Recurrence after bilat mastectomy?

Jenn, I did not have chemo with the first BC.  BMX took care of it for 12 years. When I got BC again, I had to do chemo and ALND surgery.

Jenn I'm so sorry your biopsy came back positive.  I completely remember the feeling of having to do all this when I was just feeling whole and happy again.  As Cider said, you do what you got to do and it still sucks but you still do it.  One year later, I am feeling much better and whole and I have hair.  I'm so sorry to welcome you to the club, but you aren't alone.

Sorry for the delay in writing again. It's been a lot to take in. I found out, it was triple negative, early stage 2A- no lymph nodes infected. It was a new primary cancer, in the other breast after a double mastectomy. Same diagnosis exactly as last time. My son was 1 when this happened, now my other son is 1. Really deja vu. I already had my surgery a week ago and my drain will come out tomorrow. I'm feeling good. Dreading the chemo in about 3 weeks, but it's only 4 rounds, whereas last time I had 16. I'm getting TC. Jaimieh- you mentioned you would have used the cold caps if you did TC. What do you know about this?

I'm feeling very scared these days. I'm glad it was contained but if it came back after all that surgery and chemo last time....I'm petrified it's going to happen again. I have two small children that I am devastated for. I consider myself "lucky" b/c both times it hadn't spread, but would I be so lucky next time? Praying this second "hit" will defeat it for good. Ladies who are in my situation.....how many years out are you from your 2nd diagnosis?

Hi ladies, I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right forum or not but I need some input. 21 months ago I was diagnosed with stage 1, IDC and underwent a BMX. I had 3 nodes removed with tested negative for cancer, no rads or chemo but on Tamoxifen. I've had 2 rounds of genetic testing. Found negative for BRCA but positive for the BARD1 gene (linked to breast/ovarian cancer). Fast forward to 5 weeks ago where I underwent a complete hysterectomy with ovary removal to reduce my risk for ovarian cancer. I've been feeling pretty good and recovering well from my last surgery. This morning I had a sharp pain in my armpit (same side as bc and where I had nodes removed). I go to feel in my armpit and am shocked to find a small, hard lump! I am terrified! Is it really possible that the bc is back, even though I've done everything in my power to reduce any chances of it coming back? My first call in the morning will be to my MO. I just don't know if I'm strong enough to go through all of this again!!

Third, try not to jump to conclusions until after you see the doctor. There are other things that could be causing the pain and the lump. Even if it is a lymph node, it doesn't mean it is cancer. The job of our lymph nodes is to go into action to fight infection and disease, so it might not have anything to do with BC. Think of the lymph nodes is your neck when you get a cold, they get a little swollen until your body fends off the virus. Also if it is on the side you had nodes removed, perhaps it is scar tissue. I am not trying to downplay your fears, just trying to encourage you to not go to that dark place until you see the doctor and get all the facts. I know it is easier said than done, and I do know how hard it is not to be scared about anything out of the ordinary in the breast area. Please keep is posted on what you find out.

Jenn so sorry to hear about the new primary in your other breast. You are right, it is so not fair! I think a reoccurrence is a fear all of us share, never truly knowing "if or when" the cancer may come back. Do you have a plan in place from your doctor yet on treatment?

Bren thank you for the words of encouragement. I'm really trying not  to go "there" in my head, but it's hard. The past 2 years have been so difficult for me and I finally thought I was to the place where I could put cancer, hospitals, surgeries, treatments, etc behind me. I hope and pray you're right and that this lump is nothing serious. I'll keep everyone posted on what my MO says. 

toby I see you have been dealing with this for a while. Hopefully your new BS will be able to sort all of this out and give you a treatment plan that will lessen your risk of recurrence. Let us know when you get the results of the MRI.

I'm joining the club, unwillingly. A few weeks ago, while in the shower, my washcloth found a lump along my mastectomy scar. I had just seen a MO three weeks before and an exam showed no lump. Within a few days I was at my breast specialist and had an ultrasound. There was disagreement as to what the lump was, so a body scan (hadn't had one in two years) and a needle biopsy were scheduled and I had them this last Wednesday. Results are "aggressive ILC"  and so here we go again. This journey started ten years ago with Stage 0 LCIS. A lumpectomy. Another lumpectomy. A quadrantectomy. And then the bilateral mastectomy in May 2010 with a Stage 2B diagnosis. And now this (biopsy results pending for type etc). I am luckier than many, I know this well, but I sure am tired of this. So now I have an appt with the surgeon and a new MO and here we go again...  ...sigh...

Third, I am glad you are getting a biopsy, that is really the only way to know for sure.

Jean, I am so sorry you are going the club...again. It's not fun the first time, and not fun the second time either. But at least the second time, hopefully we are a little more educated on what to expect and what kinds of questions to ask.

Hi ladies, had my ultrasound appointment on Tuesday for the lump I found in my lymph nodes. Did not go too well, the radiologist said it's definitely not scar tissue. She said it could be a reactive lymph node from some sort of infection or it could be cancerous. She was concerned enough to do a biopsy right then. I've seen that concerned look before, and am scared to death. As I laid there on the table everything from the past 2 years came flooding back. I don't know if I'm strong enough to go through this again. I had just gotten to a place where I thought I could put cancer behind me and move on with my life. I'm trying not to jump ahead prematurely but it's very hard. She said I should have the biopsy results by the end of this week or early next week. She said either my MO would call me or she would call me once they have news.

Thank you Bren! I'll keep everyone posted when I hear more.

wow, beatmom, that is very fortunate that they found it all! I am sorry that you are going through this all over again.

I just went for my 6 month check up 2 years after dx. No scans, no bloodwork, nothing. I was really surprised that he didn't even want blood work since my white cells were still really low in July when my GYN did bloodwork. On another thread that I follow some were questioning why even go to the MO to be followed if they aren't going to do anything.

Got my results today from my lymph node biopsy. It was benign!!! Yay! So excited and relieved! They just want me to follow up with another ultrasound in 3 months.

Third - wonderful news.  So glad for you.

Wambles - we'll keep you in our thoughts.  Hope the MRI doesn't show more problems. 

Third, that is great news!!! I am so happy for you!

wambles, I am so sorry you are here again. Please let us know when you get the MRI results. Are you going on one of the AI's after the oopherectomy?

Jean, 5 times is a lot for anyone to handle. (((hugs)))