I hate waiting!!

Eileen0417

I was diagnosed with a second cancer in Sept. 2012. It was in the same breast but opposite area. It never showed up on my last mammo but it did on my annual MRI. Actually doc did a mammo of that breast the morning of the biopsy and it still didn't show. Now that is a case for insurance companies to pay for increased surveillance for high risk patients!



My first was a lumpectomy w/partial rads and chemo and tamoxifen. That tumor was 1.5cm and grade one, neg. lymph nodes.



This time I had to fight for another lumpectomy and had one. Path report showed 2.2cm tumor, stage 2, histologic grade 2, overall grade 1,neg nodes. The tumor developed and was able to grow while I was on tamoxifen. This shakes my confidence in hormonal treatment at least for me.



My onc ordered the oncotype and that should be in by my apt with him next week. I hate waiting though. When I saw him after dx and we knew from the biopsy that it was estr+ pr+ and her2- and nuclear grade 2. I asked "I can skip chemo this time right"? He said not necessarily because having a second cancer raises my risk to begin with and the fact that it grew while on tamoxifen raises a question and oncotype is only one piece of the picture.



I'm worried that if my oncotype score is low and he suggests just ovary suppression and an AI I could recur because the hormonal meds failed to begin with . My docs said the chance of having a hormone sensitive tumor while on tamoxifen is ridiculously low. So that makes me think that hormone meds could fail again.



I trust my docs completely and I am very lucky to have such an amazing team, but I also know that there is no way to know for sure what will happen with any treatment plan. There are no guarantees.



Has anyone had a situation similar to mine? I was 42 when diagnosed the first time and 49 now and premenopausal. Thanks!

peggy_j

Eileen, I haven't had a similar Dx (BTW, there's a forum below for patients with recurrence).   If I was in your shoes, I think I'd feel exactly the same way  (and have doubts about the effectiveness of hormonals, etc). I hear you on the whole waiting game. It's so hard. I don't know what the answer is. I hear that you trust your doctors. I know that some patients choose to have a second opinion, but, based on my experience, a lot of cancer Tx is based on statistical analysis so it's possible different docs will rely on the same data. In my case I have a 10% risk of recurrence if I take tamox. So the optimist in me says that there a 90% chance I won't have a recurrence but yes, 10 in 100 women will. I hate cancer. It's such a crap shoot. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'll be thinking of you while you're waiting. Hope the appt this week brings you the news you want to hear. take care.

Eileen0417

Thanks Peggy! I appreciate your thoughts:) Luckily this latest tumor is not a recurrence of my original cancer but instead it is a new rimary one. Which is much better prognosis wise.  My apt. was cancelled on friday because the oncotype was not in. But I have an at. this thursday and it will be in by then for sure. So, just four more days of wondering.......I hope you are doing well.

StacyeD

@Eileen - sure hated to read about your recurrence. We all think the treatments prevent cancer...period. I am just 6 weeks past my chemo & rads. I could only do 4 of the 6 planned chemo treatments because my body couldn't handle taxotere. I weathered FEC just fine. I am wondering what the heck is going on in my body! Did the chemo & rads work? Is the tamoxifen working...it sure as heck has given me more SEs. I have read as much as I can on the 'waiting' part and it doesn't make it any easier. My recurrence risk is 45%...and my Dr said I could opt for other breast & ovary removal...but I have another friend who says cancer spreads from surgeries. I honestly don't know what I should be doing now...still battling fatigue and feeling of constant cold...still can't be on my feet for longer than 1.5 hrs...swollen lymph nodes (painful).. and it's Christmas Time! The time of year when you need more energy for....everything.

netty46

I hear mixed stories. Whats worse primary or recurrence of the same cancer or the time frame cancer returns.  I heard the more years in between cancers the better .