New tumor growth during radiation

I appreciate reading the stories, encouragement and advice from everyone within these forums.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Monday, June 20, 2016.

Originally, the plan was to do a lumpectomy, until my surgeon discovered my tumor was triple-negative. Neoadjuvant chemo began instead, while I underwent genetic testing.

I am negative for BRCA mutations.

Initially, the neoadjuvant chemo of A/C seemed to show some success in shrinking the tumor. However, when we began the Taxol, my tumor exploded in growth (and I had a severe allergic reaction to Taxol). We added carboplatin to the mix, which seemed to reduce the tumor briefly, only to see it rapidly increasing in size about a week after the carboplatin.

I was determined to have chemo-resistant TNBC. Due to the quick growth of the tumor, plans for a lumpectomy turned into a bilateral mastectomy on October 14, 2016. The tumor was Stage III, at 6+ cm at the largest width.

During the bilateral mastectomy, 22 lymph nodes were removed and 0 tested positive for cancer (early imaging showed possible cancer in at least two nodes, so it is possible chemo reversed that). My margins also were clear.

I hoped to escape radiation after all of this fun, but began a pretty hefty radiation plan on Wednesday, December 21, 2016.

Around that same time, I began experiencing a lot of pain within the axilla, which we originally thought to be mild lymphedema or a seroma. (I had some cording early on after surgery.)

The pain continued to increase and was constantly present (it still is).

I continued to share with my physicians that the pain seemed extreme and I finally was referred for further examination on what now was thought to be an abscess on Thursday, January 5.

The examination on that Thursday was inconclusive, so a ultrasound-guided biopsy was performed on Tuesday, January 10.

On Thursday, January 12, the pathology reports returned confirming that I had new tumor growth into the chest muscles on the left side. As my tumor is known to be chemo-resistant, and as this new growth has occurred while I was undergoing radiation, we are in the process of scheduling another surgery.

Today's CT scan tentatively shows that this new growth is local, only, versus a metastasis into my lungs, bones or liver.

My case, since it is so aggressive, is going to my cancer center's tumor board tomorrow.

Looking for encouragement from my other TNBC survivors who have experienced hurdles in handling this aggressive, under-researched form of breast cancer. Anyone else have a tumor recur despite surgery, chemo and radiation, seemingly defying the odds? I have a surgeon with 30+ years shaking his head. A radiation oncologist trying to figure out how it could grow during radiation. An oncologist with 20+ years never seeing a tumor this aggressive and fast-growing before.

I'm 42. A mother to a 10yo. A wife. A career woman (yes, our family needs my income). I don't scream, "why me," since breast cancer hits 1 in 8 women. I'd be more surprised not to get some form of cancer in my lifetime, but this definitely isn't how I planned to spend my early 40s.

Thanks.