So I've been trying to get my mother's medical information, since her uterine cancer, combined with her colon cancer, means she might have the genetic predisposition to colon and uterine cancer... which means I could have that same genetic predisposition too!  It's an "Autosomal Dominant" gene, which means that she could pass it on to me even if father didn't have it

Father has discovered that Kaiser doesn't HAVE good medical records. Kaiser is sending me a CD in the mail with what they could find, but they said that they don't have medical records going back to 1989, even for their current patients (!).

Father did find this entry, and I think I understand some of it but I don't think it really states what type of cancer she had of the uterus (Endometrial cancer is the one that is linked to colon cancer). Anyway this is what dad read to me over the phone. He also might have her chart handy, so he'll look for it, see if there's anything on the actual cancer diagnosis in 1989. I always remember it, because she'd just got home and was recuperating when we had the Loma Prieta earthquake. To me this entry is more about the cervical cancer, and not the uterine cancer (both were discovered simultaneously.  Can anyone interpret if this really says anything about the uterine cancer?

FAC - SCL - Dr. Tatman

Malig - neo - pulmonary scan - maligneo corpus uterine dysplasia of cervix aco - atrophy and tube - tobacco abuse- continuous - 9/26 - total abd hysterectomy - conization of cervix - removed both tubes and ovary -

 Actually, it does talk about the uterine cancer... That's what the "maligneo corpus uterine" is.  Malignancy of the Body of the uterus (above the cervix but below where the fallopian tubes are).  Dysplasia is used to refer to what are likely pre-cancerous cells/changes in the cervix and Fallopian tubes.  So, actually, this is about both the uterine cancer and the cervical cancer.

Lora

I saw the utero but wasn't sure what that really meant. Can you get what TYPE of uterine cancer though? 

I had a feeeling the cervical cancer was more pre-cancerous than the real deal, but the uterine cancer was never specifically named, and everything I've read says that there's a variety of types of cancers of the uterus, both endometrial and otherwise. It's enough to make my head spin!

It says what kind of cancer it is, which is uterine and cervical. Malignant neoplasm of the uterus (precancerous growth in the uterus), cervical dysplasia (abnormal cell changes) indicating aco, or adenocarcinoma. Conization of the cervix just means they did a cone biposy of the cervix to detect and/or remove the abnormal cells.

Thanks. If I don't get anything else prior to seeing the Gynecologist I'll at least be able to share that with him.

 Is the "aco" an abbreviation for adenocarcinoma?  

Lora

As I understand it, yes. I wasn't there obviously, but I have seen it abbreviated that way before and it makes sense in the context. (Former med student).

Thanks for the clarifications. I appreciate it. I just want to make sure that the doc has the same information I have, so he can make a strong case for any genetic testing and/or prophylactic hysterectomy and/or oopherectomy.

The gene in question (HNPCC) is a scary one indeed.

If I have the gene, from what I read, the colon cancer rate in those without the gene is 6%, with it, it is 80%, and the age of onset of colon cancer is, on average 44 with the gene, and 65 without. Since I'll be 44 in November, and since mum had uterine cancer at my age, followed by colon cancer 15 years later... well ti's a bit worrying.

Ah well. Advance information helps.

They may not have the records, but I'll bet they have the original slides down in pathology. Probably archived the path reports, too, just not in the actual medical record.

I understand how the whole universe is moving to electronic medical records, but I just found it odd that they won't look up medical records of LIVE patients. My father, who has been with Kaiser for more than 30 years, said to them, "What if I neededd to access my OWN medical records?" and they said, "they don't exist anymore"

Pretty lousy! but I'm hoping that they'll have at the very least a comprehensive diagnosis. I don't need them to tell me how much she weighed and how tall she was and what her cholesterol was. I just want the stupid diagnosis, and I want it clearly! Zat too much to ask?