almost 5 years

tdbear

Count me in! In 02 I had a mast w/ SNB for a 12mm tumor. Borderline for chemo so onc said tamoxifin for 5 years. 4 years later almost to the date, I found a lump on same side. Yup it's was back! Lumpectomy twice to get clean margins. Did full round of DD chemo and rads. Now on aromasin... How do you not worry about it comming back?!!

atpoint

My heart goes out to you, td. You must be devasted. As many have said; this is a rollercoaster ride. I know it has been with me too. Just when I think its going to be okay something goes wrong. Please try to keep positive thoughts. I agree we can't not worry about it coming back or even spreading but try not to spend all your energy worrying. I know thats my biggest problem. Feeling the positve energy from the readings here seems to be helping me hopefully it will you too.
Hugs,

tos

Hi TD, I'm so very sorry you've had to deal with this twice.
I made it 4 1/2 yrs before getting a tumor on the other side so went w/a bilateral mastectomy and currently doing Taxotere.

It really hits hard the second time and for me anyway stirs up feelings I hadn't had before about it spreading.
I'm just trying to drum up some hope that it doesn't happen and the Taxotere will do it's job.
I really don't know how we can't worry. I do try to push it from my mind and busy myself with things when I'm able but it's always there lurking.

iamonly39

I just read your post and I am very sorry to hear that the cancer is back.
Am I understanding you right? Did you say that you got a mastectomy and still got cancer on that side? I guess I didn't know that was possible. Is it? Just one more thing to worry about.
Good luck to you
Be positive and you will beat this thing!

tos

Good morning LR and thank you for your kind words.
No I had a lumpectomy w/my first dx and then when dx again on the other side this year I decided to get a bilateral mastectomy. Just a month before that my 38 yr old daughter had been dx w/bc then me again, heavy family history so I knew something was wrong. Then we both tested and found our we are positive for a brca 1 gene so I knew then I had done the right thing.
I think there is a teeny chance of bc recurrence after bilateral mastectomy somewhere around under 10% or less, I can't remember for sure, it's early and I'm still working on my first cup of coffee .

tdbear

Yes you read right , I had a Left mast in '02 and in '06 found a lump on the mast site. Now after all the treatment ect I still get nervous when it comes time for check-ups.

nosurrender

I think we will always be nervous. It is like being shell shocked or something.
Think of yourself as a two - time cancer SURVIVOR!!

I like your line at the end of your posts- we are one tough group!

SandyInNJ63

I also had a left mastectomy in '02 and I always wondered why there is no additional screening done to that side after the mastectomy. It's quite obvious that it could still come back, as you have unfortunately experienced yourself. Yet, when i ask for screening on that side, I get told "there's nothing there to image, you had a mastectomy" as if now I'm safe. (My original doctor, btw, told me to continue having routine mammo's on the mastectomy side, but since changing doctors and testing facilities, I can't seem to get anyone to do it). I'd like to hand them a copy of your experience and say "THAT'S why I want to be screened!". Grrrrrrrr!!!!