Recurrence during chemo (first time)

Safrica

I am wondering if anyone has a similar experience that could share with me a bit more info....I was diagnosed with stage 3 Breast cancer in Sept '14. This was followed by mastectomy, which removed the tumor with clear margins, but with lymph nodes affected (4 of 9). Then started chemo, 4 rounds of doxyrubicin and 4 rounds taxol, 2 weeks apart as opposed to the usual 3, giving me the most 'aggressive' chemo. I started radiation. During the planning scan the Dr picked up something she had never seen before - firstly, because this scan isn't usually sensitive enough apparently to pick up growths, and secondly because it had appeared while on cchemo. She informed me that, while she will change the radiation plan to include this new one (in a lymph node under the collar bone so inoperable) and expects it to work, it means the Cancer is aggressive and resistant to chemo, and that resistance to first line chemo occurs in less than 2% of patients. When I read about chemo resistance online, all I can find is about Cancer becoming resistant over time, which I understand....but nothing about resistance to first line chemo. She tells me that this completely reverses the statistics - I was in the '80% chance it won't recur' group, now I'm in the 80 % chance it will recur group. There is no suggestion that I have 'x' amount of time, but now I feel like I'm a ticking bomb.....though trying to live like I'll be the 1 in 5, that gets really hard some days ... what causes such resistance, and does anyone know of anything new I can try? I have modified diet, exercise, meditate almost daily..... I am now waiting to finish radiation, and then my scan to see if it has worked will only be three months later.

bevin

I am sorry you are facing this. I dont havw any advice but I know others who have similar experiences will be by soon to offer support and input. I hope your new  tx plan is kind on you and tough on your cancer.

KBeee

Maybe you can get a second opinion so they can test the tumor to see what drugs it resoonds too. There are some places that are doing this now, though experimentally.

Safrica

Thanks . My own onco suggested I could go for a second opinion, but the trouble is, because it's under the bone, they can't do a biopsy. So, for now, I am hoping radiation will take care of this one, my fear is that recurrence is highly likely, and while she has said 'then we treat that', I am so worried I just won't know it's there. In spite of being stage 3 already, I had absolutely no symptoms with either of these tumors.

inks

I think you might still be considered "stage III, locally advanced unresectable". In US it means that you can get the same meds as stage IV, more clinical trials you can participate in. It is still considered curable. Some women get chemo twice in a similar situation as yours. Maybe they will just switch up the drugs. It is a good idea to get a second opinion and have your initial pathology looked by someone else. Sending you hugs and hoping for the best possible outcome!