continued recurrence -with cancerous swelling

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janinvan
janinvan Member Posts: 83
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Has anyone in this section had a swelling/inflammation gradually develop on the site of recurrent , residual TRIPLE NEGATIVE cells....near/around **collar bone (and near pectoral muscle)...

My cancer recurred on my masectomy site (and I had chemo, radiation)-- after 12 years in March 2008....first it was infraclavicular....

I took Docetaxol.......then when it became firm again...and tumor marker increased--I took capecitabine (Xeloda) ...starting August 2009.....then when a SWELLING developed LARGER to supraclavicular....I'm taking cisplatin/gemcitabine(Gemzar)......

I'm seeing again the THORACIC surgeon and my WELL-KNOWN oncologist this Thurs. /Friday  

I decided to post this HERE instead of the tnbc section ....but I might duplicate it....

IT'S not that common.....

Janice

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  • cwrightrn
    cwrightrn Member Posts: 242
    edited April 2010

    Dear janinvan--are you talking about skin recurrence?  I am an IBC'er who presented with skin involvement.  One year after treatment (see my profile) I had mets to the lymph nodes in the chest including infraclavicular and mediastinal (so I went on Avastin and Abraxane) and more recently I had 2 skin biopsies come back positive for skin mets (so the Avastin and Abraxane didn't help the skin BUT my chest nodes are stable or shrunk--go figure).  I saw my radiation Dr and he said that he can irradiate the chest wall again too.  All my chemo and treatment is in my profile, feel free to PM me too.

    Blessings and hugs

    Carole 

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  • janinvan
    janinvan Member Posts: 83
    edited April 2010

    Carole....Thanks-- NO-- not significantly to the skin...mostly recurrence to infraclavicular area...and NOW supraclavicular area----as the swelling (hard--but softened a little/changing/slightly discharging a bit with chemo)  extends nearer/around collar bone.....

    complex--and my appt. this afternoon with thoracic surgeon was postponed to next Thurs. -although I am skeptical about surgery.....

    I'll connect with you again!...and I'll look at your profile

    Thanks,  Janice--Vancouver

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  • bonnieandcleo
    bonnieandcleo Member Posts: 46
    edited May 2010

    hey a little similar to me hope you are doing okay now take care....

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  • Kristian
    Kristian Member Posts: 68
    edited May 2010

    Hey Janinvan,

    I just put a reply in one of the forums talking about cysplatin.  My situation is very similar to yours, although I don't know exactly the name of where my cancer is, and it happened very soon after my last diagnosis.  I was diagnosed in Dec 08, had FECT Feb-June 09, then bilateral mastectomy with lat flap reconstruction and expanders in Sept 09, then felt lump on my right side in March 2010, where the tumour originated, above my implant.  At first I thought (and was hoping) it was my implant, but then after having 2 needle aspirations and an ultrasound, I was diagnosed with a recurrence April 19.   It is just below my collar bone and grew upward, and it was about 4 by 5 cm but it is shrinking, getting softer like yours was.  I am also on cisplatin and gem in high dosages.  Just finished my second cycle yesterday and I am only doing 4 cycles before they do another CAT scan to see if they can do surgery. 

    Questions, did you lose your hair?? Have you been told that the cancer is in your chest wall, lymph nodes and/or muscle??  Mine is in the muscle, my surgical oncologist is also analyzing my CAT scan to see if it is in the blood vessels, I am having problems lifting my arm and I am doing excersises in hopes of correcting that so that I can have radiation.  I did not have radiation the first time.

    Please let me know how things are going with you, you sound like a good match to me.  I have triple negative cancer this time, last time it was mildly estrogen fed. I don't know if it is stage 2 or stage 3 this time because of where the recurrence is and the size.  It is grade 3, aggressive bugger.

    Take care.

    Kristi Smile

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  • janinvan
    janinvan Member Posts: 83
    edited May 2010

    Kristian.....***how high is your cisplatin/gemcitabine dose...?  I think that mine is average...

    my swelling is large...the oncologist refers to it as -- protuberant....

    I wear a gauze on it now as it discharges some protein excadate --but not infected...

    I'm under pressure re decision for surgery or continued chemo...as the thoracic surgeon would like to do it soon.   he thinks that it can spread inside/under..and outside...even though oncologist agrees---she says I don't have to do it.....surgery with collar bone removal is quite serious !!

    My hair has thinned....but is okay, etc.

    WHAT is your CA 15-3...breast cancer blood tumor marker..? mine is approx....110 now...previously went from 60 --at diagnosis and recurrence--down......recently went up with this situation.....last time --went down from 140 to 110

    I might get another pet scan.....

    What is FE--? your diagnosis--chem..?

    You mentioned that you were posting on......??

    even though I'm a recently retired teacher--because of this disease --I'm a bit of a tech dummy  

    I wish you the best!!

     Janice

    JANICE

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  • kelben
    kelben Member Posts: 269
    edited January 2011

    I think I may be close to what you guys are.   I finished TC X 4 on Sept 15/10 after a simple mast.   About a month ago a spongy long "lump" ?? came up just below my mast. scar.   I watched it for a couple of weeks then when it didn't go away I went to my family doc.   She sent me to my BS and she aspirated about 20 cc's of clear fluid, which turned out to contain malignant cells...... what now??  I am going for a biopsy on Thurs.     Any ideas???

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