Recurrence after Mastectomy

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danlias
danlias Member Posts: 28
edited November 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Hello,

Two years ago my mom had a mastectomy, was doing great and them last week the doc found a small bump on her mastectomy scar. He did a biopsy and we found out today it was positive.

I'm so confused over this...her bloodwork and latest scans were healthy. I'm hoping it was caught early but if anybody can help us understand this, I would greatly appreciate it. I know everyone's circumstances are different but do we start all over again with everything?

Thanks,

Danlias

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited November 2014
    I'm sorry you have not had any responses yet. This has not happened to me, so I really don't know what they will do for your mom. If she has not had rads before it is possible they will remove the small bump, then offer her rads. She may change hormonal therapies (if she was already on that) and/or be offered chemo (a different one than she had before if she had chemo). I don't know, really, and I very much hope all goes well for your mother and that you get the answers you seek, here and from your doctors.
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  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited November 2014

    This just happened to me in the last few weeks. In my case it was a recurrence of the same diagnosis I had four years ago - ILC - and I am currently back in treatment again. When they do mastectomy surgery they cannot get all the breast cells from the chest wall. What is left behind can grow.


    I too found my lump along the mastectomy scar.


    I'll be doing some rads and changing hormonal therapies.I also had surgery and had the lump removed. She found two more tumors when she took the original one out. I was glad she got them but sad that they were there at all!


    Your mom is not alone!



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  • danlias
    danlias Member Posts: 28
    edited November 2014

    Thank you both for replying.

    I guess we were just hoping we were out of the woods with all this but I guess it's always a possibility. The doc mentioned surgery but we won't know about the chemo until tomorrow. I don't know about rads, but who knows. We are just completely thrown off guard with all this.

    Wishing you both the best and good health!

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  • Bren58
    Bren58 Member Posts: 1,048
    edited November 2014

    danlias, I am very sorry for your mom and you. Yes, recurrence does happen after mastectomy, even many years after as it did for me. Only your doctors can give you the answers about what treatment she will need, depending on what type of cancer it is, her ER and Her2 status. It is very frustrating to have to go through this again when you thought it was behind you. I hope you will get answers and a treatment plan soon.

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited November 2014

    I am so sorry that your Mom's test came back positive. I had this happen this past year and I had the cancer surgically removed with clean margins, needed to do chemo (again) because of the receptors and this time I needed radiation. It's not fun but she can get through it. ((hugs))

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  • danlias
    danlias Member Posts: 28
    edited November 2014

    Thanks for all the encouragement! We saw the surgeon today and if the pet scan comes back clean, he will remove the lump. Scheduled the oncology appointment to see if chemo is needed but it looks like it. Mom had radiation so that won't be an option right now. The doc sounded hopeful so that's all we can ask for right now. Praying for a clean scan!

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  • Saskia3
    Saskia3 Member Posts: 9
    edited November 2014

    Hi danlias,

    I am sending you and your Mum huge hugs and hope it all works out. Mine has come back too. Don't think my prognosis is good, expect I'll find out soon (waited 2 hours to see Consultant, to be told cancer is back and is incurable so when he asked if I had any questions, I said "Yeah, can I go now please".) It is an emotional roller coaster and nothing in set in stone - I used to work doing care in the community and 1 of the ladies I looked after was given 6 months, 4 years later I was still going in to help her shower. I am just concentrating on staying positive, reducing my stress and enjoying the additional attention I am getting from my friends and family and now I have found this site, I am no longer alone. Please keep us updated about your Mum, you say the Dr sounded hopeful and that is a good sign. My thoughts are with you both x

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  • amygil81
    amygil81 Member Posts: 165
    edited November 2014

    Hi danlias,

    I'm sorry to hear of your mother's difficulties. I had a mastectomy for DCIS in 2000. My BF found a lump under my scar in 2009. On biopsy, it turned out to be some of my original tumor cells, now turned invasive and growing into my chest wall.

    They did scans on me to detect distant mets, which they did not find. That made me stage III and not stage IV. My surgeon removed my lump and some surrounding muscle tissue, going down to the bone in one spot. He also took out 10 of my axillary nodes, of which two were positive. After surgery, I had two kinds of chemo, then radiation.

    My treatment took about a year. It pushed me into menopause at age 42. The node removal and radiation made my lymphedema worse. But I'm still here, NED, five years after my second dx. I wish you clean scans, a skilled surgeon, and not too bad side effects.

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  • danlias
    danlias Member Posts: 28
    edited November 2014

    Thank you Saskia3 and amygil81 for sharing! Hearing other women getting through a recurrance is very encouraging. Mom had her scan this week and Tuesday we go see the oncologist for the results. Praying for clean scan results.

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