Cancer in post mastectomy, reconstructed breast?

Hi, I had a unilateral mx with immediate DIEP recon, TCHx6 and herceptin for a year.  I'm about 1.5 years out from finishing tx and I feel a small lump in the recon breast, near the skin surface, not far from the original tumor location.  I'm seeing onco on Weds and am trying not to worry - but you know how that goes!  I put it out of my mind for a bit and then it comes right back to freak me out.  So glad there is somewhere to come to speak about these fears.

hang in there eilzsmilz, my lump turned out to be a likely epidermoid cyst - benign!  My BS is going to remove it any way for piece of mind, next week.  good luck and hope you get some answers soon!

huh, I spoke too soon.  The "cyst" turned out to be a local recurrence after all - just had the surgery today.  I'll find out the full path and tx plan next week.

lovetosail,

So sorry to hear that yours was a recurrence.  Mine was around the same timeframe - 16 months later, but I did not have chemo. the first time around. 

What I tell myself, is that although it's a recurrence, it was likely just a few cells left behind during the surgery.  I'd rather believe that then think that it's a new cancer .  With the timing, and how long it actually takes cancer to grow, I don't think it could be anything else.  Hopefully just surgery for you and maybe radiation.  I did radiation after the recurrence and I did not find that to be difficult at all.  Hang in there, I'll be thinking about you and praying for you. 

Laura

hi everybody,

                 i had my mx and recon in march 2011 i had ibc, now i have local reccurance on same breast, now have to have the silicone removed and the breast flattened,had chemo, rads after op, and still on herecptin, its so scary.

hi well i have four small white lumps just under the skin one of them were quite red, which is the one he done the biospy one, they are outside my breast he said the cancer cells are under the skin, i have had my cat scan and there was no spread i am going into hospital on wed for my op, and he said more treatment after not sure what yet though, also did not have the tamoxafen test done i think not sure what that is, anyway thankyou for replying, where do you actually live, i live in uk in wales. and happy you are in remission.

Hi Laura,

I was an intermediate metabolizer of tamoxifen, so hopefully it worked a little.  Since finding the recurrence I had a breast MRI (clear!), PET/CT and bone scan. I find out the results of the latter scans today - I am a nervous wreck!

Lovestosail - good luck on your PET results

((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))

Sue

Hi Sue & Laura,

 I got lucky - it was just a localized recurrence - scans (PET/CT/bone/MRI) were all clear.  I'll have a course of radiation and another 6 months or year or so of Herceptin, for insurance.  What a relief!  Thanks you guys for your support!!

Sue

Wow, I had no idea there were so many of us with less than a 1% chance of recurrence going through this again!  I had Hodgkins disease in 1981 treated with radiation.  I was diagnosed with paget's cells in my nipple, DCIS, and a 3 MM invasive IDC in 2006.  Had a mastectomy, no node involvement and immediate reconstruction.  Diagnosed with Atypical lobular hyperplasia in the other breast in 2008, had second mastectomy & reconstruction.  I felt a hard sore spot at the edge of my implant in the first breast.  I was passed from Dr. to Dr. and finally had ultrasound and biopsy confirming cancer.  Had surgery to remove growth which was under the skin andgrowing to the implant capsule. Much more cancer under my arm and six positive lymph nodes they could identify.  ER/PR= HER2Neu+.  I will begin chemo next week, followed by Herceptin,5 years of hormone therapy, and any radiation they feel I can tolerate since I had so much in 1981.  I am told that follow up scans will be of no value since they cannot detect microscopic cells.  But what about when they start to grow, couldn't they find something then, maybe when it is still at a treatable stage?  I feel so helpless and frustrated, so any input from the awesome ladies on this thread will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for all you have done for me!

MimiDPL,

First - I'm so sorry to hear all you have been through!!!  My gosh, enough is enough! 

