Surgery not completely successful

mccathyg

Hi Everyone. This is my third recurrence and I was DX with chest wall tumour. The tumour has been removed along with part of my pec muscle. Unfortunately it looks like my margins are not clear and the surgeon says I cant have any more surgery. I am interested to know what treatment anyone had with a similar dx. My problem is that I have had radiation when I was first dx and chemo for prevention purposes after second recurrence (this did not seem to have any effect at all).

Hope you can help..

Cathy

MmeJ

What is your care team recommending?

No more surgery, as you mentioned. No rads, because you can't. So I guess that leaves nothing, more chemo, or a different anti-hormonal if this last tumor is hormone-positive. Has that been evaluated?

mccathyg

Yes got path report today. ER+ PR+ Her2-. Vascular and lymphatic invasion. Unfortunately I emigrated 3 years ago but am making arrangements to go back to UK and link up with my old team. Guessing it will be Arimidex and I will have to make a decision about the chemo. I want to think about that carefully. I have heard of people who have had radiation twice so I want to explore that.

I must admit that I am feeling very pessimistic at this stage. Can't see a way through this time....

muska

Please don't be pessimistic. Some chemo and AI might put breaks on it. Can you ask to be put on AI immediately?

Holeinone

Cathy, sorry you are back fighting the beast.

No experience with this, but I agree with the above post. Ask for a new AI, I assume there is no harm in that while make plans to get back to your previous Dr.

Kathleen26

Are you already past menopause? If so, I would ask your doctors about going on an AI immediately. If not, then I would ask about getting your ovaries removed/suppressed so you can go on an AI. Some people are not able to convert Tamoxifen to its usable form, but that doesn't mean they won't be helped by a drug in the AI class, like anastrozole.