My third BC recurrence.

pabbie

I saw my surgeon today. The cat scan showed a tumor of about 1 by 1 centimeters. It does not appear to have gone into the chest wall. She is recommending that it be removed after I get a bone scan and ultra sound of the auxiliary node under my arm. The pathology seems to suggest that it is the same cancer as before. Surgery will most likely be at the end of next week or the beginning of the following week. It will be out patient surgery.

It's been 3 years since my right breast mastectomy. The tumor was located at the end of my right breast mastectomy scar.

Taking it one day at a time.

wallan

Hey there:

I am sorry to hear of your new breast cancer recurrance. Hugs to you. It sucks to have to deal with this again for a 3rd time. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you that it is a local recurrance and that surgery and radiation take care of it permanently this time. Are you on anti-hormone therapy?

Did you have radiation last time since you a mastectomy? I

wallan

Moderators

cabbie, we're so sorry you got this unwelcome news. Sending warm thoughts, and wish you well with surgery and new treatment!

We're thinking of you,

The Mods

pabbie

This is my third breast cancer but 4th cancer total. I had colo-rectal cancer in 1999.

I had radiation in 2008 with a lumpectomy and had 19 lymph nodes taken out. But my surgeon is ordering an ultrasound of the auxillary node under my arm.

My surgeon said that I can't have radiation again. She's having me have a bone scan to see if there are any Mets to the bones.

I took tamoxifen for 5 years starting in 2008. I couldn't tolerate the AI's after my right breast mastectomy in 2014.

I see my oncologist this Monday. We haven't discussed chemo yet.

pabbie

Thank you Moderators. I really appreciate this website.

Molly50

Iam so sorry about your recurrence. I hope you have a clean bone scan.

pabbie

thank you. ultrasound looked good today.

wallan

Hi Pabbie:

Yeah!! Ultrasound clear.....

wallan

pabbie

Thank you!

pabbie

I got smacked down (my husbands words) from my oncologist yesterday. This being my 3rd recurrence., they are all estrogen positive, My tumors love estrogen and fat. Which apparently I have a lot of.

My treatment for this recurrence is surgery and tolerating an AI. I took Femara and Arimidex in 2014 for which I couldn't tolerate with leg cramps and getting more depressed.

I asked my onc to start me on Aromasin.

wallan

Hey Pabbie:

Sounds like you have a plan. A doable one. And yeah!! Treatable cancer that may be put in remission permanently this time. You are in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy full recovery.

I took Aromasin first time around and felt not perfect, but tolerable. This time I am on Arimidex. If I remember that the SE are just SE and focus on my life, I hardly notice them. Its like I emotionally react to the SE and make it much worse by worrying about them. So far, its working. Mind you, I have only been on Arimidex a week. LOL. But it does make me nauseaous and headachy and sleepy already. I am hoping this is all it does.

wallan

pabbie

Thanks, I had my bone scan today. It was hard to get through the skull part because the scan is so close to my nose., makes me very anxious. But got it done. Dr. Whoop-ass will be calling me tomorrow with the results.

wallan

Hey Pabbie:

Good for you for getting through the bone scan. Especially with claustrophobia. I can't imagine.

Let us know the results. My fingers and toes are crossed for you that its clean too.

wallan

pabbie

hi wallan,

my bone scan is clean.

relaxing before my surgery date;

ty for caring

pabbie

I'm slowly calming down after my visit with my onc.

My bone scan was clean. My surgeon called yesterday and we're getting ready for a surgery date. She'll remove the 1.1 centimeter tumor under my right arm pit where the mastectomy scar ends.

My treatment plan will be taking Aromasin (an estrogen-blocker) daily and add another anti-depressant to my medication list if I need it for the potential Aromasin side effects. (depression, hot flashes, moodiness. leg cramps) This medication is called Effexor Xr. And the pills are on their way in the mail.....

Thanks for caring. XO

Pabbie

wallan

Hi Pabbie:

Yeah!! The bone scan is clear. Thats at least good news.

Last time I had BC, I took Aromasin and Effexor XR. I had SE with Aromasin but it was manageable for 3 years. I was on tamoxifen for 2 years before that. The Effexor XR did not seem to make any difference in terms of hot flashes or depression. But it could be that I was not on a high enough dose (I was on 37.5 mg per day to minimize SE. Therapeutic dose supposedly is 75 mg). My hot flashes were strong and my depression was mild. I had mild anxiety too. So who knows if it would have been worse without the antidepressant.

This time, I am on Arimidex. My family doc prescribed escitalopram for depression/anxiety before I even started Arimidex. He did not know I was going on Arimidex at that point. I have still not taken one antidepressant pill. I am afraid of SE. I am going to see a cancer psychiatrist on Tuesday next week because of the wicked panic attacks I have developed. Maybe then I will start the antidepressant. I do know I need something.

When is your surgery? Waiting for surgery is so anxiety producing I found. I hope your surgery is very soon for your sake. Your oncologist sounds insensitive.

Again, I think if you have not had BC, you do not understand what the anxiety and depression is like. Even the MO don't really get it, IMO. So I think this can make them insensitive.

Hugs to you

wallan

pabbie

Wallan: Thank you for your kind words.

My surgery is Friday 5/26.

I start the Aromasin after surgery. I'm going to give the med some time before I add Effexor xr. I already take a generic Ellavil at night for sleep, migraines, depression, and anxiety. I don't want to add another drug if I don't need to., it's bad for my liver.

The doctor gave you generic Celexa? I really liked Celexa.

I hope you have a good visit with your cancer psych. Any good tidbits., please share if you don't mind.

Take care of yourself. And thanks for caring.

wallan

Hi Pabbie:

May 26th? Thats next week. Do you have help in place for when you get home?

Yes, most prescriptions I get filled are generic -(maybe because of my insurance). You liked it Celexa? What kind of SE did you get? Did it help with anxiety?

I will definitely share what the psych says. We all need to help each other in my mind.

I hope you can relax over the weekend and have some enjoyment before your surgery. I am glad to hear you have a date.

wallan

pabbie

yes i have my husband to help me.

Celexa worked well for me., I only took 10 mg. It helped with anxiety.

Relaxation until surgery. I have a furry home health nurse to help too.

KBeee

So sorry you are dealing with this again. Glad scans are clear. Have they done Oncotype?

Since your cancer has been finicky, you may want to consider getting a couple opinions. There may be clinical trials, etc

KBeee

Have you been tested for CHEK2 gene

Molly50

Hi pabbie, I am on exemestane (Aromasin) because I couldn't tolerate anastrozole. I have little to no SE's. I agree with KB that you should have genetic testing, the larger panel not just the BRACA.

pabbie

KBee: Negative for the CHEK2 gene.