Please help - can they miss cancer in other breast?

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songbird68
songbird68 Member Posts: 190
edited August 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer


Hi, I am four months out from a left mastectomy and immediate recon and i am taking tamoxifen. I have found a lump in my natural breast, and am going for an ultrasound next friday (22 Nov). To say I am upset and in shock is an understatement, I really don't know how I feel right now.


If it turns out to be cancer, could it be that it was there all along and they didn't see it on mammo when they found the left side? Or can cancer grow that quickly, and on tamoxifen too? I don't really want to ask you lovely ladies these upsetting questions, as I know hearing of these things brings the fear back, but I have no one else to turn to.


If I have posted in the wrong forum please let me know!


Thank you for your help and support, and I hope all of you are doing well.


Tash x

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  • Gully
    Gully Member Posts: 268
    edited November 2013


    Hi Songbird,


    I hate to say it but, the short answer to your question is yes, they can miss the cancer. I had an area of cancer in my left breast, which started this journey off. I also had a 6 month watch on my right side that they said was probably nothing. The BS ordered a MRI just to be sure before my surgery and it came back with "something was there" sooo had another biopsy, and ultrasound, yep you guessed it, both negative. So I went ahead with surgery, I opted for BMX anyway, and behold when the pathology came back I had another cancer! Small but there. If I would not have opted for the BMX, I could be starting over about now. But......it could just be a cyst or a fibroid. I wish you the best of luck and I hope it turns out to be nothing.

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November 2013


    It's possible but I hope it's wrong. I had a BMX and the surgeon told me once she got pathology back that she was glad I did because the other breast showed pre cancerous features.


    It is hard waiting for these things. Will be thinking of you and hoping for good outcome.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2013


    Yes it can happen. Statistics say chances are much higher that it won't happen than will. Either which way, smart of you to be careful and have it checked out.

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited November 2013

    Hello Songbird

    I'm sorry you're going through this. I've gone through this too.

    In case this helps while you are waiting....A few months ago I found some lumps in my left breast and was very scared that the cancer had come back 18 months after a mastectomy of my right breast and aggressive treatment (see signature).

    I went for an examination with a breast nurse and a doctor did an ultrasound on the same day and voila - scattered breast cysts!

    Hoping for good results for you too!

    Alice

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    Thank you so much for your replies, you have really helped. I was really nervous to post, but I'm glad I reached out on BCO.


    Alicethecat, I'm sorry you went through this too, and got through all that aggressive treatment, but I'm so happy for you it turned out to be cysts!


    Wrenn and Gully, you definitely made the right decision for a BMX, and that was my preference too, but the surgeon said it was not neccessary. Definitely something I am thinking about again, no matter what the outcome of this scan.


    I hope I am the right side of the stats too Susan! Love your signature too.


    Whatever the outcome, I know I have the support of all you on here. You have mine too, if you ever need me.


    Tash x

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2013


    I did a prophylactic mastectomy on my "good breast". I had many reasons, but ONE of them was that I knew I would be always fretting about the remaining breast. However, please do know that statistically it doesn't give us any better chances of never having BC recur. That being said...you know your personality and sometimes peace of mind (no matter how scientifically unfounded) trumps any consequences of the surgery. I do hope all is benign and you find peace with your natural breast. You are not very far out from the initial diagnosis, so things may get a little easier for you as time passes. :)

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    Thank you Susan for your kind words. I am like you, and need the peace of mind, which I don't think I'll ever have as long as I have a natural breast on my body. Hopefully it's something benign and I end up with a prophylactic mast. I just think the less breast tissue there is the better!


    I am calmer about the waiting now :) How are you getting on with tamoxifen? I don't seem to have any side effects - I hope that doesn't mean it's not working!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2013


    I'm doing fine with the Tamoxifen. Only 2 1/2 more years to go! No side effects that I can specifically attribute to it. Studies have shown that SE's are not indicative of whether or not it is working so don't worry about that. :)


    Did you have the oncotype test done? Especially if you are highly ER+ , tamoxifen is a great weapon for us.

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    I did not have the oncotype test done, and I am highly ER+. My surgeon said it was not necessary because the Ki-67 was very low score. We had quite a discussion about it! I accepted his professional opinion but, there will always be an element of doubt I try to ignore. I think the hardest part of the whole cancer experience so far has been sifting all the available info and trying to find the best fit personally.


    Good to hear you have no probs with tamoxifen :) I'm looking forward to being able to say only 2 1/2 years to go on tamoxifen too!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2013


    I've heard the oncotype test is more "popular" in the US. You will have all this in your rear view movie before you know it. :)

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    Thanks Susan, I needed to hear that :) the rear view movie, I mean!

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    I think the oncotypeDX test has been approved at last in the UK, so we're getting there!

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    I had the ultrasound this afternoon and got the all clear! They think there are hormonal changes because of the tamoxifen. Thank you for your support, it really helped during the week long forever waiting. :)

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2013


    Yay! Have a great weekend. :)

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    I certainly will, thank you - You too Susan! :)

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    The scan looks lovely in the rear view movie! :)

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited November 2013


    Congratulations Songbird!


    So pleased your ultrasound got the all clear.


    Excellent news.


    Alice

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    Thanks Alicethecat!:)


    Hope all is well with you too x

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited November 2013


    Yes. They missed mine. And, with the first one I had an architectural distortion and got a diagnostic mammo which showed nothing and then two years later, cancer right where the distortion was. Should have had an ultrasound.....*sigh*.....but VERY glad you turned out all clear! Stay that way, please! :)))

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited November 2013


    Hi Bluepearl, thank you for your kind words. I am so sorry they missed yours and for two years! That is just terrible. I can only guess how you feel when you found that out. I haven't got any polite words to describe how I feel about cancer.


    I hope you stay clear too :) Forever NED! x

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited December 2013


    Hi songbird68 (love your name)....they actually missed BOTH of them, so two years for the first and 2 years for the last....fortunately small and ok....don't worry because getting it in the other breast is about 5%...I kind of think it was the DDT in the past..they sprayed that stuff around like it was a mist of water,,,,,so who knows! It was one BIG scary TRIP, shell-shocked for months and maybe years.....but upwards and onwards!!!!x0x0

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited December 2013


    ... but you got through it! You beat the odds with that one:) Maybe it was DDT that caused it. Wish they'd hurry up and find out just what causes the darn thing! So we know what not to do/eat/drink/breathe in/ wear .. or who to sue!!


    Saw my PS on weds and though he thinks it's very unlikely the cancer will come back in the other breast, he will support my decision to have a CPM. Can't wait!! Here in England the process is to see our breast care nurses, the surgeon and a psychologist before they will do the operation.


    I love your name too, Bluepearl:) xx

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2014

    Hi hope everyone is well. Just to let you know that I have had the prophy:) 

    I feel sooo much better emotionally.

    Pathology said all benign.

    thank you for all your support when I needed it.

    I am here for you too.

    x x x

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2014

    Songbird, that is fantastic news, we are delighted to hear it.

    Sending you a big virtual hug :-)

    The mods

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