ER-/PR-/HER2-

gracetorn

I am an 82 year old woman who initially was diagnosed and treated for Estrogen receptive breast cancer in my left breast in 1997. The course of treatment in 1997 was surgical lumpectomy in my left breast, along with 1 lymph node, and radiation therapy. The cancer was all removed and I had been in remission until 2014. On 7/7/2014 I was diagnosed with ER-/PR-/HER2- (triple negative) cancer in the SAME left breast and underwent a mastectomy of my left breast along with 1 lymph node, and 4 chemo treatments over 12 weeks.

Recently, on 7/25/2015 (just one year since my mastecotomy) I was diagnosed, via biopsy, with ER-/PR-/HER2- in the sentinel lymph node under my RIGHT ARM. As of today, I have a PET scan scheduled for Monday 8/3/2015.

As of today, I do not have a definitive diagnosis because I have not yet had my PET scan. And although I have confidence in my current oncologist and surgeon, I am looking for some tips or advice on how to approach the decisions I will be faced with regarding my current ER-/PR-/HER2- cancer.

Any help, support or guidance would be much appreciated.

thank you,

Grace

KELL414240

I don't really have any advice for you but just wanted to send you gentle hugs. I would gather as much info as I could and certainly write down any questions as you think of them for your appointments.

ElaineTherese

Grace,

I'm sorry that you're going through this for the third time! Hopefully, the PET scan will reveal that your cancer is only in that lymph node. I don't know much about triple negative cancer treatment, but I wanted to wish your well! I hope a triple negative person comes along to give you some advice.

gracetorn

hi Kelly.....thanks so very much for your "gentle hugs"......everyone can use those for sure. I didn't get a good picture of what your breast cancer history is. But whatever it is I hope you are in remission now, and things are looking up for you. God Bless, and thanks again. This forum is all new to me so please bear with me. Stay well.

gracetorn

thank you so much Elaine for your comments. Yes, I am rather floored with this new diagnosis, but have a lot of power (I think) for another "go" at it. I too hope someone with triple negative with reach me. In your diagnosis info. did you have triple negative also? I know you hoped someone with it, would reach out to me, but unless I read it or misunderstood it, it looked like you also had it. I wish you well and God's blessings along the way of your journey through your Cancer. I am amazed at this forum and how many women are in the same boat. But I am encouraged by all the info that is out there.

ElaineTherese

Grace,

I'm triple positive, which means lots of targeted therapy (e.g. Herceptin). I understand that triple negative is often addressed through chemo and radiation, but you probably already know that. I guess the "good news" about your cancer switching from your left side to your right side is that you can have the new cancer site radiated. Small blessings! Let us know what your PET scan shows on Monday! Have a peaceful weekend.

sylviaexmouthuk

Hello Grace

I was sorry to read all you have been through. You can get good treatment for triple negative breast cancer through standard treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Taxol or Taxotere are very effective against TNBC. You might like to join the groups of well informed ladies on Calling all TNs or you can also join Calling all triple negatives in the UK, which is for everyone.

Wishing you well and if I can be of any help, please let me know. I am a 10 year survivor of TNBC.

Sylvia xxxx

lintrollerderby

Hi Grace and welcome. I'm so sorry at the circumstances in which you find yourself. I had Triple Negative and understand the concern it brings about in those receiving this diagnosis

If I were in your shoes, these are the things I would like to know:

Is there ANY sign of a tumor in the right breast? Even a tiny area. The reason for this is that a new tumor on the right side that has spread to a single axillary lymph node is considered a new primary cancer. If the MO (medical oncologist) can't find one and believes this to be a contralateral (opposite side) metastasis of your cancer from last year, that complicates matters a bit.

Please, please understand that I do not wish to frighten you in any way. When I reply to posters, I try to give the information that I, myself, would like in that same circumstance. I only want you to understand the possible circumstances so that you can better advocate for your own needs. I have read about contralateral metastasis in the research journals. It does seem that most MOs consider this to be metastatic breast cancer; however, there is a school of thought in which it is believed that contralateral mets are the result of altered lymphatic drainage due to prior sentinel or full axillary lymph node removal. Because of this approach, many MOs will treat with curative intent despite the technical categorization of metastatic disease. I must stress that if this is the category in which you ultimately find yourself, please seek an opinion from an MO who has treated other instances of contralateral mets in breast cancer patients. It is extremely rare and most MOs never see a case of it. I realize you feel very comfortable with your current team, and that is so important; however, if no tumor is found in the right breast, I would seek a second opinion from a physician with experience treating this--even if only to get their thoughts and compare/contrast those with your current MO.

Again, I'm very sorry about this new diagnosis. I hope that you find that the info I have posted does not apply to you. I will try to check back later today; my husband and I are visiting Moab in Utah today and I may be without cell service, but will come back on once we get to the hotel.

Best of luck.

I

gracetorn

Hi lintrollerderby. First of all, thank you so much for the feedback. Secondly, you'll have to forgive me as some of the lingo is new to me, so I am not sure what all of the info means in your bio. But I hope that you are doing well and cancer free since your surgery in 2011. Your post is very helpful. So, I got the results of my PET SCAN today, and the MO did NOT find ANY cancer anywhere in my body EXCEPT that biopsied lymph node under my right arm. So, it appears that you are on to something here. I do have an MRI scheduled for this week so they can look more closely at my right breast itself to see if there is even a tiny tumor there, because they told me..."we want to find out WHERE that cancer in that lymph node came from". So......can you please explain a little more about what exactly what your are implying when you say......".....because of this approach, many MOs will treat with curative intent despite the technical categorization of metastatic disease." ? I am not 100% certain of what you are suggesting here. Are you saying that I should beware if my MO does not find ANY tumor or malignancy in my right breast and thus determines that this is a new primary cancer, instead of a metastatic cancer, and then proceeds to recommend curative treatment as though it were a new primary cancer....which may likely end up being ineffective? In other words a lesser experienced MO may just sort of throw his hands up and categorize (inaccurately) my cancer as a new primary cancer, because he can't find the source, when in fact, I may actually have contralateral mets? Is that the potential concern here?

(by the way, I am in the process of arranging a second opinion from Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY)

Thank you so much for your input here. It is very kind of you to take the time to help me understand more. (yes.....I am reading lots by the way )

Grace

lintrollerderby

Hi Grace,

I'm very sorry for such a delay in responding. I've been off the boards since the day before your reply above. I've had some family stuff going on that has kept my focus pulled from most online activity.

I see that you haven't posted much, but have not looked to see if you've signed in lately. I hope you're doing well. I'd be more than happy to clarify my above statements, but I wanted to see first if you're still visiting the BCO boards.

All the best.