Recurrence 7 months after clean lumpectomy

koz

Hello all. I am new to this board, but not new to this horrible disease. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last year (December 2009). My wife (42) had a lumpectomy which was successful with clean lymph nodes and clear borders. She started chemo in February 2010 and just finished in July 2010. A mass reappeared in the same spot the surgery was done and the doctors suggested she did a biopsy just to make sure (originally thought to be possibly scar tissue). Results came back 2 days later and it is cancer ... again. Is this possible ? While you are on chemo and had a successful lumpectomy, cancer recurring in 7 months after the original surgery ? Anyone else had or heard of a similar case ? We have to meet with the surgeon again next week and we expect they will suggest to do a mastectomy. I need some help understanding what is going on. Our lives just got turned upside down for the second time in 1 year. I just don't understand. Help.

Cowgirl13

i'm so sorry you are going thru this. Did you wife have radiation?  Someone here with more information will post shortly, I am sure.  Thinking good thoughts for you and your wife.

Beesie

koz, I'm sorry that you and your wife are going through this.  It sounds to me as though there was still cancer left in breast at the original site, despite the clear margins.  That can happen, particularly if the cancer is not a solid mass or if it is multi-focal (i.e. there is more than one location of cancer cells) .  While additional surgery will be necessary to remove the rest of the cancer, if this in fact is part of the original cancer and if it has not spread, then it's very possible that it won't change your wife's prognosis at all. While this is terrible to be going through, in the end what's most important.

Good luck to you and and wife.  Please let us know what the surgeon says.

Anonymous

Hey koz. Im also so sorry you have to face this monster again. I aplaud you for posting in support of your wife. Us wives who have such supportive hubbies are so very blessed. We really appreciate you. I know what my Hubby has had to sit through, from at the 1st diagnosis turning as white as a sheet, to chemo rads and another Mast which turned out to be prophylactic. Out of EVERY appointment Ive had, there was only 1 that he was unable to attend. He has stuck by me through thick and thin, put up with my sometimes less than favourable attitude, but knowing that I love him dearly beyond words.  I really hope that the prognosis will be favourable and that  things will pan out good for you.

All the best

Musical

calamtykel

I'm sorry you both have to deal with any of this at all.    But that being said, then if it's just cropped up, hopefully it's very small and  can be taken care of with just a mastectomy?  If it's that new, hopefully it's just in the breast and not the lymph nodes, which should keep her from needing chemo again.  Especially since her nodes were clean the first time.  Many times they can just be removed without further treatment.  I had a mastectomy earlier this month and I'm 41.  It's not the horrible procedure I thought it would be.  I had it by choice to avoid radiation (even though I knew I might still have to have it if I had 3 or more positive nodes.)  Under my arm is still sore where they took 12 nodes out, but the actual site has healed very nicely.  Something tells me you've both been through the worst already, so hang in there!

Kate0574

sorry sorry to hear about the reoccurance... all I can say is MASTECTOMY!!! you see this all to often.  GL going through this again... HUGS to you and your wife... Kate

dlb823

Hi, koz ~ I'm so sorry about your wife's recurrance.  Can you possibly share with us her original dx -- size of lesion, hormone (ER, PR) & Her2 stats?  Some types of breast cancer can just be much trickier, which may help to explain what's happened.  The other question I would have is, did she have an MRI prior to surgery, to be sure they knew the full extent of her breast cancer? 

Also, depending on what her breast surgeon recommends, you and she may also want to consider factoring in a second opinion.  And if her surgeon is a general surgeon, then by all means a second opinion from a breast surgeon would be in order.    Deanna

susan_CNY

saying prayers for your family, is so scary to have this happen

Octobergirl

Get a second opinion before making the next decision, preferably from a breast surgeon at an NIH-approved cancer treatment facility. With more information, you may feel you trust your docs' past decisions and understand what went wrong leading to the quick recurrance. Or you may feel that more  thorough testing could have led to more accurate diagnosis and treatment.  In that case, I'd find a new medical team.   

My heart goes out to you and your wife. It would be so daunting to think of starting the tx. process over again so soon and I'd have the same questions you're asking. Best wishes.

MsBliss

The "germ" theory that a cell or clump of cells was left behind after excision surgery is not necessarily the correct assumption here.  Some research indicates that the cancer returns to the site of inflammation (surgical site) from another place where it was dormant, or the body cooked up a new batch of cells which was re-attracted to the primary site.  One researcher radio tagged bc cells in the mouse model and they left the scene, hid, and came back to the surgical site.  Now it is a long leap from this study, but she theorized that the inflammation of surgery provides desirable co factors for cancer cells, thus they are attracted back to the site.

First, absolutely get a second opinion on what to do next.  Secondly, it sounds as though your wife needs a vitamin D level done.  She needs to know her levels because vitamin D is critical for many of the cells to normalize and behave.  Thirdly, do you know her histopathology?  What type of receptors and other data so that you both can understand exactly what you are dealing with and be informed?

melissa-5-19

KOZ

Well- your news sucks- but you knew that! What I have to say reinforced Bessie and others that this disease is crazy wild and anything can happen--------including good things- now don't dismiss this idea, I am 9 months out from a Bilateral mx- no reconstruction and while it is true I am older than you two  I know by reading your posting that good things, spiritual and otherwise will happen for you.

You are a wonderful person to stick by her, my husband has and we are closer and happier than ever (married 30+ years), Hold each other and pray, and we will too. Miss Kitty

Anonymous

I encourage you to get a second opinion and MRIs of both breasts.  I had a lumpectomy in 2007 and then MRI picked up other areas in 2008. Had a double mast in 2008.  There was even a 1.7 cm benigh tumor not seen on MRI.  If your wife has dense breasts, it is impossible to see everything.