9 years later a third primary cancer

11 years later, a third primary: this time ILC. I feel more knocked out by this than I'd have imagined. I really, TRULY, thought it was all behind me. All three cancers have been found early, including this one. But with three (count 'em), it seems awfully likely there'll be more. That's the tough part: will there be more even if I have a bilateral mastectomy and everything else the medical world has to offer? I'm 62 and trying to decide how much longer I want to live and how much discomfort I'm willing to live with. 

I was diagnosed with a recurrence after 9 years, and I was floored...even more shocked and upset than the 1st time.  But it was caught even earlier than last time, so I had the mastectomy.  An MRI on the other breast looked normal.  My doctor is planning another MRI next year, just for comparison purposes and then we might not be doing an MRI annually.  So maybe this will be it..  Or maybe not...  I'll just keep on top of everything and hope for the best, which is really all any of us can do.

Hang in there. Hugs

Unfortunately breast cancer can come back after many years, there was a posting of somebody after 19 years. It seems all were very good with their follow ups.

That is all we can do, hoping  that a recurrence is found early.

That was me - a new primary after 19 years!  I had a lumpectomy, rads and chemo when I was 34, followed by 19 years of follow-up.  During this year's mammogram/sonogram, a new DCIS and a small (9 mm) IDC were found.  Since they were in the same breast as the original, I could not have another round of radiation and I opted for a bilateral mastecomy. 

 I am almost glad that the new primary occurred in the same breast. Had it occurred in the other, I would have been struggling with the idea of another lumpectomy, when what I really wanted to do this time was get rid of "them."  Even though I am BRCA negative, there is clearly something in me that creates breast cancers and the prophylactic mastectomy on the other side just felt "right."

Because I kept up with my yearly mammo/sonos, this new primary was found early - thank God for the sharp radiologist who found it!  I am in the midst of chemo, but am hoping to go another 19 years - heck - forever - without another breast cancer.  It is unlikely that it will recur in the breast - it is metastasis I will need to worry about.  

Just rambling.  My situation is an unlikely occurence - I don't think the average breast cancer survivor needs to worry about a new primary after so many years. 

Joan

Rita - so glad to see there is a three-times survivor out there. I have just found out that there is a lump in my left breast, which they "suspect" is only an adenoma, and should be kept "under observation". From December 2010 unil May 2011 the oncologists and two gynaecologists insisted that the lump I had found in my right breast was just a cyst. It wasn't - it was a local recurrence in what little remained of the original breast tissue after my mastectomy in 2008, and had grown larger than the originl tumour. My husband has said tonight he can't take it any more after four nightmare years (chronic problems with my reconstruction and Tamoxifen) and basically told me to deal with it on my own. I am devastated. I am only 45 and we have a 10-year-old son, but I now believe it would be better to end it all so that my husband and he can get back to a normal life. Reading your entry has made me feel better. Thank you.

ellen your 62 years young our Father is not ready for you to stop fighting, hes not ready for you to go yet.  He brought you to this again and he will continue to bring us all through it. Keep being strong and keep fighting!  We're all here for you and you are an inspiration.