Textbook Cancer Treatment: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Alice listened to her body, knew something was wrong and was right about that; she had endometrial cancer


Biker-Girl at the sunset near lake

Closing in on her 60th birthday, Alice reckoned that her unusually heavy vaginal bleeding might finally signal her last period. As a fit, healthy mother of two, Alice didn’t expect anything more serious going on than a long last period before menopause. But that wasn’t it.

When the bleeding persisted for weeks, Alice, a vice president at a large non-profit in Denver, visited her general internist at the University of Colorado. Her internist referred her to Gynecology at UC of Colorado, and she saw Dr. Patricia Huguelet. An ultrasound revealed fibroids and polyps on her endometrial lining.

Dr. Huguelet recommended an additional biopsy to rule out endometrial cancer (cancer that begins in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus). The biopsy revealed that Alice had endometrial hyperplasia­—abnormal cell growth along the inner lining of the uterus. Based on the biopsy, there was a 25 percent chance that Alice’s uterine cells contained cancer.

My first thought was I don’t have cancer, no way I’m too healthy and fit. I’m not supposed to get cancer. Alice

Because there was a chance of cancer, Alice would need a hysterectomy as soon as possible. Dr. Huguelet referred Alice to Dr. Jaime Arruda, another gynecologist at CU who specializes in minimally invasive surgery and pre-invasive cancer treatment. Alice saw Dr. Arruda within the week.

“Dr. Arruda answered all my questions and it was terrific how she explained everything with such compassion,” said Alice. “I always felt completely cared for.”

Alice decided to undergo laparoscopic hysterectomy, a minimally invasive surgery that would remove her uterus and fallopian tubes. A lab would then examine the cells from her uterus and determine whether cancerous cells were present.

Alice’s nervousness leading up to the surgery was understandable. She had never undergone a major surgery or been under general anesthesia. The surgery went well, and Alice woke up without any nausea and returned home that night.

“Everyone involved with my surgery made me comfortable, from the nurses, the anesthesiologist and of course, Dr. Arruda,” said Alice.

It’s wrong to ignore what doesn’t feel right

A follow-up appointment to review her pathology report later that week revealed that she did, in fact, have stage I endometrial cancer. Because the cancer was discovered at such an early stage, Dr. Arruda was able to remove the entire cancer without fear of it spreading to other parts of the body, which would require more treatments.

Almost as soon as her cancer was discovered, Alice was back to a clean bill of health. No chemotherapy. No radiation. Cancer-free.

Alice’s cancer was discovered before it had time to develop and spread to other parts of her body. Her case represents a near-perfect example of textbook medicine for cancer treatment. There were lots of people involved and circumstances that resulted in Alice’s favorable cancer treatment and prognosis, but it all started with Alice herself.

“My advice to women everywhere is to listen to your body and never ignore something that doesn’t feel right,” said Alice.

Following her surgery, Alice decided to undergo genetic testing to determine if she was at higher risk for other related cancers. As an Ashkenazi Jew, she was at increased risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. “I felt as though I owed my two daughters (ages 25 and 28) the right to know if there was a genetic predisposition to these conditions,” said Alice.

All genetic tests came back negative for any cancer-mutated genes. Overall, Alice said the experience was very humbling. But she hasn’t let her quick bout with cancer inhibit her lifestyle. Now that she is cancer-free, Alice is back training for a long distance bike ride in the Colorado mountains this summer and another half marathon sometime in the fall.

“I feel so grateful and blessed; my experience at CU could not have been better,” said Alice. “Drs. Arruda and Huguelet saved my life.”