Recurrence less than 3 months after bilateral mastectomy

sapphireter

I'm wondering if anyone has had a local recurrence happen so fast. I was initially dx March 25, 2010 with stage IIIB, multi-focal, IDC. Treated with neo-adjuvent chemotherapy, 6 rounds of TAC, then bilateral mastectomy on September 14, 2010, had tissue expanders placed during this same surgery, and just started radiation (just 2 treatments) when I found another lump. It is on the bony part of my chest about 2 1/2 inched above where my breast was. I had a biopsy on that lump on December 10, 2010, and got positive dx for cancer again on December 14, 2010. I will have surgery to remove the lump and both tissue expanders this Thursday December 23, 2010. I'm confused if this is infact a recurrence, which my breast surgeon did say it was, or if it was residual cancer left over from the original cancer. 

If anyone has any insight, please share your thoughts with me. I don't want anything sugar-coated, I want the hard facts, and I want to know what I am dealing with here.

Thank you for reading my post, its terrible that we have this awful disease in common, but I find it comforting to come here and communicate with others who have had similar experiences.

Bless you all and have a wonderful holiday season!

Terri 

DiDel

Terri

I have not had this happen but have heard that sometimes a tumor developes in the tiniest amount of tissue left in the incision line. I am so sorry you are having to deal with this again so soon, but at least you caught it quickly and sounds like your docs are on top of things.

Good luck with your surgery, Stay strong and breathe!

Diane

VC1

Hello my name is Vicki and im 34.Last Friday i got diagnosed with my 3rd BC. This last one 4 months after my mastectomy. It is just under the skin on my scar line. My only option is chemo again. I have been told by my surgeon that the scans i have this week are likely to show mets in lung or liver. Best of luck to you.x

tracie23

This is the scariest thing I have heard in a while... VC1 you are saying you had a mastectomy and it came back in the scar line? what kind of chemo did you have the first time? and for how long? Tracie

AnneW

Just because our breasts are gone doesn't mean we're now impervious to breast cancer. Tiny cells can be left behind--there's no way to get 100% of the breast tissue. Which is why many surgeons will not perform nipple-sparing mastectomies.

It's not uncommon to have a recurrence in the scar tissue. But that's considered a local recurrence. And if you've already had the big chemo, then rads are likely.

We are never out of the woods from this disease. Even with our breasts gone. It's a very scary reality. I ache for anyone having to deal with this again at all, much less so soon.

DMD

Terri and Vicki I am so sorry you are having to deal with this.  I have not dealt with it myself (yet anyway) but you might want to go the the "Recurrance after bilat mastectomy" thread...you may get more insight from that. Be strong ladies...my thoughts and prayers are with you!

the1truereblangel

My long story in short form. First had an "issue" with the left breast over 20 years ago, had numerous excision and draining surgeries and procedures. After all of this, had a bi-lateral mastectomy as a precaution, no cancer was ever found, in November 2010. Now, 5 months later, under the right scar, the same issue with redness, swelling, drainage ect. I have a general feeling of something just not right. I have never seen an oncologist. Went to the breast center in September 2010, surgeon in October 2010, mastectomy in November 2010. Now, I have swelling in the back of my armpit, and have always had the achy, tingling feeling in both arms but surgeon says no nodes were taken. So confused. Father died of fast acting bone and brain cancer 5 years ago. I guess I am just asking for opinions on if I should see an oncologist or if it is a waste of time now that mastectomy was already done

the1truereblangel

Follow up. Come to find out I never had breast cancer in the first place. I had MRSA and still do. Even after the bilateral masterctomy. How did we find this out? I had an absess split open under my arm pit. Yet another culture ran, you know, just to make sure, and sure enough MRSA. Be diligent ladies triple check every possibility. I thought I was super diligent and informed. Not good enough. Mastectomy because of MRSA

VC1

Sorry for not posting for such a long time following my message.  I am on Gemzar at the moment (have been since March) and my wound has 90% healed.  My oncologist said he never expected a response like this  Oh, and the scans were all clear meaning this is considered a local recurrance.

IllinoisNancy

That is Great News!!! Thanks for sharing!!

Survivor2Be

VC1  I notice that you are TN.  What made you decide Gemzar?   Did you have a PET scan?  I was just diagnosed with a recurrence 3 months after my surgery.  I was in radiation at the time.  Right now I am finishing my radiation (did chemo prior to surgery) while I wait for my appointments with MDs for the recommendation for  chemo. 

VC1

Hi Survivor

 Originally I was due to have gemcarbo (gemzar & carboplatin) as they suspected I would have spread elsewhere.  After my bone and CT scan was clear, the put me on Carboplatin first which had no effect so changed to Gemzar which has had a major effect.  My first cancer was not quite triple negative having very low levels of estrogen, the second diagnosis was triple negative and the cancer I have now is a recurrance of the first!!

Deep81

Hi there, I am 30 years and have been recently diagnosed with Breast Mets to the Lung-3 3months post bilateral masectomy.

I was originally diagnosed with stage 2b breast cancer with lymph node involvement last year in October (2010).

I had all the scans prior to the lumpectomy and everything came back clear, Had surgery with full lypmth node dissection, 6 rounds of FEC-T, 25 rounds of radiation to the lympth nodes and then had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders in July 2011. My pathology came back clear and I thought I was all good. But then a month later, I started to feel chest pains, shortness of breath and a cough appeared, plus my energy levels were really low. So I went for my 6 month follow-up with my Oncologist who was about to give me the all clear until I mentioned Hey I have a cough and chest pains. He then sent me for a chest x-ray and found fluid on the right lung. He then took a litre off the lung and then sent me for a CT Scan which showed that the cancer had metastasized to the lung.