When my local recurrence was detected they did a PET scan.  Even though all 5 of the lymph nodes that were removed were negative, there was one lymph node in my chest that showed up on the scan.  They couldn't really confirm if it was some sort of infection, scar tissue or cancer.  All subsequent scans have been clear.  My Oncologist said my recurrence and chest lymph node scare put me in the "card carrying mafia"...haha (higher surveillance).  I get PET scans once a year and I've had a bone scan also.  Maybe after my 5 year point, we'll stop doing them?  After this most recent diagnosis, did they do a PET scan to check for metastasis?  I sure would want one just to make sure they have the staging correct.  Typically the earlier you can find mets, the longer the survival.  Maybe if that one was clean then they don't see the need for additional ones?  I don't know your age, but that may have something to do with it.  My doctor said the younger you are when diagnosed, the more aggressively they watch you.  Typically the cancers younger gals get tend to be more aggressive.  He said that if I had been 70 when diagnosed, he probably wouldn't be doing these scans.  I was 41 at my first diagnosis.  I'm sure all Oncologists have different views....  

Take care!!

Laura

Hi Sdarrow,

I don't know about anything benign turning into cancer, but there is not reason not to biopsy those lumps and get a final answer.  My breast surgeon did that in his office.  He tried to do a needle biopsy under ultrasound but it was small and hard to get.  He finally just numbed up the area and basically cut next to it and plucked it out.  It was very small, a couple mm, and growing right into the skin.  To me, there is no sense in not knowing for sure, especially after all you have been through.  Keep us posted - we'll be praying for benign!

 Laura 

oh my. i know this post is old, but i am in this boat now. i had cancer the first time and it did not show up on mammo or ultrasound. i insisted it come out and was put through the absolute ringer. the internet was not as full of info (in 97) and i did what they said. i have never been the same.

 in 2003, i went to the "number one" cancer hospital in the 'WORLD.' (ugh). they gave me an all clear for five years. two months later, i had a routine pap and my doctor felt lumps all in my other breast (i had lumpectomy, radiation, etc. in the left after the biopsy showed bad margins (the biopsy i INSISTED upon)).

i had a double mastectomy, and have had my implants replaced 4 times because the skin would not give and the left implant would end up on my neck, shoulder, etc.

 i had allerderm put in (pig skin) and it was okay for a while . . . until they rotated and traveled under both arms (i can actually push them back, but they look awful).

 NOW, i have lumps in the right breast that you can see and feel and, as usual with me, they do not show up on either test! SO, I am off for a more thorough scans.

 my advice to ANYONE that has an issue. i don 't care WHAT the doctor says. if you have a lump, or something suspicious, GET IT OUT AND BIOPSIED. I WOULD BE DEAD IF I DID NOT TAKE MATTERS IN MY OWN HANDS. it is azazing how they will blow you off. two cancers and all my oncologists have been doing is bloodwork. they don't even look for abnormal areas and i have not been sent for a scan since my second dx in 2003. i do my own exams and now, i am in trouble again. my newest doctor sent me imeediately for a mri. do not let them tell you to wait six months (i've seen people die in less time) -- when you have issues. THE END. i wish you well.please contact me if i can help you inj any way. (i did not spell check or proof!!! sorry!). suse.

Can anyone describe what a recurrence lump in a TRAM flap looks/feels like? I have a raised bump in the inside rt edge of reconstructed breast. It started smaller but is now the size of a small pea. It is raised but I can tell there is density under the skin as well. It is not on a scar area but because it is inside, it is closer to the chest wall. I have no idea what a recurrence is like. I recently had a red rash w/blistering on the same breast. Urgent care/primary physician said it was a dermatitis. What is up with this? Any input would be appreciated as I am at a loss but going to seek my oncologist or a PS this week for counsel. Thanks! Donna    

It was in 2005 - my mx plus tram flap. My oncologist is booked and on vacation for 2 weeks so I see my internist today at 3. I will see what he wants to do. I wish I was seeing someone who was more famililar with bc. All of my bc care was done in CA and now I am in rural Maryland. This is dense but maybe it is something skin related. I will have it checked thoroughly. Here we go! Donna