Here I go again!

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Sugar77
Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
edited December 2019 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Hello everyone, today I lost my 10-year chip. I got the results this morning of two biopsies done on my cancer breast. Ten years ago, I had a small invasive triple negative tumour that was treated aggressively with lumpectomy, radiation and chemo. At my annual followup, two suspicious areas of calcifications in the same quadrant as before presented and I had stereotactic biopsies on them last week. The small cluster that I thought was more worrisome is DCIS according to the biopsy. Another region of looser calcifications showed DCIS and invasive (ER+, PR+) tumour. Not sure of the size of the invasive portion but I'll know after my mastectomy in the new few weeks. I'm devastated and thought the big C was behind me. Since the invasive is hormone positive, I'm wondering if it's actually a true recurrence or a new primary since last time with was triple negative with no receptors. So, I'm new to the world of mastectomy and hormone positivity.

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited December 2019

    Sugar 77, I'm so sorry. I can't answer your questions but I just wanted to offer sympathy and encouragement. You got through this last time and you will do so again. Sending HUGS.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited December 2019

    Ah, Sugar, I am so sorry.

    Since triple negative tends to recur early, since it's been 10 years and since this new cancer has a different hormone status (and presentation? did you have calcs and DCIS last time, along with the IDC?), I'd guess that this is new primary.

    Unfortunately, as women, our breast cancer risk goes up as we get older, and being diagnosed one time doesn't mean we can't be diagnosed again - what it really means is that we are more likely, than the average woman, to be diagnosed with a new primary.

    A new primary is better that a recurrence because it means that the first cancer was successfully treated and hasn't been hanging around in your breast all these years. Still, recurrence or new primary, it stinks.

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  • Sugar77
    Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
    edited December 2019

    Beesie, yes, I had a mix of ADH, DCIS and small TN tumour last time and it presented on my mammogram as a suspicious cluster of microcalcifications. I never received any hormonal treatment since the tumour was hormone negative. Instead, I got chemo. It was microcalcifications again that prompted the biopsies. My medical oncologist still sees me annually for a wellness checkup. My next one is supposed to be on January 17th. Not sure how big the invasive portion is or if I'll need chemo again. I guess one step at a time. Ironically, I started chemo exactly 10 years ago this Saturday (day after my daughter's 10th birthday). She turns 20 tomorrow.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2019

    Oh Sugar - I'm so sorry you have to deal with this beast again. I may be wrong, but it was my impression that when cells go rogue or mutate, they can change characteristics. I had a 'local recurrence' that wasn't classified as Mets and I went from pure DCIS ER/PR negative to full IDC. However I tend to trust what Beesie posts. Good luck as you navigate this new development.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited December 2019

    Minus, I've read that too... that cells can change characteristics so a recurrence could have a different hormone status. For local recurrences, it can happen but I believe it'squite rare, but it's more common with regional and distant recurrences, where the change might be the cancer cell's survival tactic against treatments given.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited December 2019

    Really really sorry to hear this. Not that it matters, but I'm sure this is a new primary for all the reasons stated above. If you're wondering "why", have you had genetic testing? My RO also said it might have something to do with our immune systems--that without them, we'd all have cancers all over our bodies. There might be something a little wonky with the immune systems of those of us who get cancer multiple times. All I can suggest is that you take some deep breaths, then put your big girl panties on, and do what you have to do. As you know, you WILL get out the other side of treatment, and someday this too will start to recede a little in your brain.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2019

    New primary or recurrence...it totally rots either way. Sorry you are dealing with this. Hoping it is confined to the breast and can be treated with surgery and antihormonals.



    ((((HUGS))))

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  • Sugar77
    Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
    edited December 2019

    My medical oncologist personally called me after being copied on the biopsy report. He confirmed it's a new primary and not a true recurrence. I told him I wanted a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders) if it can all be lined up quickly. No surgery date yet but things are moving.

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  • Theretha
    Theretha Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2019

    Sugar 77 I can’t answer your questions but I wanted to say I’m sorry and I’m right there with you.

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