Recurrence so soon, how is it possible

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Angel84
Angel84 Member Posts: 25
edited September 2019 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis


Hello.


My mom was diagnosed exactly year ago and had mastectomy. Final diagnosis was 2 IDC tumors, 2.2cm and 1.2 cm, ER+, PR-, HER2-, 0/17 nodes positive, k67 : 70%. She had surgery in november 2012, finished chemo in april and had radiation in may. and now takes tamoxifel


Now, just 4 months later she contacted doctor because she saw some redding of skin on place of scar and rock hard lump. Doctor says it's most likely recurrence around 2cm.


How is it possible that she has recurrence so soon with HER-, ER+ and with 0 nodes positive. I'm just devastated, I thought that recurrence with this type of cancer is more common in 5 years or so, not so soon? :(

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  • GoldenGirls
    GoldenGirls Member Posts: 608
    edited October 2013


    Shortly after my mom's original diagnosis she had redness and a very hard lump under the area of the scar from her lumpectomy and it turned out to be just some kind of scar tissue or something like that. Whatever it was, it was not cancer. Has your mother had a scan or biopsy to confirm cancer already or is the doctor going only from appearance? Hoping for the best for you both!


    ((Hugs))

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2013


    According to doctor it is probably recurrence, but she is doing ultrasound of both breast and abdomen and x-ray of lungs tomorrow, meeting the doctors on Tuesday to schedule surgery if needed. So, it is not definite, but unfortunately when experienced doctor says it's probably recurrence it's really hard to think positive.

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2013


    IDC then IBC? Is it like science fiction?


    My mom did ultrasound of abdomen, breasts and x-ray of chest, abdomen and chest are okay and the breast which was not operated, but on the mastectomy breast there is inflammation ...( I can't translate the rest) measurements 3cm*0.5cm.


    She did blood work also and she has high blood sedimentation rate 36 (normal is less than 15), but her tumor marker CA 15-3 is normal 13.4 (0-30 are normal).


    Her doctor said that it is probably recurrence, and inflammation is consistent with IBC, so I'm wondering is it even possible?

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  • ballet12
    ballet12 Member Posts: 981
    edited October 2013


    Yes, there is someone on these threads who had a recurrence as IBC, probably rarer that the already rare IBC. I hope it proves to be wrong for your mom.

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2013


    Doctor also thinks that it's possible that nipple wasn't extracted during mastectomy (since it was seen on chest x-ray) and that it got inflamed. Chances of it being IBC just seem so unreal to me. Hope for the best

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited October 2013


    Angel84, the mastectomy scar is a common place for a recurrence. I will say that it seems a little early for such a thing. On the other hand since the operation was not that long ago it could certainly be some kind of inflammation.


    Don't borrow trouble and we'll hope for the best for you and your Mom.

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited October 2013


    I'm with pajim. My doctor said recurrences after mastectomy resemble little red pimples. While it is possible to get a second, different cancer, this would indeed be rare, much more rare than an inflammation. Doctor's make guesses. Biopsies tell the truth. Hoping you get the best news!

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  • positivenegative
    positivenegative Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2013

    angel lol on scifi bbut its not.  i have it too...  idc then ibc within months plus now mets stage  4.    pm if youu want it is real and rare and agggressive!  hang in there a day at a tiime (huug)

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  • Godsaveus
    Godsaveus Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2013


    may god save all of us.

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  • funthing42
    funthing42 Member Posts: 418
    edited December 2014

    Big Hugs.

    Sitting here thinking of whine. To drink or not to drink. Just one glass. Hmmmm

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  • DavisD
    DavisD Member Posts: 338
    edited February 2015

    I just had a reoccurrence on the same side as mastectomy but no pink bumps. Mine (removed yesterday) was a hard big marble sized tumor right under implant along line of mastectomy. Waiting for pathology report. In some pain but not as bad as mastectomy. Should return to work on Thurs.
    Just read this thread as I'm a newbie to this site. I posted a lengthy one of recurrences earlier so I wont bore you! You all sound like ladies I'd like to "talk with."  And my vote is not to whine but wine!!

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2015

    I had zero nodes, small tumor, low oncotype, er+, her2- first time as well. Treated with bmx, chemo, and tamoxifen. I also had a recurrence 14 months after being done with chemo. I always seem to be. statistical anomoly and now is no exception. Keep us posted on how your mom is doing

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited September 2019

    I am unfortunately resurrecting this old thread. This thing 6 years ago turnes out to be nothing, however, now, 7 years after initial diagnosis, mammography spotted 1.7cm*8mm shadow and she needs fast ultrasound to confirm as bi_rads from mammogrpahy was 0.

    Her tumor markers are normal but that doesn't mean anything I guess?

    She finished Tamoxifen therapy a year ago or so, as hee cancer was ER+.


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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited September 2019

    Hoping this is benign. Tumor markers are known to be unreliable, and are not used by the majority of oncologists unless metastatic cpread.

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