Need Some Uplifting Words

purplestargazer

Someohow I find myself back here with a local reoccurance.

I was TN Stage 2. I had ACT, LumpX, Xeloda, and have been on the Keytruda clinical trial for about 6 months.

I had a clean mammo in January but pushed for a US b/c of dense breasts. The US showed a shadow. Everyone said fat necrosis but they biopsied it just to be sure. And here I am with more BC.

My oncologist just called me and said they don't know the pathology yet but the largest tumor is 2.1 cm.

I will definitely need BMX. More chemo is TBD.

I have to go in for a bone scan, a CT, and am MRI. I'm terrified.

I'm less than two months shy of my 40th birthday and I have an 8-year-old daughter.

My oncologist says this is "treatable and curable." I may be having a harder time with this news this time around than the first. Anyone have positive stories for me?

KBeee

First of all, I am sorry you find your self back here. I am however they biopsied it "just to be sure". I had a local recurrence in 2015, when my kids were in 4th, 6th, and 8th grades. I was diagnosed the first time 18 months before that. My recurrence was actually in 2 spots.

To the best of my knowledge, I am doing well (I say to the best of my knowledge because I have appointments coming up.....so I always wait for the other shoe to drop).

I am working, having fun with my family, carrying on daily life, and enjoying life. I run 5ks and half marathons, am training for a triathlon. My second time around was easier physically because I knew more what to expect, but a little more challenging mentally. I do not dwell on cancer every day, but would be lying if I said I did not get nervous still around appointment time. Thankfully I have graduated to every 6 months. The first few weeks after diagnosis were definitely the worst.....so many unknowns and no plan in place yet. Once the plan is in place, you'll plow forward. You can do this. It just sucks that you have to. (((HUGS)))

purplestargazer

Thank you so much for sharing, Karen. I really appreciate you taking the time.

purplestargazer

Closing the loop on this. I finished my scans and the consensus is it's local.

I'm scheduled for Mx and some more chemo. Feeling much more positive and ready to tackle it again.

Flynn

I missed your post the 1st time but i’m very happy that your reoccurrence is local and that you’re feeling more optimistic. Good for you pushing to for the u/s! It seems like that should be standard of care for dense tissue, even more so with a history of bc. I have two 8 yo’s and I know it’s draining to go through treatment with little ones. I’ll be sending you good thoughts and I hope you have some people ready to jump in and give you a hand.

KBeee

I am glad to hear it is local. Hoping you get through chemo with minimal side effects.

7of9

purple...2x survivor here. 2nd time was as bad as a local gets, 2cm in axillary. Like my friend Kbeee says, many anxious days but here I am 3 yrs 2 months later. I did chemo second time too, 25x rads ( didn't have them first time) and hope to be on arimidex rest of my life. Also have done 6 zometa infusions every 6 months as it's proven to lower risk of recurrence to the bones. Best of luck to you. When I get too anxious I plan another vacation or plan a remodel on part of the house. Lol. Breaks my budget but puts my focus elsewhere. Besides. Can't take it with you...and we're not going...anytime soon!

purplestargazer

Thank you - everyone for sharing your experiences. You are all inspiring to me.

Flynn, as a fellow triple negative, I am floored by how large your tumor was but "only" 2B. Just goes to show how unpredictable this sub-type is.

I'm also curious, if you don't mind sharing, why they did more neoadjuvant chemo 6 months after your initial chemo? I'm always trying to learn more.

Grateful for everyone's support.