Reoccurrence within months-anyone else??

Bnbmama

Short as I can make it. I am wondering if anyone has a reoccurrence so quickly. I want to include as much background as possible so sorry for the length.

Dec 2015 (age 38) I felt a lump but not solid. Made an appt with my OB but couldn't get in for 2 weeks. It grew from like a small marble to a softball in those 2 weeks. She said it's a common cyst and ordered a mamo. I went in and had mamo come clear except cyst. They drained 52cc of fluid and said normal was 8-12cc. Also was advised it would come back. In May 2016 it did. I ignored it as it seemed to flucaute size based on the time of the month.

Finally July I went in again for a drain and the radiation Dr said it didn't collapse and drain correctly. He did a biopsy and the next day I got a call it was cancer.

I was devasted. I called and spoke with a BC specialist surgeon who let me know normally LX and Rad is good. Further pathology showed TN with a ki67 of 98% unfavorable. I was referred to an Onc to start chemo. The plan was now Chemo/surgery/rad as it was such a large tumor they wanted to see if chemo would shrink it.

Starting in August. 4x A/C and 12x taxol was the treatment. I was sick the last 2 A/C treatments. Just run down and weak and my tummy revolting every day. The Taxol wasn't as bad until 5-6 treatments in and then I developed neuropathy in both hands and feet.

February was LX and sentinel biopsy. (I never asked for a copy of pathology report but am first thing Monday). I was told I had clear margins and of the 9cm tumor only 6mm in the middle was still active and positive for cancer. Which I understood to be good. The nodes were all negative. My surgeon reccomended to me multiple times LX not MX due to reoccurrence more likely for TN and it could come back in my chest wall and be untreatable.

Before starting 37 treatments of rad to breast and nodes-just in case we treated all we could, a mamo showed all clear.

Now Sept and my 6 month mamo came back with something so I had an US done and they ordered s biopsy be done. Watching the US machine I noticed the mass was literally right in front of the spot where the tumor had been removed. I knew then it was cancer again.

I got the cal that yes even though it's very unlikely for it to return 4 months after Rad is done,it was TN cancer again. Rad Onc said probably a small portion was missed but odd the Rad didn't get it.

Now he reccomends MX and said a surgeon will go over options after I see the other Onc since Rad is no longer an option as my body can't handle it. After finding this site and forum I see so many had MX to start and I am so mad my surgeon didn't reccomend it and said it wasn't a good idea.

I just wonder if any one else had a reoccurrence so quickly and what the prognosis was and how far out they are now. I am almost 41 and I have kids still at home and grandkids I want to spend a lot more years with. I am sure I will have another PET to be sure it is nowhere else but a time this time it looks to be just in the same exact region as the last one.

If they reccomend a MX I have no issue with it being done. I am very heavy chested with a DDD and don't care to have reconstruction. I am happily married and could care less if I have one boob or none. I just am worried about reoccurrence a third time and not being able to fight it if I have no breast tissue left. I am not ready to stop living yet but I am scared! Any similar experience is welcome.

Moderators

Dear Bnbmama - We just wanted to welcome you to Breastcancer.org, and let you know that we're so glad you've found our community. We're sorry you didn't get any real answer yet. This post will bump the thread so more people will see it and you have a better chance of a reply.

Please, continue to let us know how you're doing!

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jbdayton

Bnbmama I am sending hugs while you wait for further doctor appointments and testing. I can only hold your hand and offer virtual friendship.

Hopefully another lady can address your recurrence question. If the tumor is isolated to the immediate area maybe removal can be sufficient.

Shellsatthebeach

Bnbmama, cancer can be so unpredictable. While I was done with treatment, my surgeon found new cancer growth which was later to be found with different characteristics then the first growth. Basically mine changed from a her2 negative to a her2 positive. Did your surgeon report clear margins?

pupmom

So sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, it happens all the time. It usually means that the cancer in another area was missed. I agree that you should have been given the option of a MX.

Bnbmama

Thank you everyone I just want to get this second treatment over and done with and try to live again.

Shellsatthebeach they did a biopsy that came back TN but I am waiting on the ki67 score.

I did get my path report from the LX and they did not retest any markers so I am going to ask my Onc to request the slides to have that done. I want to know if the ki67 score went down in the tumor after chemo.

I knew with the aggressive nature of this TN and my scores that it would probably come back but thought I would get a year or two. At least to get the medical debt of the last 12 months paid! 4 months later and still paying on $$$$$ now to get more. Thank goodness for insurance though without it I wouldn't be getting treatment.