Recurrence, Metastasis, or something brand new?

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Ruru99
Ruru99 Member Posts: 7
edited August 2016 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

I had triple negative BC 17 years ago and I have a large mass just above my collar bone on the same side as my original dx. I have been going through many tests and the last biopsy (results took 4 weeks!) indicated spindle cell neoplasm. (I thought BC was adenocarcinoma)

I have seen 3 doctors - 2 say it is unlikely to be recurrence due to pathology, where it is, tumor markers negative, etc. But they are doing more tests to rule out recurrence.

Has anyone had their BC recur in the neck?

I'm very scared and worried.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2016

    mine did not come back in the neck, but it can recur there. Keep us posted

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  • Ruth57
    Ruth57 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2016

    I just got my pathology results. My tumour was removed April 13th. The results are good from a surgical point of view - clean margins all around. The best possible outcome, according to my surgeon. Unfortunately though, it is a recurrence or metastatic tumour. Now I need to get more information on the significance of these results. I'm pretty concerned, but trying not to freak out.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited May 2016

    Ruth, sorry to hear it's a recurrence. Does it appear to be a local recurrence?

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  • Ruth57
    Ruth57 Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2016

    There has been quite a back and forth between doctors since I wrote that post. The breast oncologist said that my triple-negative BC was cured and it was likely a radiation induced sarcoma (based on a pathology report from Memorial Sloan-Kettering). However, after very thorough review I am now told it is not a sarcoma but metastatic. The report explains their reasoning but it is weird. It was in the radiation field, the cells look nothing like the original cancer. It may be the my original cancer was mixed (?) with metaplastic elements.

    I don't think it is a recurrence but I will ask. It just seems so rare for a triple-negative to metastasize after 16 years (I have been dealing with this since Sept 2015, almost exactly 16 years from the end of treatment).

    I am not sure whether I like being such a 'different', 'complicated', 'unique', 'interesting' and 'challenging' case... :-)


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