Cancer unknown primary

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icey
icey Member Posts: 141
edited February 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I was wonder if anyone was diagnosised with cancer of unknown primary before figuring out it was breast cancer mets. I have stage 2 breast cancer in 2009. Had lumpectomy then radiation. 6 year later a 3 cm mass found on the lung. After 2 different hospitals looking at biopsy they decided it was another primary. Stage 3 lung cancer. So chemo radiation. Basically treatment for last year and a half. Then a met growing right below shoulder about 3cm showed up on pet along with 1 bone met. So had needle biopsy on met and the said it was breast cancer not lung but they did not get enough to tissue to test for hormone receptors. So have surgery to remove lump 2 weeks ago. Still waiting on results!!! I called last Monday to see if results are back. I was told they needed to order more stains and right now they have cancer with unknown primary. Has anyone had this problem? I don't really know if I have stage 4 breast cancer or stage 4 lung cancer or both

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited February 2017

    I do not share your diagnosis, but wanted to offer you a "hello". I am sure other ladies with an unknown primary will chime in soon. There aren't that many here, as you might guess.

    Waiting for results in the worst, isn't it? For my first dx, when the surgeon said she thought it was cancer, but that the biopsy wouldn't be back for a week, I practically leapt over her desk and demanded a prescription for valium for the week. She looked slightly undone, but she pulled out her pad, and wrote it.

    You are truly a cancer warrior.

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  • icey
    icey Member Posts: 141
    edited February 2017

    Thank you Blaine. I am really praying for estrogen positive breast cancer instead of matastic lung cancer. Breast cancer has a lot more treatment choices than lung cancer. I just wish they would get it figured out

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  • cive
    cive Member Posts: 709
    edited February 2017

    I'm betting on BC mets.  I was treated for COPD before they figured out that my shortness of breath was mets from my stage 2 cancer in 2005.

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  • Bestbird
    Bestbird Member Posts: 2,818
    edited February 2017

    I am sorry to hear of everything you've been through, and hope that once the cancer is identified, it is something that responds very well to treatment. Two weeks is a long time to wait and I hope you receive an answer very soon.

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited February 2017

    Icey,

    I agree. If you have to choose between lung cancer and breast cancer, the latter has more treatment options. Plus, what a horrible game show prize that would be.

    You should have genetic testing done on your tissue biopsy. If your Doc hasn't mentioned it, you should press her as to why. Having more than one primary cancer could be indicative of a genetic cancer syndrome*, which might have implications for treatment.

    Thinking of you,

    Jennifer

    * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_syndrome

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  • cliff
    cliff Member Posts: 290
    edited February 2017

    thats one of the problems with cancer, breast cancer can spread to lungs, and still be breast cancer. lung cancer can spread to breasts and still be lung cancer. takes a pretty good specialist to know which.

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  • icey
    icey Member Posts: 141
    edited February 2017
    Thank you so much Ladies. I called the oncologist office today to see if.biopsy results are back yet. The nurse is supposed to call me back when she gets free. I am praying hard for a treatable kind. I had the oncotyoe D.C. Test in 2009. It was just to see your chances of reoccurance. My score was 22. I have had mutation testing on my lung tumor when they thought it was lung cancer. No treatable mutations
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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited February 2017

    All our fingers are crossed for you.

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