recurrence......now what?

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nine_rugrats
nine_rugrats Member Posts: 106
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
recurrence......now what?
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  • nine_rugrats
    nine_rugrats Member Posts: 106
    edited May 2010

    I had stage 1 bc 2 years ago.  Had a lump. and radiation. Did 3 mo chemo and 1 yr of hercepten.  A couple months ago i had some shoulder pain and a swollen lymph node under the arm of the cancer side.  Last week i had all the lymph nodes removed because there was a "small amount of cancer" in one of the nodes. I see the onc on tuesday.  I am so confussed as to what i am going to do.   What does small amount mean?  Will i have to do chemo again?  All my blood work and tumor markers always came back normal.

    I am just so upset and don't even know what to think.  

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  • nancypat
    nancypat Member Posts: 511
    edited May 2010

    I had stage 2 a year ago.  Had right mastectomy and chemo that nearly killed me.  Now I have two masses in my left breast.  I go for a mammo Wed.  I am like you.  I don't know what to think or what I am going to do.  Maybe we can support each other.  I am sending you hugs.  Let me know what your onc says.

    Best wishes,

    Nancy

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited May 2010

    Do you know if it is Her 2+? I would think they will do scans to see if it is anywhere else. If not they probably will want to do a LN dissection to check if any other LN's are involved. I'm sorry they found this... it sucks.

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  • nine_rugrats
    nine_rugrats Member Posts: 106
    edited May 2010

    yeah, the surgeon sent all the nodes to be tested.  I will find out the results from that on tuesday.

    Nancy, I am sorry to hear you are dealing with this also.  I will update you on what i find our Tuesday...that is when i see the surgeon for the pathology report.  I handled the chemo well, but i dont know how well i will handle it again...and i wonder what is the point when it didnt work the first time.  Oh, i see the surgeon tue and see the onc later in the week....i was confused in the midst of being in shock i guess.

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  • nancypat
    nancypat Member Posts: 511
    edited May 2010

    Hey nine,

    I was wondering about the chemo as well. I will check on you on Tuesday and am wishing you the best!

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  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 2,144
    edited May 2010

    I was also dx with a recurrence 8 months after a bilateralmastectomy.  I had DCIS with widely negatve margins!!!  I'm sorry you have a recurrence too.  It sucks!  Cancer sucks!!!

    Good luck on your path report!

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  • nine_rugrats
    nine_rugrats Member Posts: 106
    edited May 2010

    Kittycat,

    Have they said what treatment they are wanting to do?  Sorry you are dealing with this again. It doesnt even make sence how it can come back so quickly.........

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  • nine_rugrats
    nine_rugrats Member Posts: 106
    edited May 2010

    Well all 19 lymph nodes were positive.  Now i see the onc today. I am feeling very positive tho.   I also began the Budwig diet and am feeling much better...have recovered well from the surgery.

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  • shannon56
    shannon56 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2010

    nine_rugrats

    Your situation seems to exactly the one I was looking for.  I am stage I er-/pr- but her2+ and my probable recurrence was discovered on a PET/CT scan on June 8.  Since the report stated that cells next to the scar tissue were asymmetrical the chances are very high that it's a recurrence.  I'm 15 months from the original diagnosis, 9 mos from last chemo, 7 mos from last rad, and 2 mos from last herceptin. I was really thinking that I was the only one with a recurrence so soon.  The culprit is the HER2+.  It's a nasty little thing that loves to cause local recurrence.  Tomorrow I see my BS for us + biopsy.

    I'm glad you're feeling better although I haven't seen you update this sometime.  Hope you are doing well on your tx.

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  • fierce1
    fierce1 Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2010

    I just been diagnosed with a "local"recurrence after mastectomy for triple negative BC.  No more lympn nodes in axillary area but was around the incision.  I had only finished chemo for 3 weeks when I felt the lump.  After PET scans/CT scans and wide exicision I went to Rad Onc for radiation consultation and found another very small lump.  Will see surgeon again today... Not sure what course of action I should take... stick with the planned radiation or do chemo again... Any advice/experience  will help me make my decision.  Thanks! 

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  • taranebraska
    taranebraska Member Posts: 129
    edited June 2010

    I'm glad I found you, but I'm sorry we're all in the same boat!  I had lumpectomy Aug 2009, and several calcificaitons have shown up on a follow-up mammogram already.  I go tomorrow morning to talk to the surgeon.

    I'm wondering if we'll schedule a mastectomy right away, should I do both, or are there other biopsy options?  I had a core needle biopsy last summer to get the diagnosis of DCIS, comedo necrosis.  Twas supposed to be all gone after surgery.  I'm currently reading about the MRI guided biopsies - I just don't know if that's an option for me yet.

