Third Breast Cancer diagnosis

ShazzaKelly

Hi I'm new here. Was diagnosed with BC 2 weeks ago and had a Mastectomy lat week. Still waiting on the histology but before surgery my ultrasound picked up multiple tumours in the breast and some lymph node involvement.

I was previously diagnosed in 1999 at 31 and had a lumpectomy then again in 2007 where I had a mastectomy and tram flap recon.

Now I have it again on my other side. I'm not looking forward to going through this again a 3rd time at 45. Wondering how I should have done things differently at my previous diagnosis.

Anyone else been through the same thing? How did you cope?

Racy

Hi, I have not had the same history but understand your concern. I wanted to acknowledge your post.

I also took a conservative approach of lumpectomy to my one diagnosis. If you thought the decisions you made at the time were right for you, that is all you could do. No one can predict the future and we make the best choices we can.

Were you closely monitored and did you take medication after your previous diagnoses?

My suggestion about coping is counselling, where you can discuss your concerns and seek peace.

Wishing you the best with your curent diagnosis and coping.

dogsandjogs

It sounds to me like you made logical decisions. First time a lumpectomy, the least drastic, and then when the cancer returned a mastectomy.

The third cancer sounds like a new primary. My onc told me that when cancer turns up in the opposite breast it is a new cancer; not a recurrence.

My second cancer was that - a new cancer in the other breast. The onc said it had nothing to do with the previous cancer.

I don't think you could have done anything differently. Apparently once you have had cancer the odds of getting it again are much higher.  My second cancer occurred 28 years after the first one.