed. Smile

I have been doing a bit of research online concerning possible causes for the symptoms I have been experiencing. They are eerily similar to that of ovarian or uterine cancer. All of the articles I read suggest that I am too young; that it mainly affects women in their 40's and older. I am 33 years old, have never been pregnant and don't go the doctor regularly.

For the past 5 months my abdomen has become more and more distended/bloated. I feel like I am full all the time and I can't stand any pressure on my belly. Needless to say my appetite has decreased. I don't have any "severe" pain but more of a constant dull ache that seems to go right through to my lower back at times. At the same time my menstrual cycles became irregular and I have a bit of pelvic discomfort that I've chalked off to menstrual cramping. I had 2 periods per month for 3 months in a row. I wasn't alarmed by the irregularity because I had some job stress at the time. For the past two months now I have been bleeding continously, first having a heavy 3-5 day period with clotting. This is followed by light spotting (which is very dark like a brownish-black color) then back to heavier bright red bleeding. Rolling Eyes

Sorry for the graphic description.

Recently, within the past month, I started having bouts of diarrhea and constipation. This is more of a nuisance than anything and isn't daily. On occasion when I urinate my bladder hurts and I have trouble releasing it. There is no burning or change in frequency to suggest a UTI. Overall, I feel quite lethargic and drained of energy. Sad

I went to my primary care doctor and explained everything to her, focusing mainly on the weight gain ( Laughing

I am a bit chubby ), discomfort and the abnormal bleeding. She ordered blood work and a urine specimen checking my thyroid, and wanted to see if I was anemic. Everything else she said could be related to my type II diabetes which was dx this past March.

My bloodwork came back indicating good thyroid function, no anemia, my 3 month blood sugars looked fine and I don't have a UTI. I am left to assume that the abnormal bleeding isn't a problem as long as I don't become anemic. She prescribed a drug called Phentermine and said it would give me more energy and help me lose the weight in my abdomen. There was no mention of any follow up testing.

It's been a week and I called her office today and told her nurse that I am still spotting and don't feel any better despite the medication she prescribed.

My gynecological history is the following:
When I was 19 I had undiagnosed PID which resulted in having one of my ovaries and both fallopian tubes removed. When I went under anesthesia, it was for a laporoscopy to remove what they said was an ovarian cyst. I woke up minus one ovary and tubes. They were able to "clean up" my remaining ovary and left my uterus.

At 25 I had a cone biopsy for severe dysplasia. They said it wasn't cancerous and the dysplastic cells were all self-contained. He was able to get it all in the dissection. I had one F/U visit after that and was told everything was fine.

Question

I would like to know if there are other women here that have experienced the same symptoms in their early 30's like me? I am going to make an appointment with a gynecologist if my primary doctor doesn't. I just don't want to worry in the meantime that there is a cancer risk.

DCALCODA · New User Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

Hi. I'm 33 also and experiencing simlar issues.
I went to the gyn 11/7 due to spotting between periods. My history includes a cervical dysplasia due to HPV (Part of which was left behind during a LEEP procedure). I've had several bouts with bacterial vaginitis. I've had one child (18 mos old). I also have high blood pressure (I don't have diabetes, though it runs strongly though my family tree). I've been feeling bloated and have felt uterine spasms from time to time over the last two to three months (feels almost like early stages of pregnancy).
I presented with blood in my uirine the day I went to the doctor. They checked me for a UTI and it came back negative. She tried to do a pap and pelvic exam, but had to do a blind pap because I was very tender internally (incidentally, I've been selibut for the last year and a half). Nothing's come back on the pap, but it typically comes back abnormal since the cerival lesion has been present.
She decided to schedule me for a transvaginal ultrasound which came back abnormal (thickened endometrial layer). I am now scheduled for a sonohystography on December 4th.
I've also been having pain in my left groin area intermittently for some time but have been assured it's simply fascial in nature.
I asked if this was being done to detect cancer and was told by a nurse "that's worse case scenario"... So, I guess there are other things it could be. I've been researching, the main other possibility could be polyps.

Keep posting! Smile

Robinflamingo · Regular Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Michigan

DCAL, make sure they also check for ovarian cancer, which is what I'm currently recovering from. See the ovarian forum for more info, if you'd like Smile

_________________
Forget regret - or life is yours to miss. -Rent

jicardi · New User Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

I have an appt. with a gynecologist on Dec. 18th. I was told that she may not do a pap on the first visit, it's her call on whether or not she wants to. I guess I will at least get a pelvic exam, so at least I am going in the right direction. I hope that everything goes well for you on the 4th. I stopped bleeding a couple of days ago and hopefully won't start again for a while. I am just going to monitor everything until I see the dr.