    Any thoughts would be great.

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  • sian
    sian Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2010

    Hi

    Sorry to hear your cancer has returned, it is a horrible time.  I am here to let you know all is not lost!  I was diagnosed in april 09 with a recurrence to the axilla and chest wall.   The tumor was 3cm and it was inoperable.  I could not have radiotherapy as I had radio 1st time.  To cut a long story short, I was treated with Cyberknife in July 09, 4 weeks ago I had a full body pet, no evidence of cancer!  I am very well, I lead a full life and have very few symptoms.  My doctors in the UK insisted it was hopeless, but I'm still here and I'm doing great.

    When I was diagnosed in 09 my world ended, I existed in a neurotic state for several months, but I am now living proof that there is life after recurrence, don't give up, and leave no stone unturned.

    PS  My breast care nurse also told me about a woman on her case load who had it back in her lymphs, 5 years on she is still well! 

    With regard to chemo, they never gave me chemo, they say that they are saving it for a later date!  I don't know if this is routine after a recurrence, but my tumor was ER+ and I am on hormone therapy.

    I wish you all the best for the future, and I hope you are doing as well 14 months down the line as I am.

    xx 

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  • CalicoCat
    CalicoCat Member Posts: 370
    edited July 2010

    Hi, Sian, I'm very interested in your Cyberknife experience.  When I told my general practitioner that it looked like I was having a recurrence, he said he was going to call my oncologist and talk to him about Cyberknife.  The oncologist and I haven't discussed it yet.  He's started me on a new hormone blocker (I was on Arimidex).  I somehow don't think Cyberknife is used for breast cancer in the US, but it sounds like it was used in your case in the UK, yes?

    Thank you!

    CalicoCat

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  • my2boys
    my2boys Member Posts: 339
    edited July 2010

    I was originally diagnosed as Stage 2b with 2 positive nodes.  I had a bilat mastec and chemo with a year of herceptin.  The nasty Her2+ grew back in the exact same spot on the fatty tissue left behind after the mast.  When it grew back it also morphed into triple positive cancer.  Thankful that it was a local recurrence and back in chemo with Herceptin again.  This time they are adding Tykerb to the mix, since the Herceptin may not have done as much as it should.  I also go for rads when chemo is over.  This better kill those nasty cells.  I am hopeful that once I am done.....I will really be DONE with cancer this time.

    Stay strong and remember that this is just another bump in the road.

    Hugs,

    Anne

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  • sian
    sian Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2010

    Hi

    Sorry I took so long to get back to you, dont com here often.  Email me on jane@taihirion.com I will reply much sooner.  My cyberknife experience was fantastic.  Contact Dr Mark McLaughlin in atlanta.  He's in the Wellstar hospital.  I found a study he had done on treating innoperable locally advanced breast cancer with cyberknife.  They did a great job, it was a piece of cake, and I'm doing great one year on.

    What do you want to know, you can ask me anything, I will answer to the best of my ability.

    If you do wnat to contact Dr McLaughlin, write to Madge, the patient navigator, she's an angel!  Tell her Jane Hollywood suggested you contact her for some information.  They were very honest with me and have been spot on all the way.  They will tell you if they think it is your best option.

    With regards to my experience of cyberknife, it was pinless, quick and we holidayed visiting theme parks etc most days after treatment.  Sorry if I seem too enthusiastic, but I believe it saved my life.....for now anyhow.

    Please feel free to email me any time with any questions you have,

    xx

    Jane 

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  • sian
    sian Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2010

    Hi

    Sorry to hijack your post guys but I wasn't able to send a private message.

    xJane 

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  • kellypa
    kellypa Member Posts: 31
    edited July 2010

    What is the Budwig Diet

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  • sumaiamhmd
    sumaiamhmd Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2010
           I am having the same situation ,biopsy was taken from the near scar lump which turned to be local recurrence .Iam  having  CT scan to know if it has spread . PLEASE  update me about yours what therapies u r on . I wish u all the best.
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  • KaeB
    KaeB Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2010

    Last year I was diagnose with BC, 8 years after my first diagnosis. Back in 2001 I had for treatments of AC and all was clear for those 8 years. Doing a regular mammo the cancer was found in the other breast. I did another mastectomy and had 4 rounds of Taxotere/Carboplatin. Now eight months later I have a reoccurance with a mammary lymph node (1.2cm) and some "suspicious activity" on the spine. Am waiting for results of another PET scan to see if what the next step will be. Also am TN so that doesn't help matters.

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