Spots on lung and sternum after 11 years

Baily, I hope you find answers and comfort in this community. I'm recently diagnosed and certainly no expert but agree with Melanie, your doctor is looking at the likeliest outcome. My ct showed lung tumors. Doctors said likely cancer, maybe lung cancer but more likely return of breast cancer after 11 years (initial dx stage II). A biopsy will confirm the diagnosis and chart a course of treatment. Denial, despair, and shock are all part of the process. As you get more information it will help you and your family cope.

Bailey. Hi sorry to hear you are joining our group. You will find alot of support and valuable experiences and knowledge here Yes a CT can look suspicious but a biopsy should really be required. Now not only can the biopsy show if it is or is not cancer but in many cases they can actually test biopsy to see which treatment would be most effective. Also need to get full body scan if not yet done. You need to know the whole pic before deciding on treatment. The good news is this is not an immediate death threat. If you look on different threads you will see many people are living long productive life. Many oncologists will actually say now stage iv is a chronic disease. My oncologist doesn't agree but I'll prove him wrong. It is not at all unusual for it to come back after this long. You will hear many stories here like that My cancer came back 11 years later and my stage iv diagnosis was lil over 4 years ago. My mom lived with stage iv over 20 years. Not perfectly healthy care free years but she would def say more good days then bad. An treatment is often much easier then the first round if you had chemo and or radiation. Many ladies start on a daily pill not iv chemo esp if it is er positive. I encourage you to check out some threads here. Jump in anytime with questions or comments.

Bailey, I am sorry that you are going through this experience. Unfortunately, it is possible for cancer to recur, even in distant sites, after many years. The CT scan and bone scan are excellent tools. As others have said, a biopsy is really the best way to confirm the diagnosis, and the only way to determine whether or not the tumors have the same characteristics as your original bc. If your current Doctor is not planning a biopsy, please get a second opinion. If you do have mets, there are many treatments available. It is normal to feel the way you do. We have all been there. I have to confess that I still find myself in that land of denial sometimes and am quite happy there. Of course, I do continue my treatments.

If you do have mets, remember what Patty said - many people live for many years with MBC. Don't think that life with MBC is always miserable. Many of us leave lives that are quite normal. Many of us work, attend school, travel, raise children, run, hike, bike, exercise, pursue lots of hobbies, etc. Although some of us have limitations, we learn to adjust when necessary. That is not to say that life is perfect, but no one's life is free of obstacles. Most of us will admit to periods of stress, fear, anxiety, depression, and uncertainty, but there is help available.

Please let us know how things are going. I pray that you don't have MBC, but if you do, we will all be here to support you.

Hugs from, Lynne

Bailey, I am glad that your doctors are being so thorough. They will have all the information they need to start you on the right treatment plan. You will be in my thoughts tomorrow when you have the biopsy. Do you know when you will have the results? Keep us updated and let us know if you have questions. We are here supporting you.

Hugs and prayers, Lynne

Waiting sucks. Wishing the best for you

Ugh! Bailey, I am sorry you are officially a member of the club, but welcome. I am afraid that I don't have any experience with insurance coverage problems. It makes no sense, medically or ethically, for you to be put into such a situation. Is your plan an HMO? Is it possible to get a referral to the big hospital as an exception? Do they at least pay for a second opinion at the nearby hospital? If not, is it at all possible for you to self-pay for a second opinion? I only ask because many people see a local onc for treatment, but get a second opinion in a big cancer center. The information from the second opinion can then be compared to local MO's, in your case the doc who is 45 minutes away so not so local, treatment plan, and the info can also be shared with him/her. That MO's care can then be covered even if treatment is changed from original recommendation. I don't know how much second opinion would cost, and that fee could be prohibitive. Maybe you could call the big center and explain the situation to see if they could give you a discounted rate for a second opinion. Maybe social services would be a good place to start. Medical appointments are expensive, so I am sure your question won't be uncommon. The worst thing that can happen is that they say no, right?

How are you feeling? Do you have an appointment yet to discuss a treatment plan? Do you have support from someone close to you?

Hugs and prayers, Lynne

Your description of your feelings is so right on! you will learn to live in the middle. You have much to be hopeful for. I am on letrozole 2.5 for the last year and I have remained stable. You will have a good plan soon.

I'm sorry to hear that, Bailey. My mom IMO is going to get the same diagnosis as you did. Wish the best for you!