Scared and apparently ignorant to the reality of recurrence

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abigail8
abigail8 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer
Hi, I feel so helpless right now and don't know where else to turn.  I graduate from nursing school in december in CA and my parents live in louisiana.  I am desperately seeking someone who has been in a similar situation as my mom.  She had a lumpectomy of a stage one lump with no node involvement.  She was told she had clear margins but received a score of 28 on her oncotype dx.  Her Dr. treated her aggressively post-surgery with cytoxan followd by radiation which she completed only a few weeks ago.  She went in to the dr. in April for a mammogram when they detected a marble-sized lump where they had taken only two of her sentinel nodes in her axilla.  The dr. informed her that it was probably just scar tissue but to follow up in 6 months.  At her final consult, post-treatment, with her radiologist he discovered this same palpable marble-sized mass.  He immediately called her oncologist and stressed the importance of keeping the appointment he was able to schedule for the following day.  She has a hxistory of fibrocystic breasts so being brought directly into an ultrasound was not a particularly foreign concept.  The Dr. stared at the screen and attempted to aspirate/drain the lump.  He was surprised to find it was a solid mass. They took a biopsy and said the results should be in tom. (thursday) or friday...  Has anyone experienced a similar situation?  What are the chances that it is a granuloma/hematoma or scar tissue?  My mom is certain that it can't possibly be cancer but my besst friend from high school, a doctor, spent time in a breast treatment center and gave me some ideas about the possible outcomes.  My heart breaks because, like so many, she battled in turmoil over the precribed chemo aand its lifelong effects.  her decision was the "safest" route and I can't begin to understand how powerless and afraid she must feel to have the "safe" outcome be ineffective.    Thanks for letting me vent....FYI: she had hysterectomy for cervical cancer and her mothe (my grandma) had ovarian cancer.  Any feedback from similar experiences, bad, good, neutral, would be much appreciated.  I just want to hear about real-life stories.  Thanks.
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  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    I honestly believe this is scar tissue or possibly necrosis from radiation.  It would be very unlikely that an early stager like your mom have cancer remain. 

    I am not a doctor and I think your mom should be proactive and really follow up on this...just in case.

    I just had a mammo after lumpectomy, but before rads.  They saw something on my mammo and suggest that I follow up in 6 months.  This sin't unusual for us post-BC.  The radiologist said he's confident that it's scar tissue.  But post-rads, like your mom is, the breast continues to change for up to two years.

    Take a deep breath and try to get some rest tonight.  Everything will work out.

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited July 2011

    Abigail, We all feel for you and your mother. I know it is hard to wait...I dont wait well at all for anything. I have had cysts that they have had to aspirate and was always told if it is a cyst then that should work. Still, my sister in law has BC insitu and she had a similiar thing happen to her. They did the biopsies and it turned out to be scar tissue. It could very well be the same for your mother. Just checked the date on your post so last Thursday your mom got the results...is everything okay? Praying for your and your mom....diane

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  • lalisa
    lalisa Member Posts: 114
    edited July 2011

    I hope your mom is okay. I had (still have) a little lump under my arm, like a raisin, I would say. I was scared to death, and went to the radiologist who originally diagnosed my bc 4 years ago. He examined me and said it was a little lump of fat, not to worry. I hope your mom gets the same good news.

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  • themusteach
    themusteach Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2011

    Well ladies we are the warriors aren't we?  Brave can't even begin to describe the decisions we have to face surrounding this monster!!

    I'm looking at 2nd diagnosis of dcis stage 0 in the other breast and have been given the option of partial breast rad.  Already hadfull breast radiation  on the right in 03.  Feeling very uneasy about doing whole breast or just partial.  Onc said he would let me do it if it meant i chose that over no radiation, but now i'm wondering....

    Anyone out there been looking at this?  Insurance won't cover the brachiatherapy/ seed radiation thingie.....but still with partial i would only have to go for a week in total 2x's a day.....

    I think i'm ready for a sex change operation LOL!

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  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 631
    edited August 2011

    Abigail,

    I can imagine how concerned u must be!!

    Do not speculate as the only way to be sure if what Mom is dealing with will be the path report.

    That said, I AM wondering if Mom was tested for the BRCA gene mutations? With her Moms cancer history and hers it would be the prudent thing to look into. Hereditary cancers can be different than sporadic and treatments can be different for those with recurrent disease based on BRCA positivity.



    Please keep us posted!

    Warmly,

    Marcia

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  • CRR
    CRR Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2011

    I agree with Marcia Don't speculate on your mom, worry won't help either of you, wait for the path results.  With regard to your history, I suggest all the females in your family get BRACA tested but definitely start with one.

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  • CRR
    CRR Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2011

    The musteach,

    I did the brachytherapy and wouldn't go any other way.  It's was great, 5 days, didn't feel tired, only putting it in and taking it out hurt, other than that it was a piece of cake.  It didn't effect my lungs or heart or skin like traditional radiation would have.  Much better way to go I believe.  I used Dr. Kuske in Phoenix and he is the best in my opinion.  Good luck in your decision 

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  • CRR
    CRR Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2011

    p.s.  My insurance covered it, are you sure yours won't?

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