Recurrence less than 3 months after bilateral mastectomy

Hello my name is Vicki and im 34.Last Friday i got diagnosed with my 3rd BC. This last one 4 months after my mastectomy. It is just under the skin on my scar line. My only option is chemo again. I have been told by my surgeon that the scans i have this week are likely to show mets in lung or liver. Best of luck to you.x

Just because our breasts are gone doesn't mean we're now impervious to breast cancer. Tiny cells can be left behind--there's no way to get 100% of the breast tissue. Which is why many surgeons will not perform nipple-sparing mastectomies.

It's not uncommon to have a recurrence in the scar tissue. But that's considered a local recurrence. And if you've already had the big chemo, then rads are likely.

We are never out of the woods from this disease. Even with our breasts gone. It's a very scary reality. I ache for anyone having to deal with this again at all, much less so soon.

My long story in short form. First had an "issue" with the left breast over 20 years ago, had numerous excision and draining surgeries and procedures. After all of this, had a bi-lateral mastectomy as a precaution, no cancer was ever found, in November 2010. Now, 5 months later, under the right scar, the same issue with redness, swelling, drainage ect. I have a general feeling of something just not right. I have never seen an oncologist. Went to the breast center in September 2010, surgeon in October 2010, mastectomy in November 2010. Now, I have swelling in the back of my armpit, and have always had the achy, tingling feeling in both arms but surgeon says no nodes were taken. So confused. Father died of fast acting bone and brain cancer 5 years ago. I guess I am just asking for opinions on if I should see an oncologist or if it is a waste of time now that mastectomy was already done

Sorry for not posting for such a long time following my message.  I am on Gemzar at the moment (have been since March) and my wound has 90% healed.  My oncologist said he never expected a response like this  Oh, and the scans were all clear meaning this is considered a local recurrance.

VC1  I notice that you are TN.  What made you decide Gemzar?   Did you have a PET scan?  I was just diagnosed with a recurrence 3 months after my surgery.  I was in radiation at the time.  Right now I am finishing my radiation (did chemo prior to surgery) while I wait for my appointments with MDs for the recommendation for  chemo. 

Hi there, I am 30 years and have been recently diagnosed with Breast Mets to the Lung-3 3months post bilateral masectomy.

I was originally diagnosed with stage 2b breast cancer with lymph node involvement last year in October (2010).

I had all the scans prior to the lumpectomy and everything came back clear, Had surgery with full lypmth node dissection, 6 rounds of FEC-T, 25 rounds of radiation to the lympth nodes and then had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders in July 2011. My pathology came back clear and I thought I was all good. But then a month later, I started to feel chest pains, shortness of breath and a cough appeared, plus my energy levels were really low. So I went for my 6 month follow-up with my Oncologist who was about to give me the all clear until I mentioned Hey I have a cough and chest pains. He then sent me for a chest x-ray and found fluid on the right lung. He then took a litre off the lung and then sent me for a CT Scan which showed that the cancer had metastasized to the lung.

I'm triple negative and am now on Gemcitabine and Cisplastin- i have had 2 sessions but the entire treatment cycle is 12 cycles and 1 cycle is 2 sessions. I anticipate to finish this chemo next May (2012). I have my CT Scan in 2 months and have chest xrays before each chemo. I am hoping this chemo works for me!

Deep81- sorry to hear of your recurrence, I do hope your chemo works for you.  lollypop59, I also had a local recurrence to the breast skin.  I had a bunch of scans last week to see if it had spread anywhere else - I have an appt with the onco tomorrow to hear the news.  I am so freakin' anxious!  Best case scenario - it's just local and I get radiation - funny how I'll be psyched to get (only) rads!

Hi lollypop, clear to hear your ct scan was clear.  I did find out today that my scans were clear and I had only a localized recurrence - I'll get radiation + more herceptin for "insurance".  Hope your tx goes well - good luck!

Hi Lollipop59,

So sorry to hear of the recurrence.

I have had something similar.  Double Mx in September 2010, followed by chemo (18 weeks), rads (20) and Herceptin (12 months).

A lump appeared underneath the scar tissue, directly above the initial tumour (multi foci largest 3mm).  I will be getting surgery to remove what was initially thought to be benign cysts) this coming Tuesday.  CT scans the following day. 

I have two young children and am beside myself with anxiety.  Just wonderng how things are going for you.  Keep the faith xox

hi keeping faith 69,

the same with me i had three left of herceptin to go my oncologist did say it have not worked for me but then she said that it wont hurt to finish the last three, but i was due to have one yesterday but it was cancalled, because i had a phone sayig my muga scan was not good now i have to go and see a cardiologist to make sure my heart is ok, but at this moment i am cancer free and i did not need any further treatment, just had the nodules removed. It is very scary but we just have to try and stay positive take care and stay strong. x

Hi Lollypop59.

Hope all is still going well.  How did it go with your Oncologist?

Lovetosail - hoe are things going for you?

I have nodules removed on Tuesday and my surgeon said she was 'very happy' with the outcome.  Awaiting histology and scan results now.  The waiting is driving me batty!  Roll on Monday 5/12 at 10:00am.  I am visualising clear margins and clear scans.  Yeah baby!

Hey all.  Scans are all clear, yahooooo!  Last 3 rounds of Herceptin have been stopped.  I was worried and now I'm OK with it.  NED works for me.  And they will be checking me often to monitor.  II'm cool with that.  NED NED NED yay

hi keepingfaith69, my herceptin was stopped, i had three left to go but my heart was affected, now on heart medication for a while, di  speak with my onc and she said that not to worry to much because i had had most of them and if you did need it again but hopefully not your heart will be back to normal by then, happy new year to you and you are well x

hi lovetosail hope you are well , i had another punch biopsy today on some more nodules that appeared again, hoping they are not more cancer cells that have popped up, but will know on monday, so stressed again, do you have treatment after your reccurance because my surgeon said today if they cancer cell present it will be more chemo , the tablet form, i just dont get cant have herceptin because they stopped it.grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr       also hi keepingthefaith69 hope you are well x x

hello keepingfaith69,

                        the nodules were were cancer agai, plus i got a chest wall reccurance has well its never ending, which means more chemo in couple of weeks then more surgery. cancer sucks big time .hoping you are feeling well today. x x