Confirmed recurrence- help needed

Yanyan
Yanyan Member Posts: 38
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

One month after my last herceptin, my breast cancer came back in the same breast. It started with red blotch that got worse in 4 weeks and a tiny lump right underneath skin. Next week I will have a pet scan to be restated.



My questions are



1. Is skin mets on the same breast considered local recurrence or does that bring me to stage 4

2. My skin blotch is the size of a dime. If no cancer found anywhere else, what kind of treatment is usually prescribed? Surgery to remove the skin? And/or more chemo? Sine I just finished radiation 6 months ago, I doubt this will be my treatment.

3. Is local recurrence of this type treated with the big chemo taxotere and carboplatin, or only the targeted therapy drug like herceptin or tykerb? Since my recurrence happened while I was on herceptin, is it still worth using this drug? I have seen people using herceptin to get Ned for recurrence.



I am hoping there is no distant mets. Hats off to my surgeon who insisted on a biopsy despite a negative ultrasound result! I feel better that I took matter in my hands but can't help feeling frustrated and scared as it came back so fast. I wonder how much longer will I be around? Will I get to see my 5 year old grow up?



Thanks for listening!

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Comments

  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited March 2012

    You have a very good surgeon to find something that could have easily been ignored.  And I am soo sorry that you are having this local recurrence soo soon after ending Herceptin and with a five year old (I have a six year old, who was four when I was diagnosed and a now 10 year old).  I have no idea if they will come back with more chemo so I am not much help in this area. Did you have a mastectomy the first time?  Anyway, I just wanted to offer support.  I hope you get some good positive in-site from others soon...

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  • Yanyan
    Yanyan Member Posts: 38
    edited March 2012
    Thanks Kathy. I am getting a full body scan on Wed and hopefully it is just local. I noticed you are also ER/PR- and HER2 +. Here is another support group for Her2+. I find lots of helpful info there. http://www.her2support.org
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  • KeepingFaith69
    KeepingFaith69 Member Posts: 508
    edited May 2012

    Hi Yanyan,

    Recurrence stinks!  I had a double mastectommy and the full shabang (chemo, rads, herceptin) and was 2 sessions away from completing 12 minht sof Herceptin when the occurence showed up.

    It was a lump in the scar tissue, immediately above the original growth.

    Heart wrenching to say the least!  In fact, my husband and I found it harder than the original diagnosis.

    I had surgery and the growth was removed.  This was followed by another 25 rads.  The great news is that it hadnt spread.  I was originally disappointed as no medication was prescribed.  The explanation being that there was nothing to treat / measure.

    I am OK with that now.  I feel great and it's awesome to not have to 'brace' for my next appointment.  I choose to live life to the full.  In saying that, I still have panic moments and every little 'tingle'.  I trust that that too will pass.

    Sending you hugs, light and healing xo

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  • Yanyan
    Yanyan Member Posts: 38
    edited May 2012

    Hi Keepingfaith ! I am glad to hear you are doing well after the surgery ! Since i already had a mastectomy and radiation, my radiologist would rather reserve it for future as he think i am likely to have another recurrence given the fact my cancer returned so quickly! How discouraging is that :(. I am currently on tykerb and xeloda... My recurrence is localized to the skin on the cancer breast. Once they feel they can get a negative margin, i will have another mastectomy to remove the affected skin. I got some good information from another lady in this support group Faith316 who is also ER/PR- and HER2+. I hope your doctor would at least put you on tykerb for a few months.

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