So I am 46 soon to be 47. My whole life i have been over weight. Not bad but.. from the time I graduated college I was just at about 200 and I would stay there for a few years and then lose weight down about 40-50 lbs and stay there for a few years. So over all of 25 or so reproductive years... I was probably normal weight for 12 of them.

So at work I had a co worker who was 325 lbs from the first day she started work.. never lost any weight. She also didn't have kids (like me) -- one thing that was different was that she drank. She got sick at 57 and pretty much died instantly from uterine cancer. That was scary and tragic. I can still see her in the casket.

I had another friend who had been abut 270 lbs the entire time I worked with her and she has no kids. In the last 5 or so years she lost about 30 lbs but still was like 240. Well she too now has come down with uterine cancer and it considered bad. She was not a drinker. She is 55.

In light of the tons of people I know with uterine cancer right now.. last year I started back dieting.. and so far, I did pretty good. I am down about 23 lbs of about 60 and I am planning on doing this slowly.

But I am freaking out and feeling terrified that the years I was fat are going to doom me. It is so depressing.

Also so many people at my workplace are sick. Another friend has breast cancer and another person's mom has uterine cancer... it is depressing. And freaks me out.

I am doing what I can to stay healthy. I take vitamin D3 and I take progesterone to balance out any hormone issues. I had my saliva tested twice and my estrogen didn't seem that that high.

[Persephone518]

I feel you. I can relate to this all too well--my mother and aunt both died from breast cancer, and whenever someone else I know gets a cancer diagnosis, it feeds into the paranoia that I'll end up the same way. It also sucks having to do all the screenings and tests usually reserved for much older women. Hard to enjoy what remains of my youth when I'm worrying constantly about life threatening illnesses.

Have you talked to your doctor? (The medical kind - although this sounds like something that a therapist could help significantly with too.) Might help put things into perspective. Focus the conversation on your own needs and goals as opposed to what's happening to other people. It sounds like you're already taking good care of yourself health-wise, but maybe some input from a doctor would help reassure you and help you develop a more positive, hopeful outlook.

[Sunflower123]

I agree with Persephone. I hope a doctor can give you some reassurance. Good for you for doing what you can to prevent getting sick.

[Shazerac]

It's scary when people we know get sick and pass away. I agree with Persephone, definately get a physical check up. I'm glad you've been inspired to try and lose some weight. I seriously doubt that being over weight before is going to continue to impact your health. Getting to a heathy weight is good for your body. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugars, all improve.

[MickeyCheeky]

I agree about visiting your doctor. Also, know that you're doing the best you can in keeping yourself healthy.

Originally Posted by Shazerac

It's scary when people we know get sick and pass away. I agree with Persephone, definately get a physical check up. I'm glad you've been inspired to try and lose some weight. I seriously doubt that being over weight before is going to continue to impact your health. Getting to a heathy weight is good for your body. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugars, all improve.

Well apparently high estrogen levels over time are a risk for uterine cancer. Fat on the body increases estrogen. Having kids gives you a break because of the tremendous amount of progesterone that you deal with for 9 months. 2 or three kids can give you an advantage. So it isn't about Blood pressure cholesterol or blood sugars -- which are all low on me.

Also there doesn't seem to be good tests for uterine cancer. So you can get an ultrasound but it can be misread. Easily. The first lady that passed had a check up and it wasn't found when it was small. And it was because she had a check up that she didn't act more quickly.

I suppose the good news is that today... someone said reports of my co worker's heath issues were greatly exaggerated and she will be coming back.

I am kind of blaze about my doctor. She doesn't seem to really know anything. She pushes a mammogram every year but won't give me an ultrasound unless I fake symptoms. Uterine cancer is usually found by unusual bleeding but that isn't cut and dry because menopause can cause that. Last year I got an ultrasound and they couldn't see the ovaries so I asked again this year and she wouldn't do it because "there was no reason to think there was anything wrong with the ovaries. Well, then it is too late.

[Persephone518]

Emily, is finding a new doctor a possibility? This one definitely doesn't sound knowledgeable or supportive.

Originally Posted by Persephone518

Emily, is finding a new doctor a possibility? This one definitely doesn't sound knowledgeable or supportive.

I find her to be the best of the lot. It is the AMA and insurance and even though she is the MOST non -AMA that I have found (she is also a DO) her hands are tied about what she can say and do. I suspect Mammograms get funding from the gov't. Thus the yearly push.

Recently I went to an OBGYN and she failed me. I asked for testing for the hormones (obviously I wanted to see if estrogen was markedly higher than progesterone) the OBGYN -- refused. She said they weren't accurate. Instead she offered me HRT. (which is more estrogen) I refused. I got my own saliva tests but, I don't know if they were accurate as they came out the same both times at different parts of the cycle. She very blithely dismissed the idea that estrogen caused uterine cancer when, it is a flat out fact. If she offered any explanation for why she didn't feel it was an issue in my case... I would feel better but she fell back on "experience" -- clearly I will not be going to her again.

I have looked into better OBGYNS that understand hormones and the risk for Uterine cancer but they are overwhelmed with patients.

I am actually really vigilant about my health. I put money into my health care account this year, and have used nearly all of it on blood tests and exams that my insurance wouldn't pay for or my doctor wouldn't order.

[Persephone518]

Originally Posted by Emily Fox Seaton

I find her to be the best of the lot. It is the AMA and insurance and even though she is the MOST non -AMA that I have found (she is also a DO) her hands are tied about what she can say and do. I suspect Mammograms get funding from the gov't. Thus the yearly push.

Recently I went to an OBGYN and she failed me. I asked for testing for the hormones (obviously I wanted to see if estrogen was markedly higher than progesterone) the OBGYN -- refused. She said they weren't accurate. Instead she offered me HRT. (which is more estrogen) I refused. I got my own saliva tests but, I don't know if they were accurate as they came out the same both times at different parts of the cycle. She very blithely dismissed the idea that estrogen caused uterine cancer when, it is a flat out fact. If she offered any explanation for why she didn't feel it was an issue in my case... I would feel better but she fell back on "experience" -- clearly I will not be going to her again.

I have looked into better OBGYNS that understand hormones and the risk for Uterine cancer but they are overwhelmed with patients.

I am actually really vigilant about my health. I put money into my health care account this year, and have used nearly all of it on blood tests and exams that my insurance wouldn't pay for or my doctor wouldn't order.

I'm sorry to hear that. Have you thought about seeing if you can get on the waiting list (assuming that's what they'd call it) with one of those other OBGYNs? My other thought would be - if you haven't already - to ask your primary care doctor about these issues. Sometimes they're willing to order blood work based on symptoms/concerns and will then refer you to the appropriate specialist if anything turns up. Not sure if these would be options for you but figured I'd make the suggestion.

[divine1966]

Taking care of your health is important. But worrying constantly about possibly getting sick even if no symptoms might not be healthy either. Do you see a therapist? I'd discuss it with a t. And I think you can find new obgyn. Unless it is rural area and only one doctor, which likely isn't the case. You can also ask primary doctor about your concerns re hormones. He or she might order those tests