Bilateral Cancer?

jdfnj

I am pretty new here.  I have different issues in each breast.  left side i have two masses that will be biopsied thursday by fine needle aspiration.  On the right i have a cluster of calcifications.  I was told that i am not a candidate for the core biopsy due to the location of the cluster.  So now i will have a surgical biopsy in the near future. 

I guess im wondering - how common is it to have two totally different types of bc at the same time - one in each breast?  Or is it possible that one has spread to the other?

Any input would be great

THanks

Jdfnj

twurtzler

jdfnj,

I am so sorry you are going through all of this.  I too just joined this site. Yours was the first post I have read.  I was diagnosed 3 years ago with bilateral breast cancer.  I am not sure how common it is but I know my tumors had a combination of Infiltrating ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma insitu.  Turns out that despite having no positive family history of bc I did have the gene mutation for it. You did not say how old you are, but if you are under 50 having the bilateral situation does give you a higher possibility for the BRCA gene mutation which you might want to talk about with your oncologist before you make any decisions for treatment. (lumpectomy vs mastectomy).  I know this is a very horrifying time for you and I wish you all the best and will be happy to chat anytime with you and what you are going through.  Good Luck, my thoughts and prayers go with your.

jdfnj

Thanks for the reply twurtzler.  I am 34 - and going pretty crazy right now playing the waiting game.

LittleFlower

Hi jdfnj,

sorry your here hon, this cancer stuff seriously sucks!  I had bilateral also, i was 29 at the time and did not test positive for the gene.  I think i remember reading that it wasn't so much one spreading to the other breast, i think it's more likely that they are all seperate primaries.  But it doesn't mean that your chances of surviving are reduced.  Your statistics are all based on the biggest of the tumors.  I was diagnosed in summer 2006, and still here ( though i didn't think i would be) 

Be strong girl, you about to start a crazy roller coaster ride, but this too shall pass.  We'll all be thinking of you as you go through these next steps.  Keep us posted, visit often... it helps!

LittleFlower

danab04

You need to get educated on everything your doctors are telling you, be your own advocate. I have been through this twice now, and although my cancer was only in one breast, no family hx, negative for the gene, I wanted to have bilateral mastectomy to reduce my chances of recurrence, but insurance wouldn't pay for mastectomy of healthy breast until my second occurrence. Both times cancer was in right breast. And it is OK to get second opinions, I wish I had the first time around. Hang in there!