"I felt fine at the same," says Lorraine O'Connor, who wasn't expecting to hear bad news from her doctor. During a routine exam in April 2009, her gynecologist felt a mass in her pelvis. Further tests showed it was endometrial cancer, which grows in the lining of the uterus.
Unlike cervical cancer, which is detected with a Pap test, there is no screening test to check for early signs of endometrial cancer, which typically occurs in women during and after menopause. But quick detection of the disease allows doctors to treat the cancer before it can spread to other parts of the body.
The treament for endometrial cancer is often hysterectomy, a surgery that removes the uterus. "The most common way to remove the uterus is through a long vertical or horizontal incision in the abdomen," says Nicholas Taylor, M.D., a gynecologic oncologist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. "However, this surgery requires a two- or three-day hospital stay and six weeks of recovery."
The Perricone Center for Gynecologic Oncology at Jersey Shore now offers a less invasive option. Called laparoscopic hysterectomy, the procedure offers faster healing than traditional surgery, Dr. Taylor says. This advanced procedure uses four small incisions -- each one no larger than the width of a quarter.
"Research shows that women who have a laparoscopic hysterectomy heal more quickly, leave the hospital sooner, and return to their normal activities faster," Dr. Taylor says. "Most paitents are active again two to three weeks after their procedure. It is a significant difference in quality of life."
That was certainly the case for Lorraine, who had a laparoscopic hysterectomy in April. Like most patients, she returned home the day after her surgery. She is still amazed by how quickly she was able to return to her usual routine -- one that includes a lot of social activities with Joseph, her husband of 50 years. She's back to playing cards every Tuesday and bowling every Wednesday.
"I had talked to a lot of my friends who had traditional hysterectomies, and they were in pain for several weeks after their surgery," Lorraine says. "I had none of that."
About the Doctor
Nicholas Taylor, M.D.
Board certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology
Neptune| 732-897-7944
