recurrent cancer?

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abjoe73
abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
edited January 2017 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I got diagnosed last summer 2015, had chemo until December, mastectomy left, and radiation until April. 4 months later a lymphnode that tested postitive, so operation in September. Now only two months later there seems to be another mass, but my doc said I don't have any lymphnodes left. Biopsy result expected on Monday.

Biopsy is in, there were lymphnodes after all, with cancer.

Why does my anti-hormone therapy not work? How should I proceed?


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  • pari143
    pari143 Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2016

    Dear abjoe73

    sorry to hear that u r facing this is it a scar ti ussue aur a mess u didnt mention ur diagnosis. hope it will turned to be a scar tissue.prayers for

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2016

    I had a mass that they thought was a cancerous node when I had my recurrence. It turns out that it was a tumor of breast cancer growing in the soft tissue. They sent it out to Mayo for pathology. It had no lymph node cells, no breast tissue cells, but it was IDC. So...it is rare, but can happen. Hoping yours is just scar tissue. Keep us posted; you've been through a lot. Sorry you have this added stress.

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2016

    Hi KBee

    Thanks for your reply. Well I have to wait for results on Monday, but it seems to have been what you describe in September: no nodes, no bresat tissue but the same breast cancer cells as I had in the breast. The docs just didn't know or say. What did you do? Chemo again or o0peration and/or radiation? If the results are positive I have to decide on Wednesday already.

    A hope all is good with you now!

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2016

    Dear pari143

    I don't think it's scar tissue. It's a new mass next to the scar I have from the operation in September and my oncologist said, it Looks the same; and the last time it was cancer cells. well, I have to wait for results.

    Thanks for your prayers. Hope you're doing fine.

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  • SKD
    SKD Member Posts: 140
    edited December 2016

    abjoe...

    How is everything going? I'm kind of in the same situation as you. I don't have lymph nodes either as they were all removed and she didn't see any on he ultrasouns byutthe radiologist thought it was in my lymph nodes in my axilla...I don't know how that could be when I don't have any. I'm still waiting for results..

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2016

    abjoe, I did chemo again because I had2 tumors and Oncotype was high. I then did radiation. I had oophorectomy and am on an AI now

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2016

    Dear SKD

    Turns out they are lymphnodes, my doc just didn't see any left in the last operation. Seems they are very small and we have lots of them, so they cannot see all. Test results now said they are nodes and also the last ones in September were nodes, just that the remains couldn't be found as the cancer had eaten them, or something like that.

    I will now have another operastion next Tuesday to remove the ones I can remove and then start another chemo to hoepfully kill everything that's still left and slumbering. And I'll have my ovaries removed at the same time.

    When should you get your results? Are you waiting for the biobsy results?

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2016

    Dear KBee

    I will now also get a second chemo. Next Tuesday the cancerous lymph nodes will be removed, together with my ovaries. Then chemo. I can't do radiation again, si I hope that chemo will do.

    Let's hope for a good 2017!!

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  • SKD
    SKD Member Posts: 140
    edited December 2016

    hi ladies,

    I got my results back and it's a reoccurance of IDC grade 3. Don't know much else but it could be a lymph node. Have to see the surgeon Tuesday and he will decide what to do next as I am pregnant right now (just to make things a little more complicated..)

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2017

    Dear SKD

    Darn, sorry to hear! Well maybe they can just cut it our and then keep a close watch. I'm sure they know their way round with pregnant ladies in this situation.

    How far along are you? Congrats! :-)

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited January 2017

    SKD, I know 2 different people who have gone through this while pregnant and both (and their babies) are doing well. Both of them started chemo in 2nd trimester, and did AC. Both were induced about 36 weeks, and then started Taxol. I am not sure what your plan will be; it looks like you've already had A and C. One gal from my Sept 2013 group did that; we were all shocked to see her son born with tons of hair!

    Hoping you have a plan in place soon. How far along are you

    Abjoe73, I had my ovaries removed when they did ALND too. Which chemo regimen will you be on?

    Wishing you both well. It totally sucks, but you can do this!

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  • SKD
    SKD Member Posts: 140
    edited January 2017

    I am 35 weeks pregnant so my dr is hoping to keep him in there until 37 weeks but it all depends what the surgeon says. I'm hoping I won't need chemo again as it didn't seem to work the first time.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited January 2017

    SKD, what about hormone therapy?

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited January 2017

    I was told that with all of the surgery to the area, chemo doesn't penetrate the best; a spare cell or 2 left behind is all it takes for a new tumor locally; rads helps to reduce the local recurrence. Chemo may have prevented distant recurrence. I have a friend locally who had over 20 positive nodes; SC had no effect, but Yaxol gave her PCR. Different tumors are responsive to different meds.

    Regardless, since it is a unique case, it might help to have multiple opinions, and ask why they suggest what they do. That will help you to make the best decision for you and your family

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  • SKD
    SKD Member Posts: 140
    edited January 2017

    I was on tamoxifen for a year before I went off to have children. If this cancer is estrogen positive then I definitely will go back on tamoxifen. That's good to hear some positives about chemo. Good call on getting multiple opinions! Thanks ladies for your feedback. I see the surgeon Friday to get More information.

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2017

    Dear KBeee

    Oh, how sweet the story of the "hairy" son <3

    I have just met my new oncologist. He wants to do CMF, the old chemo that's practically not used anymore. I seem to be a rare 1% with my situation. I sooo like hearing this ;-) But then again he hopes, that it's all gone after yesterday's surgery, but we'll do chemo nonetheless. I just hate having to get this port again, but then hey, it's all for survival, right?

    Thanks for your positivity, we all need that a lot!

    I hope you're doing fine!!

    Best wishes

    Annette

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2017

    Dear SKD

    I had the same thoughts about the chemo not having worked. But it's not completely true. It worked on my primary breast tumour, it disappeared completely. But it didn't work on the lymph nodes. Apparently they can change, in hormone sensitivity and other areas. And that is also why my doc wants to give me another round of chemo, a different one, that seems to work fine and has less side effects than the first one. So probably no complete hair loss, less nausea and so on. I'll do it, even if I'm scared, annoye frustrated and angry about it. We'll do everything to stay on this lovely planet with our loved ones, right? <3

    I keep my fingers crossed for your doctor's appointment!

    Best wishes

    Annette

    writing from hospital after yesterday's lymph node removal combined with ovariectomy, Feeling quite okay and ready to go home, though my doc sees that differently, obviously ;-)

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited January 2017

    My mom had CMF in 1992. She's still going strong. She had BC again last year, but it was a new primary; they did not remove both breasts way back when. Her hair thinned, but I think she was the only one who noticed

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  • SKD
    SKD Member Posts: 140
    edited January 2017

    thanks ladies. I have an Appointment on Friday with the surgeon to find out more info.

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2017

    Wow, 14 years without cancer. So did she have to remove the other breast now? I will do that as soon as this chemo is over, so sometime towards the end of 2017, beginning 2018.

    Thinning hair is not nice of course. I never had a lot of hair, until chemo number 1. So I guess I might go back to my old self? Ah well, so be it.

    How are you doing with your mom having cancer for the second time? Must be hard, especially knowing what it means.

    My sister unfortunately found out too late and my mom kept it a secret until it was too late.

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited January 2017

    I redid the math and KBeee's mom was NED for 24 years!!!! Wishing your Mom a speedy recovery for more NED years!!

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  • abjoe73
    abjoe73 Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2017

    Oh wow, you're so right! 24 years!!

    I've always been horrible at math, that proves it once again ;-)

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