Possible 2nd Recurrence - Anyone with similar experience?

mocame

I was dx with DCIS 12 years ago. I had a BMX and was told I had a 2% chance of getting the cancer back. In August of 2019, I was dx with IDC, stage 1. The lump was near the BMX scar. I had 6 weeks of radiation that ended 11/15/19 and put on Zoladex injections and Arimidex at the end of November. Was checked by my RO's PA on 12/17/19 and everything was fine. Two weeks ago, I noticed a small lump that I hadn't noticed before. It's not near the scar line. Then a couple days later a smaller lump showed up near that one. I decided I better look at my breast closer and found a 3rd lump on the opposite side of my breast from those two. I met with my BS today to look at them. The smaller one she is not concerned with. She said it looks like a raised hair follicle. The other 2 she is undecided. She said if I was a regular patient she wouldn't be concerned, but because it's me, she is a little more concerned than normal. She gave me the option of either watching them or get a punch biopsy of 1 of the 2 lumps. I chose the biopsy, which is scheduled in 2 weeks from now.

Has anyone experienced lumps so soon after radiation and while on an AI and injection? If so, what was the results? Was it cancer or something else? I'm an emotional wreck right now.

MinusTwo

OMG - I'm so sorry you have to go through this yet AGAIN mocame. I had BMX for DCIS and then a recurrence in my lymph system 2 years later that turned out to be IDC. Yes, I know we are always at risk, but I hope these come back benign. I don't have any personal experience with what you are describing, but I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Kamboka

mocame: you are in my thoughts and I'm praying that it will be a false alarm. Unfortunatley, you will go through an emotional roller coaster until you get some news. Hang in there!

choochoobella

Hi Mocame,

I didn't have radiation after my BMX, but I did develop quite a few lumps within a few inches of my scars in the year after surgery. I thought they might be a local recurrence, but I saw my breast cancer surgeon and they were all unconcerning lipomas (fatty lumps) that formed after my surgery.

Could it be that radiation caused fat necrosis that feels like lumps?

I found the information below at this link: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319517.p...

Fat necrosis is a condition that occurs when a person experiences an injury to an area of fatty tissue. This can result in the fat being replaced with the oily contents of fat cells.

The term "necrosis" means the cells have died. Potential causes of fat necrosis include blunt trauma, surgeries, or radiation to a particular area of the body.

Areas of fat necrosis can feel like small hard tumors but they are not cancerous tissue.

I'm glad you scheduled a biopsy. Sending good karma your way that the biopsy shows it is not a recurrence.

KBeee

mocame, I am sorry you are dealing with this again. I have had some lumps since my recurrence. Thus fr they have been benign. I wish the same for you. Keep us posted.

mocame

Thanks, KBeee. That's reassuring. I'm considering asking them to biopsy both lumps just for my piece of mind. We will see.

ps0705

mocame - I'm always surprised that offer "wait and watch" for anyone with a history of cancer, much less you who already had a recurrence. I feel if they had the choice for their own body anyone with medical experience would always chose biopsy. I think you made the right choice and am sending you positive thoughts and energy.

mocame

Thank you, ps0705! I think my BS said the "wait and watch" because if I was a regular patient, they wouldn't be too concerned about the lumps they saw. I, on the other hand, am not a normal patient. I always tell my husband that I want a dull, boring, and normal life. For some reason, that never happens for me.

mocame

Well, I called my BS on Tuesday and said I want both lumps biopsied and she agreed. I saw my new MO today and I really like her! My old MO seemed to disappear. I was told three weeks ago, when I was a few days away from my appt. with my old MO, that she is no longer seeing patients and may never see patients in the future. Nobody, including the staff, knows what happened to her. Anyway, the new MO looked at my lumps and said that she would be surprised if they turned out to be cancer. We will see. She said that due to my recurrence history, I should stay on the Arimidex for AT LEAST 10 years. Ugh! She offered to give me a prescription for Effexor for the hot flashes but I said I wanted to wait and see if they, along with the hair loss, get better over the next couple months. She also suggested I get my ovaries out and was thrilled that I already had a consultation scheduled with a specific surgeon on Monday. She said he is very good, which is what I had already heard from a couple people. I'm supposed to get in to see my PCP to check my thyroid again. She said it could be contributing to my SEs. So, overall, it was a good appointment!

KBeee

It sounds like you've got a rockstar new MO. Keep us posted on the biopsies. I'm with you. I'd want to know 100%.

mocame

I just got the results of my biopsies...It's not cancer! Yay! The nurse said it was inflammation. I'm wondering if it was from the radiation that I just finished up in November? I am so relieved!

Yogatyme

mocame, so, so happy for you!! I just wanted to let you know that I had ovaries out last March and the surgery was a walk in the park in comparison to BMX. I had some tenderness for a few days but no real pain. I only had to use OTC Ibuprofen a few times and was back to work in a week. I could have gone back sooner but decided to take the time anyway. Again, so happy for you and glad you had those biopsies so you don’t have to worry!

mocame

Thank you, Yogatyme! Good to know. My surgery is scheduled for a Tuesday and the gyno surgeon said I should be ready to go back to work on Monday. My HR manager thought that was too soon. We will see. I also have a cyst in my vagina that they are also taking out so I hope that doesn't hinder me going back to work on Monday. I need all the paid sick time I can get because I will need another surgery, probably in the fall, to replace my implant that ruptured.

Mimiraffo

I found this site invaluable and a real anchor when I was first diagnosed in 2011 with stage II.

Nine years later and here I am. I've skin stuck to my rib. I feel pain and I have a breast clinic appointment next Wednesday. I was signed off from oncology 3yrs ago. All I can do is wait and see. I had a double mastectomy and no reconstruction as I developed a blood clot in my heart which was caused by the indwelling portacath that was used to administer chemotherapy or Tamoxifen that I had only started using. I'm grand, no cardiac complaints despite 1.6cm blob waving back at me.

Of course I'm concerned this is some sort of chest wall rib recurrence or something. All I can do is wait and see..........thought I'd never be in a breast clinic again! Ah shure, wait and see....

MinusTwo

Mimi - holding you in my thoughts. So sorry your back again. My first diagnosis was also 2011. Hope the breast clinic can give you good news.

KBeee

Mocame, great news!

Mimi, do keep us posted. Hoping all is okay. scary stuff.

mocame

Mimi, let us know how everything is going!

jcp

mocame, hello this is JCP. I'm very happy that your biopsies were negative! Fantastic news! I had br ca 2005. I wanted to ask you something. My onc took me off the letrozole hormonal blocker about two years ago bc my bones were getting worse due to the femara. I was on tamoxifen for like 10 months and then was switched to letrozole for a total of 10.5 years on both blockers. I wanted to continue on then but bc of bone loss they said I really had to stop. I saw your dr said at least 10 years. My dr had said to me there was no additional benefit from what they've seen from being on it for more than 10 years. I see your dr said at least 10, so that makes me wonder. My bones have improved since I've been off so I was thinking maybe I could go back on . Someone said due to osteoporosis on this site they were postmenopausal but went on tamoxifen due to bones. Thank you for listening. I go on Thursday for a ct scan of chest. My xray showed an area of calcification and the asthma dr referred me to pulmonologist who ordered one. Finally getting it on Thursday. Very happy for you!!! Please keep me in prayers that ct scan is normal. Thank you! .9mm , er+ pr+ her2neu negative. Lumpectomy, no nodes, grade 2 oncotype in 2005 18. Chemo AC , rads whole breast