2nd breast cancer after 11 yrs and concerned

I got it in the other breast 28 years after the first one. Had a mastectomy the first time, a lumpectomy last year. So far so good.  I know it is a shock to get it again -isn't once enought?  Stay strong, we are all with you----

Hi - I am doing "okay" after getting it again!  I was first diagnosed 19 years ago at the age of 34, was successfully treated with a lumpectomy, rads and chemotherapy and have been followed annually since then.  At this year's mammo (in November) DCIS and a new primary IDC were discovered.  Since it was in the same breast and I couldn't do rads again on the same side, I had to have a mastectomy and opted for a bilateral.  Twice in one lifetime is enough and even though I am BRCA negative, there is clearly something going on in me that causes me to develop breast cancers.  I am currently almost halfway through my chemo.

It sucks, but I am finding it easier this time.   The first time I had to learn everything about breast cancer - this time I knew just about everything so there wasn't such a scary learning curve.  I've also learned a lot about coping in the past 19 years - mostly by watching the grace with which so many of the other women I've known who have had bc have handled it.  

I maintain a blog - not about breast cancer specifically but I did "announce" my condition on it in a humorous way - which is how I cope - to my friends because it was easier than repeating my story a zillion times.   If you'd like to take a peek, it's at http://www.joanoliveremmer.com/?p=552. are all here for you.  If you'd like to stay in touch and travel this journey together I'd like that too.

Joan in New Jersey

Hi zillamom

Sorry you are having to deal with BC again and you are not alone. I had lumpectomy on 4 Jan 2010 after neoadjuvant chemo for triple negative IDC. Cancer found in opposite breast Oct 2011 so bliateral mastectomy Dec 2011. I had genetic testing and was found to have a mutation in BRCA 1 of 'unknown significance' but my oncologist thinks I should regard myself as BRCA1 +. It's hard having to deal with BC again zillamom but it happens and there are lots of women who live long and happy lives afterwards. For whatever reason you, like me and others, have breast tissue with a propensity to develop breast cancer. Wishing you all the best with your treatment. Karen X

Had cancer in my right breast in 2004.    They just discovered DCIS in the left.    Hear tomorrow on the recommended treatment plan.   Very nervous

To all second timers.....saw my radiologist last Friday...he told me we cured it the first time and will do the same this time. Just love his positive outlook,





Have surgery scheduled for Thursday...lumpectomy..and also the sentinel node biopsy. This will be followed by radiation...no chemo unless the pathology shows something other than DCIS.





Patti

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed this spring with recurrent inoperable BC in the nodes on the same side as my mastecomy 19 years ago. My oncologist simply told me she would treat it palliatively (letrozole), and that I could expect to go to Stage 4 by December. Yikes!

I opted to go to a Naturopath and get intravenous Vit C and Glutathion treatments - I have a girlfriend with lymphoma who recommended this. Since I was facing a radically shortened retirement anyway, I decided to spend the money - even if the only effect was to help me deal with the stress and grief.

Now I emphatically cannot say what has contributed to my current situation; but my last CT scan showed no mets, and significant node regression - now 15%, 24% and 35% of what they were at diagnosis. My onc calls the results "amazing" and is pretty sure I can now have surgery.

I haven't told her about my alternative treatments as she absolutely doesn't believe in them. Who knows - she could be right. All I know is I have been feeling terrific, my attitude is very positive and I had a marvellous scan.

So along with everyone else's heartening stories, here is one more. We will all get whatever this disease has in store for us, and we can't know in advance. One day at a time, and remember to be grateful for the gift of life we have had.

I remember this lesson when I remind myself that I was free of cancer for 19 years, 2 years longer than my brother's daughter lived in total. Puts things in perspective.