Did You Have More then One Tumour in Your Breast?

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Pure
Pure Member Posts: 1,796
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I did and I was told they worked off the bigger one ( the 2nd one was 7mm) and it didn't mean my cancer was worse or more agreesive. Recently I mentioned it to my oncologist who said yes women with multi centric have higher rate oa reoccuerence but my 2nd opioun says no.

Anyone hear the same from their doc?

Comments

  • Frankie_
    Frankie_ Member Posts: 422
    edited April 2010

    Jen,

    I have not heard that women with muti centric have a higher rate of a reoccurence and YES I had 2 tumors and apparently in between the 2 tumors  (11:00 *1.7 cm the other at 1:00 *.8 cm) which showed on the ultrasound and mamogram. However, the end result after surgery stated that my tumors measured over 7cms. At least this is what my onc told me upon my initial consultation. I have yet to see the original path report.

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

    Apparently they always set the treatment plan according to the "worst" of the tumors. My treatment plan was set by the 1.6cm invasive tumor that was grade 3 & spread to 6 nodes. However, I also had a benign cyst, a fibroadenoma, a spot of ADH and an 8mm DCIS. I was not told that any of these increased my chances of recurrence or mets.

    Considering the small size of my breast (size AA) it must have been pretty crowded in there.

    Leah

  • Christine2000
    Christine2000 Member Posts: 176
    edited April 2010

    Hey Jen--I also had 2 tumors and my onc said it did NOT mean a higher chance of recurrence--

    Christine 

  • cindy2
    cindy2 Member Posts: 32
    edited April 2010

    I had two tumors as well.  Multicentric disease is well recognized as having a higher rate for local recurrence and therefore may be an indication for radiation therapy poat-mastectomy.  A reference:

    http://www.cancernetwork.com/display/article/10165/109928?verify=0

    There are many more scientific articles which discuss this issue as well. 

    The staging is still generally done based on the size of the largest tumor and perhaps, your doctor is indicating that the other tumor was very small in comparison.

    I doubt if the treatment will differ regardless as they are no doubt recommending chemo, probably radiation, and hormonal therapy.

  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 793
    edited April 2010

    I had two- both small- one was .9 cm and was IDC, the other was smaller and DCIS- on opposite sides of the breast- mine resulted in a mastectomy rather than lumpectomy- my doc has not mentioned the two places related to recurrence- it just made the difference in suggesting a mastectomy over lumpectomy. The pathology on the .9 cm tumor dictated my treatment plan.

    Kristy

  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited April 2010

    I had multi centric (3 tumors) with extensive DCIS. But Pure, since we did the mastectomy and not lumpectomy we have eliminated our chances of localized recurrence. 

  • Enjoyful
    Enjoyful Member Posts: 3,591
    edited April 2010

    I had three tumors with extensive DCIS also.  I hadn't heard that it increased your chances of a recurrence (local or otherwise), but I had a recurrence in August 2009 and am now stage IV.

  • Ainm
    Ainm Member Posts: 781
    edited April 2010

    I had two invasive tumors (two they found anyway) one was 4cm and one was .6cm and some DCIS too, LVI and Node positive (seems like I ticked alot of the negative boxes!!) - my dr never mentioned anything about it increasing chances of a recurrence. I had a mx, chemo, rads and now on tamox - anyone know where I stand regarding recurrence? - any time I ask my doc about it he just tells me not to be 'worrying about things like that'  but I actually would like to have some idea one way or the other.

  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited April 2010

    Underneath a 5cm idc I had a small ilc. First I had two lumpectomies without clean margins, so I insisted on a mastectomy--only then was the ilc detected. Nobody felt it changed my stage or my prognosis.

  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 1,409
    edited April 2010

    I had two tumors. One was ILC and one was IDC. It didn't change my treatment plan and I don't think it affects my recurrence rate.

  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited April 2010

    You know, if it mattered it would be part of the Staging criteria.

    I can't imagine that it would have any impact on anything.

  • Sunflower64
    Sunflower64 Member Posts: 166
    edited April 2010

    hi jen,

    i had 2 tumors also. one at 2.1 cm and the other at 1.5 cm. none of my docs said anything about that. i will ask tho. i do know they use the largest one for staging, etc.

    hugs,

    diane

  • jc3win
    jc3win Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2010

    I had four in descending size. Biggest one (I think 2.5 cm) was near my nipple and then they were all connected and in a row leading back to my armpit. My onco measured them all together to come up with the stage 3 i think. Maybe he did this b/c they were visibly connected? Now I have a lump in the area on top of my ribs where I would picture the 5th tumor ... I am so scared that it is back and that all of that dang chemo and rads did not work!  

  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited April 2010

    Shit Pure,

    If I am over stepping the "profanity" clause I apologize, but I had mutlicentric disease as well.  I am truly going on the "largest" tumor, which was 6.5 cm.  HUGE in my eyes, but apparently there were several smaller ones there too., OMG!!!!!!

    Crazy isn't it?  I had yearly mamos and they never picked any of this stuff up.  I found it, almost a year after my last mamo.  Go figure..............

    Love you babe,

    Sharon

  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited April 2010

    I had two tumors also...they found the second one after I had had a lumpectomy and chemo..

    so did a mastectomy..that was nine years ago now...

  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited April 2010

    Jen....I had 3 tumors in my right breast as well as 8/12 lymph nodes....that is what went into the staging to be stage 3....don't remember the size of the tumors .Don't know if having multiple tumors means anything beyond the staging, especially with a mastectomy..I'm 4 years since Dx.

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2010

    Thanks everyone!

  • sunnytn1949
    sunnytn1949 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2010
    Same thing happened to me...one year after mammg, had another, full blown BC, 3 tumors and in lymp nodes on left side..doc said it was very aggressive, treated it aggressively with chemo, bilateral masc and 33 rounds radiation..sorry, i don't know all the abbreviations Embarassed  I asked how this could happen...onc says, it was a nasty kind of cancer.
  • yellowfarmhouse
    yellowfarmhouse Member Posts: 279
    edited April 2010

    Hi,

    Had 2 tumors-- one about 1.5 cm and the other about 2cm.  The whole breast also had extensive DCIS.  My other breast ( also removed) was clear.  Go figure. 

    I'm 5.5 years out.  I was told that I didn't have higher rate of recurrence due to multicentric.  But, my biggest worry was that I was stage 3 and positive nodes and HER 2 +  . 

     BC in my estimation is an unpredictable thing... there are stage one gals who sadly recur and stage 3 gals who live long.  Cancer is just crappy any way you look at it.  I lived in fear the first couple of years --- found that living in fear didn't add another day to my life.  Just made me miserable.  I still get scared sometimes mostly because of my kids.  But, working hard on moving forward. 

    blessings,

    Wendy

  • Mobey123
    Mobey123 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2010

    I had 3 tumors two were DCIS, the third was 2.7cm and was no longer in the duct.  I've had a Mastectomy of my Left breast and in Dec. 2008, had 6 rounds of Chemotherapy and now I take tomoxifen daily.  I think just now though that the tomoxifen is causing a rash...could that be? has anyone else heard of this? It is incredibly itchy and it started on my Left forearm.  If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know.

    While going through chemo I lost my hair...of course, and I hated the wigs so I went head "comando" tee hee!  My most frustrating things now are buying cloths.  I still can't wear a bra as the scar area is really sensitive still "I was told it was a hematoma" and I still have one breast so EVERYTHING fits very poorley.  I'm not ashamed or embarassed by my condition but I wish I could wear nice cloths again.  Frown 

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