Second surgery - Radical Mastectomy

FredFights

In October 2016, I had my bilateral mastectomy (it was a rushed procedure due to chemo-resistant tumor).

After one night in the hospital, I returned to work (desk job) within four days.

Despite clear margins and 22 out of 22 nodes clear, a new tumor has grown in the same area while I was undergoing radiation. Yes, my doctors are stumped - the three of them (oncologist, radiation oncologist and surgeon) have not seen this happen in any of their previous experiences.

We know my cancer is aggressive, obviously, and it is being shared at a tumor board for more follow-up treatment ideas.

We already know I'm heading back to surgery, where this tumor, which has wound itself into my muscles, needs to be removed. I've been told this will be more like a radical mastectomy procedure at this point, as they go beyond the less invasive mastectomy-type procedures they usually use.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Any idea on recovery time? I'm assuming it will be longer than four day until I feel able to work again, this time, due to the muscle involved.

Thanks in advance.

Meow13

You did chemo and tumor did not shrink so they went with surgery and radiation? Can you get other opinions especially since your current doctors are baffled? I would be concerned that more is needed than taking out muscle, like how much is involved.

Wishing you the best. I hope they find a treatment for you.

FredFights

Additional scans are not showing additional cancer in any location beyond local recurrence.

As I have triple-negative breast cancer, additional options currently are limited for treatment.

They added Carboplatin to my original chemo treatments (with the Taxol) and although there was initial response, it was not enough to keep up with the rapid tumor growth.

I'm currently seen at one of the more highly ranked treatment centers, which is why my case has been, and is once again, being presented to their tumor board.

Surgery still is the first line of defense due to the aggressiveness of this cancer and the limited/non-response to current protocols.

They will be debating next steps (oral chemo options, clinical trials - most are limited to cancers where metastasis is involved for triple-negative).

I'm curious on recovery time with further surgery at this point.