Stage II, Triple Negative, 2 Primaries & BRCA 2+

smithlme

Let's see if this flies! Has anyone else been diagnosed Stage II, triple negative, been diagnosed with another primary and is BRCA 2+?

I was diagnosed with triple negative IDC in March of 2007, which was node negative. I chose to have a mastectomy followed by DD A/C and DD Taxol.

The following March I was diagnosed with a new primary of DCIS which was ER+/PR-. I chose to have another mastectomy. After the second diagnosis I had genetic testing and found out I am BRCA 2+. I chose to have a hysterectomy w/BSO to try and avoid ovarian cancer.

I've recently had scar revision surgery to clean up the mess from a failed TRAM attempt in January of 2008 and both mastectomies. I'm wondering if there are other women on this board with any similar experiences? I feel like a fluke and not the "strong" person people claim I am...just a tired one...

Linda

LRM216

Ah, Linda, I don't share your circumstances (other than being triple neg and petrified due to that) but I did want to send you a big hug and lots of support.  I am so sorry you have had this double whammy and the trouble with the failed TRAM.  Hang in there, we are here for you!

Hugs,

Linda

smithlme

Thanks Linda. I'm usually OK with all this fluky stuff, but some days I still get overwhelmed with it all. My BRCA+ status keeps me wondering when/if my genes are going to fire off again and where...

Linda

LRM216

I know exactly what you are saying.  I walk around, no matter how positive I try to make myself think, my mind goes right back to the triple neg diagnose and the feeling of that ticking time bomb I spoke of in another thread.  I can only pray that time will ease some of this fear.  The stress is tremendous at times, but what can we do?  Some days I feel up, other days, for no seemly reason, I can't get the fear demon off my back.  I never had the BRCA testing as I am the first on both sides of my family to get cancer.  No one has had any type at all, and with my being 62 at diagnose - they wouldn't do it.  Hang in there, we will all weather this together!

Linda

smithlme

Linda,

All I can do is hang in there! If I didn't have this board to bounce my thoughts around I'd be asking strangers on the street! NOT a good thing to do in a small town!

We got our BRCA gene from our paternal grand-mother. She died of breast cancer before I was born. My oldest sister was diagnosed with BC at 36, twenty years ago. Our dad was diagnosed with colon cancer 14 years ago and kidney cancer 6 years ago. Both times he chose surgery and no chemo. He carries the BRCA 2 gene, but the two cancers he's had aren't on out "hit list" of cancers to watch out for. I was diagnosed at 47 and again at 48. This past week my dad, who just turned 84, had a biopsy on his neck and the doctor is pretty sure it's cancerous. We're now waiting to see what type of cancer it is; a new primary or mets. Skin cancer is on our list of BRCA 2 cancers.

I wish the cause and the cure would be found NOW...

Linda