Contralateral recurrence? How soon after treatment ended

Ms_Anthrope

I had triple positive IDC plus DCIS with mets to one lymph node. Unilateral mastectomy. Finished chemo in Jan 2019 and Herceptin in Nov 2019.

Now I've got a thickened area under my armpit in my opposite breast. I see my oncologist for my 3 month checkup in a few weeks and I'll have him look at it then.

Has anyone had a quick recurrence on opposite site? If so, how soon. I'm freaking out a bit...

Spookiesmom

It wasn’t “quick” 7 years later, but yes. Happened to me.

Beesie

Ms_Anthrope,

Until others come by to share their experiences, since I'm a research and data junkie, I'll share some information that I have.

If cancer develops in the contralateral breast, it wouldn't be a recurrence, but a new primary breast cancer. It would be extremely unusual for breast cancer to move from one breast to the other breast. However, everyone of us who has been diagnosed with breast cancer is at higher risk to be diagnosed again with a new primary; this is a separate risk from developing either a localized or distant recurrence from the original cancer.

What my MO told me is that having had breast cancer, my risk to be diagnosed with a new breast cancer was about double the risk of someone my age who had never been diagnosed. This study seems to confirm that:

Second Primary Breast Cancer Occurrence According to Hormone Receptor Status
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27209...

This study found that the risk is about double for women who have hormone positive cancers, and is higher than that for those who hormone negative cancers. Young women have the highest risk.

As for when new primary might develop, although the study found that the risk increases somewhat over time, even within the first 2 - 59 months following the original diagnosis, the risk is still just over double the risk of the average woman never diagnosed previously.

So if you are dealing with a new primary breast cancer so soon after your first diagnosis, what this data says is that you are not alone.

That said, I hope this thickening in your armpit has some harmless cause and is not breast cancer. It would be great if it turns out to be a false alarm. Good luck, and let us know what your MO says.

Ms_Anthrope

thank you for your replies. I will post when I have an update.

quinnie

Bessie, You are the best. I remember you from 12 years ago when I was diagnosed with DCIS. Ms. Anthrope, I agree with Bessie. A cancer on the opposite breast is most likely a new cancer. I had DCIS 12 years ago on the R breast and was diagnosed with IDC in Feb. on the L breast. Totally different cancer. Just unlucky twice. Fortunately was caught early and had lumpectomy a few weeks ago. Will start radiation next month. But that being said, maybe it is just something harmless. Please let us know.

Ms_Anthrope

I'm happy to say that my "palpable mass" was a large area of fibrous tissue and scar tissue from my reduction. Yay, and thanks for caring.

Beesie

So glad to hear that! Congrats on the good news!

MikaMika

Congrats on the great news!!!