J.Icardi Smile

Mayken

Hi jicardi,

33 isnt too young to have Endometrial Cancer, I'm 29 and was dignosed with it at 28.

It's not normal, but it does happen.

DCALCODA · New User Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

Okay, so Monday's the big day (uterine biopsy)... I haven't had a period since October 20th (I'm usually like clockwork) and I've been having nasty discharge, sometimes bloody - sometimes clear. I know I'll still have to wait for results and all, but I'm glad I'll at least know something's being done to check on things.
I'll keep you posted.

freeddm · New User Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

I too am only 33 years old, too young for some of the pre qualifications for this type of cancer, but I am also suffering from the very similar symptoms. I had never had any type of bacterial infection or anything like that. Other than two pregnancies and a minor complication on my first labor, my reproductive system is very normal and healthy.

For several months now I have had a discharge, at first I thought it may be yeast, purchased medication, but it is still there. If I put the discharge symptoms alone it gives me a few std's or even PID if I include my pelvic pain. I am married and unless I cought it from a toilet seat I just don't see how else I would get an STD, but I guess no one is immune to this.

When I input all my symptoms into search like my pelvic pain, lower back pain, increased urge to urinate and move my bowel (I was always constipated before and now it is completely opposite) along my period getting heavier and my cycles shorter to now missing my period and spotting it leads me to cancer (uterine or ovarian). I went in to my gynecologist and he performed a pelvic exam, which he said was normal, could not to a pap smear because I thought I was on my period, but I was only spotting here and there. I am scheduled for an urine check and an ultrasound of my pelvic area, but wonder if this is enough to discover what is wrong with me. At first I did not worry much, but now I am scared for myself and my children. They are only 12 and 6 and I would hate the idea of not being around for long. Maybe I am worrying for nothing, but the idea of it all does worry me.

freeddm · New User Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

Hello Mayken,

were your symptoms similar to the ones I described? Did they resemble std, PID, or cancer symtoms when you searched?

Kimbo

Hi
I am 26 and have just been diagnosed with uterine cancer and am now facing a hysterectomy and unfortunatley I am yet to have kids.
I had long periods with bleeding in between, which was a tumor in my uterus that was bleeding.
I went to my family doctor who said I will put you on the pill, so I went to a second doctor who sent me for an internal ultrasound and they found the tumor.
Never be afraid to ask for a 2nd or even 3rd opinion.
Kim

Jel · New User Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Kimbo:

I just turned 28, however i have the same things you have.

I havea tumour in my uterus, however they say its a fibroid. I have been put on all sorts of pills, like yasmine, and pirolut, but it doesnt stop my bleeding, its horendous. I think i have stopped for 2 weeks this year!

Anyway I wnted to know how they knew it was uterine cancer? Did they give u a laparoscopy and take a sample out?

Thanks!
Jel

[quote="Kimbo"]Hi
I am 26 and have just been diagnosed with uterine cancer and am now facing a hysterectomy and unfortunatley I am yet to have kids.
I had long periods with bleeding in between, which was a tumor in my uterus that was bleeding.
I went to my family doctor who said I will put you on the pill, so I went to a second doctor who sent me for an internal ultrasound and they found the tumor.
Never be afraid to ask for a 2nd or even 3rd opinion.
Kim[/quote]

Kisara · New User Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 9

Hon, I'm 19 and I was diagnosed at 18 with uterine cancer. Unfortunately cancer affects people of all ages. Sad

Queensland Girl

Hello,

When I was 21 I used to suffer horrendous periods, very heavy, huge clots and the pain was terrible. During the periods I was so anemic that I would faint if I stood up too quick. I saw a specialist and found a large fibroid approximately 14cm in size. Normally the surgeons recommend a hysterectomy, yet as I was so young and wanted children he opted for a riskier procedure which is where they "shell" the uterus to remove the fibroid. I was in hospital for two weeks after. I have managed to successfully have two pregnancies to full term, however had to have my babies by caesarian as there was a possiblity that my uterus could rupture during labour.

So my advice is to check with your doctor for an ultrasound, fibriods are easily seen by U/S and surgery is all you might need.

Good luck
_________________
Regards,

Queensland Girl

Mum diagnosed June 1993, surgery and chemo died August 1993 (Pancreatic Cancer)
Dad diagnosed July 2007, chemo only died January 2008 (Pancreatic Cancer)

dark0goddess · New User Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 6

I am 30 and have experienced the same symptoms. They diagnosed me with uterine cancer.

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