I'm triple negative and am now on Gemcitabine and Cisplastin- i have had 2 sessions but the entire treatment cycle is 12 cycles and 1 cycle is 2 sessions. I anticipate to finish this chemo next May (2012). I have my CT Scan in 2 months and have chest xrays before each chemo. I am hoping this chemo works for me!

lollypop59

hi i have had after having my masceptomy and reconstruction, which i had in march 2011  now i have a local reccurrance in same breast in the skin and going in to have my reconstruction removed on wed of next week, and then more treatment after. also i am still on the herecptin, i live in the uk in wales.

lovetosail

Deep81- sorry to hear of your recurrence, I do hope your chemo works for you.  lollypop59, I also had a local recurrence to the breast skin.  I had a bunch of scans last week to see if it had spread anywhere else - I have an appt with the onco tomorrow to hear the news.  I am so freakin' anxious!  Best case scenario - it's just local and I get radiation - funny how I'll be psyched to get (only) rads!

lollypop59

my surgeon said its just local reccurance, the ct scan was clear i am having the op on wed the 19th  oct, they said its a local reccurance but my surgeon said it isnt  cells that been left behide, so i dont know i am waiting for my breast nurse to phone me today i am a bit confused. i hope you receive good news from your oncoligst. good luck. x

lovetosail

Hi lollypop, clear to hear your ct scan was clear.  I did find out today that my scans were clear and I had only a localized recurrence - I'll get radiation + more herceptin for "insurance".  Hope your tx goes well - good luck!

lollypop59

hi lovetosail

                  pleased to hear your reults were clear, i had my silicone removed and the nodules, but not sure if i need more treatment yet my sugeon said they may just keep me on the herceptin, i will see on the 1st nov is when i see my oncoligist, anyway you take care  and good luck!

KeepingFaith69

Hi Lollipop59,

So sorry to hear of the recurrence.

I have had something similar.  Double Mx in September 2010, followed by chemo (18 weeks), rads (20) and Herceptin (12 months).

A lump appeared underneath the scar tissue, directly above the initial tumour (multi foci largest 3mm).  I will be getting surgery to remove what was initially thought to be benign cysts) this coming Tuesday.  CT scans the following day. 

I have two young children and am beside myself with anxiety.  Just wonderng how things are going for you.  Keep the faith xox

KeepingFaith69

Also, I am especially concernned because a "fill in" oncologist stopped my Herceptin Infusion (scheduled for last Thursday) as she beleived that the Herceptin wasnt working.  Scary!!!!

lollypop59

hi keeping faith 69,

the same with me i had three left of herceptin to go my oncologist did say it have not worked for me but then she said that it wont hurt to finish the last three, but i was due to have one yesterday but it was cancalled, because i had a phone sayig my muga scan was not good now i have to go and see a cardiologist to make sure my heart is ok, but at this moment i am cancer free and i did not need any further treatment, just had the nodules removed. It is very scary but we just have to try and stay positive take care and stay strong. x

lollypop59

hi lovetosail.

        i had the nodules removed no further treatment need, i had three more herceptin to go but that have been stopped because of my heart, i will be seeing my oncoligist on monday it just never ends hope you are well x

KeepingFaith69

Hi Lollypop59.

Hope all is still going well.  How did it go with your Oncologist?

Lovetosail - hoe are things going for you?

I have nodules removed on Tuesday and my surgeon said she was 'very happy' with the outcome.  Awaiting histology and scan results now.  The waiting is driving me batty!  Roll on Monday 5/12 at 10:00am.  I am visualising clear margins and clear scans.  Yeah baby!

lovetosail

good luck KeepingFaith69 with your outcome!  I am doing well, thanks for asking - about 2/3 of the way done with radiation.  It's pink and uncomfortable, but I am dealing with it okay

 Lollypop59, sorry to hear you had to suspend herceptin, hope your heart recovers soon!

 take care ladies, and check in when you get a chance.

KeepingFaith69

Hey all.  Scans are all clear, yahooooo!  Last 3 rounds of Herceptin have been stopped.  I was worried and now I'm OK with it.  NED works for me.  And they will be checking me often to monitor.  II'm cool with that.  NED NED NED yay

lollypop59

hi lovetosail, hope you has a good christmas and a happy new year to you and your family, i have now another worry again only had my nodules removed 3 months ago, now i have two more small lumps appeared waiting to see my surgeon next week, it never ends hope its nothing sinister again, anyway hope you are doing well x

lollypop59

hi keepingfaith69, my herceptin was stopped, i had three left to go but my heart was affected, now on heart medication for a while, di  speak with my onc and she said that not to worry to much because i had had most of them and if you did need it again but hopefully not your heart will be back to normal by then, happy new year to you and you are well x

KeepingFaith69

Hi Lollipop59,

I hope the the lumps are nothing to worry about.  Wishing you NED.

Please let me know how tings come along for you.

I will include you in my prayers

Happy new year xo

lollypop59

hi lovetosail hope you are well , i had another punch biopsy today on some more nodules that appeared again, hoping they are not more cancer cells that have popped up, but will know on monday, so stressed again, do you have treatment after your reccurance because my surgeon said today if they cancer cell present it will be more chemo , the tablet form, i just dont get cant have herceptin because they stopped it.grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr       also hi keepingthefaith69 hope you are well x x

KeepingFaith69

Oh dear Lollypop59.... praying for NED.

lollypop59

hello keepingfaith69,

                        the nodules were were cancer agai, plus i got a chest wall reccurance has well its never ending, which means more chemo in couple of weeks then more surgery. cancer sucks big time .hoping you are feeling well today. x x