Hodgkins Lymphoma and BC

Maisymae

Hi everyone, I was in the hospital for four days after the surgery and then had to go back in for another four days. Typing is hard, my fingers are numb- probably from the chemo, but after the surgery my right arm had carpell tunnel from being straight for all the hours of surgery. The surgery was two weeks ago today. I am healing well, no problems with the mastectomy, incisions healing well. The tissue expanders hurt, a lot, I don't know how I'll live with them for 10 more weeks. I saw my breast surgeon yesterday, my pathology report was good. Even though I had 4 chemo treatments the tumor was still there, but shrunk from 3.7 to 1.3- meaning it was an aggressive tumor since it was still there. The margins around the tumor and the lymph nodes were clean. The hospital was a nightmare because I didn't have a private room for 7 of the 8 nights. I needed my husband with me at night, I had him the last night. The first week I had no use of my arms and needed help doing everything. Now I'm home my parents had to go back home and it's hard to be on my own when my husband is at work and the kids are at school- I have four of them, 15, 13, 12 and 7. I feel like crying most of the time from the discomfort of the expanders. I'm still wearing the compression bra, even though I don't have to. I had my drains taken out at the hospital, which was great. There is a store in town that fits women after mastectomy/reconstruction for camisoles. I wasn't up to going today but would like to get there to see if the camisole would be more comfortable. My dr. gave me a script for the camisole so insurance will cover a couple of them. I have visiting nurses coming tomorrow for my blood draw and flush of my port. That's been a nice service. They came the other day and checked my vitals and incisions. I had to go back into the hospital for a cough, they were treating me for pneumonia. I needed a blood transfusion too because my red count was so low. I also retained about 30lbs of fluid so I was on lasic, prednisone, antibiotic. It's great to be home but it seems like it's going to be forever until my exchange surgery. I hope it's earlier than 10 weeks!! I go to my oncologist next week for a blood draw, I hope he doesn't want anymore chemo. I don't think he will. Before the surgery the MRI showed the tumor had shrunk to 1.6. I also will go for a fill to the plastic surgeon in a couple weeks. I have 720cc in the expanders right now- he did that at the time of surgery. The maximum is 800 so I only need 80cc more. Not sure how many fills it will take to get that last 80cc but I hope he'll tell me I'm ready for the exchange sooner. He did say I needed 6 weeks to heal internally. The breast surgeon and I talked about the connection between Hodgkin's and breast cancer. She told me there are 120,000 cases in the US of people my age having breast cancer after having gone through hodgkins years ago. 

michellewaterloo

Hi Michelle,

I just sent you a message on your closed facebook account. I just registered for this site today. The reason I am contacting you is because I had Hodgkins (ABVD and radiation on chest) in 2003. I had an ultrasound biopsy in the fall of 2012 which came back normal. It was rated a BIRAD 0. I just had another MRI and this time the lump is bigger and there is also another lump in my left breast. I am being scheduled for an MRI guided biopsy. This recent MRI report said BIRAD 4. I am interested in speaking to people like you who had Hodgkins and now have breast cancer or concerns like myself. It is SO HARD to find anyone who is in the same boat. It took me a long time to find you! I know that BIRAD 4 means a 20 to 50% chance of cancer depending on which website you use, but our risks are always much higher because of the radiation we received.

I hope you are doing well and to hear from you soon.

kim40

has anyone had bc first and then lymphoma?  My doctor felt my spleen and from what she can gather its  be lymphoma but won't knuw until we get the result of the ct which is tomorrow.  My brother was diagnosed with lymphoma a year and a half after my bc and a couple of my cousins do too.  I'm praying she is wrong as I'm not sure how I would handle another diagnosis 

Thank you 

Dnice

Hi kim40...I just happen to see your topic while looking for another. I did have Hodgkin's lymphoma but it was years before I had the current BC DX. My mom also had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma many years ago. I am so sorry you have to deal with the uncertainty right now. It is awful waiting for test results. There are quite a few of us on fatgraftpatients.com that had mantle radiation for HL and now have BC. I hope your tests show nothing related to cancer. Xo take care.xo Dnice

Guineagirl

Hello,

I, too, am a Hodgkins survivor now looking at LCIS.   I was diagnosed in '79 with a rare bone disease and then in 1980 it was found to be Hodgkins.   Apparently, mine started in my bones then went to lymph nodes.  I was diagnosed as Stage IV.   Did MOPP and cobalt.   Then in 1985 right before my 16th birthday I came out of remission.  Six months of ABVD followed.   Have been cancer free since then.  This past summer I was diagnosed with LCIS.   I then Went for a colonoscopy and wAs told I was lucky I was there now instead of a year from now.   I'm not looking forward to having a BMX with reconstruction but at this point I feel lucky to be in the position of not facing chemo and/or radiation again.   I believe my angels upstairs (my mother and three sisters) are watching over me.    

katiejo2010

Hi All,

I am wanting any information regarding breast cancer and Hodgkins. I was diagnosed in 2007 with HD Stage IIB and received 8 rounds of AVBD, I then recurred in 2008 at my six month appt and then received some chemo regime called ICE along with a stem cell transplant and then mantle radiation. I have been talking to a breast specialist and she has told me I can either get an MRI every year or until after I reproduce to breast feed or get them taken out right away. I am 8 years out now. I was wondering what all of your thoughts are on mastectomy right away or just waiting it out. Thanks in advance

Moderators

Hi Katiejo-

This is an older thread, so you might not get much feedback from the people who posted here, but we do have some info on our main site about survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma and breast cancer risk:

Breast MRI for Screening

Radiation to Chest or Face Before Age 30

Also, some info on Prophylactic Matectomies that you might find helpful.

Choosing to undergo a preventative mastectomy is a very personal decision. We urge you to check out our High Risk for Breast Cancer forum to learn a bit more about some of the reasons our members have chosen to declined preventative surgery. Hopefully this helps in some way!

The Mods