Very scared - Could this be a recurrence?

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Frenchie
Frenchie Member Posts: 37
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi guys

My wife Andrea, has come through the ops/chemo/rads/avastin trial etc.  And so now we're hoping beyond hope nothing creeps back.

About 6 weeks ago, she developed a niggling cough.  It's still there, and is worse at night.  There's no pain, but we've quizzed the Onc a few times, who has examined her.  Rather than send Andrea for a CT, she said it's nothing to worry about, and could be damage done from the rads.   Andrea is now puffing on an electric inhaler which is doing nothing for the cough.

So my concern is, if this is from the rads, why has it taken 6 months to occur, and surely you irradicate the worse case scenarios (i.e. CT to look at lungs) before putting Andrea on a ventilator!

I know a persistant cough is a common sign of recurrence with Triple Negs.  So I'm just hoping someone can put us right on whether we're worrying untowardly - or whether we should insist on a CT, regardless of the exposure to extra radiation.

Thanks so much.

James 

  

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  • scrappy_survivor
    scrappy_survivor Member Posts: 149
    edited December 2009

    Did she have a lumpectomy or a mast?? Was her cancer basil type? Had it crossed into her blood stream? Meaning was her cancer vascular? Those last ones should show on her pathology. Also how close to her chest wasll was her lump?? I am assuming she had a lumpectomy since she had radiaion. I personally would err on the side of casution and ask for a chest xray just to rule out anything on her lungs. I dont' necessarily think I would start with the ct but with a chest xray if it si clear I would give it maybe a month if the cough is still lingering then go for the ct. This is only my personal opinion though on how I would dieal with things. Personally I don't just trust Dr.'s words on things because if I had.... then I don't ahve cancer I have a fibroid. Had I not insisted on the biopsy well...... so I just personally prefer on the side of caution. Kudos to you for being here & supporting your wife. HUGS to her & you too.

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  • Frenchie
    Frenchie Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2010

    Hi momof4stars.  Thanks so much for your reply.

    She had a mastectomy and rads.

    I've read the Path report and am unable to determine how close to the chest wall it was (says tumour at 12 o'clock if that helps.......).  I also can't tell whether it's basil type.  It's IDC, but aren't most Triple Negs basil type?

    The bad news from reading the report is that there was evidence of vacular invasion, so guess it did get into her blood stream.

    Cough still there.  Not sure how much longer we can leave this before getting heavy with the Onc.

     James 

     

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  • debrathezebra
    debrathezebra Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2010

    Hi James,

    I would follow it up.  I always think, that after all the surgery, chemo, radiation and heartache it would really suck if I stopped being diligent and something creeped up.  My Dr. is great he will give me a test if I stomp hard enough!!  We both believe "peace of mind" is just as important and the tests you mentioned will give you and your wife peace of mind. keep following it up untill you feel happy. Deb

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    delete

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    delete

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited January 2010

    It would probably be a good idea to speak to a pulmonologist (lung doc).Whether the cough is from the rads or from something else, that's the best person to see.

    It could be from the rads - lung fibrosis and radiation pneumonitis both can take time to develop.

    Leah

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  • tibet
    tibet Member Posts: 545
    edited January 2010

    hhfHeidi

    no presence of cytokeratins" (or LVI )  - I would think this means no lympo vascular invasion?

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  • cbm
    cbm Member Posts: 475
    edited January 2010

    Hi, Frenchie.  I had a bad cough that worsened at night before I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In fact, I went to my Ear Nose Throat doctor on the day before my fateful mammogram. She scoped me and said there was mucous everywhere and probably allergies at the core. 

    Since your oncologist is resistant to testing and feels this is not bc related, for whatever reason, why don't you make an appointment with an ENT?  It might be any number of things and at least you could begin a process of elimination, involve an expert, and not go head to head with the onc.  I always like to get the doctors talking; it gets me off the hook for at least a minute!

    Warmest regards,

    Cathy 

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  • tibet
    tibet Member Posts: 545
    edited January 2010

    Frenchie

    When you say in path report, vascular invasion evident. Does it mean the cells went to blood stream ? Or did you state Lympho-vascular invasion which means actually in lympho. Not the same thing as blood streams.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    delete

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    It always frightens me when I see people having a recurrence who started out with negative nodes. Did your path reports say anything about LVI? Did you have clean margins when your tumor came out? Did you have both chemo & rads?

    If the cancer is not showing up in the nodes it is obviously getting out *somewhere* and the only place I can think of is through LVI.

     Thoughts, anyone?

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