STAGE 2 B .....NOW TESTING OTHER SIDE

JAYSFAN65

I was diagnosed with Breast cancer in my left breast.   March. Surgery in April…chemo
from May – Sept….radiation from Oct – Dec. 
Stage 2B,. with a very small grade 3 lump removed from my lymph
nodes.  I found a lump on my opposite
side while I was having treatment….was sure it was nothing but I had an
ultrasound just to be safe.  They weren’t
concerned about it…but scheduled a follow-up which I had Monday.  They found 3 nodules which look suspicious and
I have to have them all biopsied tomorrow. 
I’m somehwhat concerned since I know that it “can” happen to me, and
although I did pretty good during all the treatment..I don’t want to have it
again . 

But my head is spinning…..would it even be possible to get a
new lump while I was having chemo ? Or perhaps it was already on the other side
but even still…….wouldn’t the 6 bouts of chemo have killed it ? 

RV6gal

jaysfan65, I am currently going through this myself. I just noticed the lump the day of my second chemo treatment! 2 days later there was a sticky white discharge from the nipple! I am just now playing phone tag with the nurse at my treatment centre to find out where I go from here. A biopsy is the way to know for sure what you are dealing with! The ultrasound and mammogram I had initially on my right breast found nothing back in Aug 2014 so I dont have a lot of faith in those tests! Good luck toyou!

JAYSFAN65

Good luck to you as well !!  So, you have been diagnosed with it on the other breast, or are you still awaiting results ?

I was thinking just the other day…that when they diagnosed the left……they never did a thing to test the right…they didn’t even search for
lumps .  They tested every other inch of my body except that .  Strange

 

RV6gal

I am just in the process of bringing to their attention for further testing.I think it could be ductal ectasia but want them to look at it further for me and give me a diagnosis.I think it is totally weird that this would occur while on chemo (radiation is planned for me later)I'm not saying chemo isn't working but it sure crosses your mind.

The trouble I have with this whole mess is that they never found the original DCIS in my right breast anyway until after I had a mammogram and ultrasound in August 2014.The lump appeared a few weeks after those tests and it was then that I was sent for the biopsy that confirmed it was cancer.Once I got to the breast surgeon they said I probably had this for least 2 years.So that was 2 mammograms that missed it for me.

Right now I'm trying to stay upbeat about it and telling myself that it is better to deal with this as a separate cancer occurrence so quickly rather than a recurrence down the road for cancer that got away....

16Christine

Jaysfan65,

Apparently it does happen. My post-mx physical therapist found a "new" lump in her other breast while on chemo. I don't know her stage or any other info, but the good part is this was 12+ years ago and she is still OK and working.

She brought it to the attention of her BS and MO and rather resented the fact that they didn't thank her for doing so. Instead silly remarks were made about how her cancer was thriving on the drugs. I cannot believe how horrible these doctors can be. It is not as if they have a great track record of diagnosis and treatment to brag about.

I read somewhere that when one large tumor is shrunk or removed, the nutrients it had been using are then available to make a very small tumor to suddenly start growing faster. Sorry I don't remember where I read that.

Let us know what happens, OK?

vlnrph

Chemotherapy may not kill every nasty cell. Some of them can actually mutate and become resistant to our best drugs which is why stage IV gals may have to change treatment plans every few months...

Without turning into a hypochondriac, each of us needs to be aware of what feels different, become educated and advocate for ourselves with our health care providers. Those of us with history of lobular cancer know that it is more likely to be bilateral so MRI is helpful for watching the remaining tissue, especially if it is dense and can easily obscure small tumors.

Since a few days have gone by, I hope both of you (OP Jaysfan & Wendy/RVgal) rec'd benign results!

JAYSFAN65

well my gocalled today because the pharmacist has concerned that Wellbutrin will affect my tamoxifen ... he asked if I want to change anti depressants but I said no I did not . Then he said I got some of your biopsy results in and to me they look ok ... still waiting on a few strings but so far so good .

Seems weird ...wouldn't the get all the results at the same time ?

formydaughter

sending lots of support and hugs to all who are waiting on results and having a scare. The science behind cancer is baffling. As chemo is killing nearly everything, it seems impossible for a new tumor to grow.

RV6gal

I won't be back until Feb 9th to see about my issue. It didn't feel like an emergency but I felt reassured they listened to my concern. I just don't know what testing they will do but they will take care of this for me at the Cancer centre. Jaysfan65, glad to hear the news so far is good. Not sure why they dont get all the info at the same time. Hope you get your final results soon

JAYSFAN65

Ok I had the biopsies.  I got a call from family dr saying that they were negative.  Then yesterday the surgeon's office called saying my radiation oncologist wanted me to see the surgeon.  I went yesterday.   He says the actual biopsies were negative but they are still concerned with some cell growth / changes.  He said I have Atiypical Lobular Hyperplasia.  They are going to do an excision biopsy to examine more closely.

RV6gal

Well I went for my ultrasound and mammography today. They couldn't find anything suspicious for Cancer. There is some hardening in one duct which would be consistent with ductal ecstasia. I can no longer feel any lump since the discharge occurred. I felt like they took very good care of me there today but I have to admit I still am very nervous about the possibility of a new Cancer in that breast. I may look into having a mastectomy on that side sometime in the near future after chemo and radiation is done

Jaysfan65, have you had the biopsy yet?

JAYSFAN65

That's great news. RV6gal...you must be releaved.

My excisional biopsy is not until March 6

RV6gal

Yes, great news! I am mostly relieved but still wondering if I should opt to have it removed once I'm done with chemo and rads on the right side. Time to porder it still.

Good luck with the biopsy on the 6th