A hysterectomy was not something I ever thought was in my future. I was into sports most of my life—basketball, running, aerobics and weightlifting. I was a healthy female adult who’d had two vaginal births and two healthy children. I had no history of any reproductive diseases.
When perimenopause and menopause came, everything was pretty much normal. From the time I was about 50 years old, I had some hot flashes, brain fog, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. I was frustrated about these crazy-but-typical menopause symptoms, but none of them were really bad, just uncomfortable at times.
My mother had had a hysterectomy because of her cervical cancer diagnosis, but she died six months after; I had another relative who had one because of fibroids. I did not know anyone else who’d had one—or so I thought.
The secret
In the United States there are approximately 600,000 women each year who have a hysterectomy. It is the second-most common surgery for women. The National Center for Health Statistics states that roughly 14% of women over the age of 18 have had a hysterectomy; that’s one-and-a-half in every ten. The probability of needing one rises with age. In the United States, Black women are the highest demographic for hysterectomies, according to the National Institutes for Health.
I was shocked when I learned over half a million women a year have a hysterectomy. Is this some secret that no one ever talks about?
I found out in the last few months that several members of my family on my mother’s side have had hysterectomies. It was surprising to me because it was never mentioned before. This really had me wondering why no one talks about it, like a hysterectomy is such a taboo subject. Maybe I was not asking the right questions, or having the conversations that would bring up this important health subject. Maybe no one in my family talks about it until it’s your turn!
My turn
There are several types of hysterectomies, and several ways the surgery can be performed. A radical hysterectomy involves removing the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and, in my case, some pelvic lymph nodes. I had a radical robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy. A laparoscopic surgery uses a laparoscope (a thin, telescope-like instrument) and other small instruments inserted through small incisions in the abdomen; a robotic-assisted laparoscopic is where the surgeon uses a robotic system to assist with the surgery.
Having an endometrial cancer (EC) diagnosis, I really did not get a say in which type of hysterectomy I was to have; my gynecologic oncologist made that decision based on the scans and the tissue biopsy. The cancer I had was at stage 1a (the earliest stage, thank goodness!) and only in the lining of the uterus. The laparoscopic was also chosen because I did not have any large growths to remove. They removed everything so that there is not even a hint of a chance of the cancer spreading to any other part of my body.
During my pre-surgery consultation ten days before the big day, my doctor explained that the robot was going to make four small incisions, but he would be in control of the machine the whole time. I made sure to bring my list of questions, but those were the longest ten days of my life!
The big day
At my pre-surgery consultation, the nurse gave me instructions for the day before surgery: follow a liquid diet, drink a laxative mix (yuck!), and no food or water after midnight the night before.
I woke up the morning of the big day with apprehension, a bundle of nerves and an empty stomach and large intestine, but I knew I was in good hands — robotic and otherwise. To be honest, I did not even research what the robot looked like beforehand! I didn’t want to know. I think it would have made me more anxious to see it.
My surgery was scheduled for the afternoon, but I received a call from the nurse that morning because my doctor had finished his other surgery already and I could come in earlier. Hallelujah! Let’s get this thing over with!
Upon arrival to the hospital, I was given a gown and head cover and taken to the pre-surgery room with other patients awaiting surgeries of all types. This is when I knew it was real and imminent, but I was still pretty calm at this point. I guess I was resigned to the fact that there was no going back and I wanted the cancer out of my body.
My daughter and my husband visited me in pre-surgery while the nurse hooked me up to the IV and took my vitals. My doctor, anesthesiologist and surgical nurse all came in to check on me as well. Everyone in that ward was super cordial and reassuring! The doctor told me that the surgery would probably take less than two hours.
Uh oh, it’s my turn! As I was being wheeled into surgery, my nervousness was gone, and waves of relief and gratitude overcame me. All I remember is scooting down onto the bed, saying hello to the anesthesiologist, and I was out. I woke up in recovery and was told that the surgery only took fifty minutes!
Now that my hysterectomy is behind me, I am so happy it’s over! The cancer is gone, and I never have to wear another sanitary pad again. Over a half million women per year are shouting hallelujah right along with me! I will make sure it is no longer a taboo subject.
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