Struggling with Breast cancer and another cancer?

TallnTerrific · March 2018

Has anyone else had a separate (supposedly) unrelated cancer like GIST? It is unsettling. What is the chance of metastasis when you have two different cancers? I am having surgery in a week or two for the GIST. It is a sarcoma not a carcinoma like breast cancer. Two and a half years ago I had a bilateral mastectomy. It is so hard to face being brave and positive all over again. Anyone have any ideas for facing this?

Georgia1 · March 2018

I'm so sorry. I had skin cancer (malignant melanoma) in my 20s, and then BC diagnosed last year at age 59. That was a much longer period of time between diagnoses, but I got through the second bout quite a bit easier I think because I could tell myself "you beat it once and you will beat it again." I also visualized a small lump, maybe walnut sized, being removed surgically from my back (my first cancer site) and told myself the BC was just the same kind of boring, simple removal again. I don't know if that helps at all, but optimism for me is something I have to build over time; I'm not much of a cheery (or religious) personality naturally!

As for the medical side of things, do you have a good oncologist? I am pretty sure ILC and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract are related, tho I see you had IDC. It might be worth it to discuss the possible relationship and whether genetic testing is advised. Having cancer once is awful, and twice is really unfair, but at least you know you can handle any related treatments that make sense for you.

All best wishes my dear.

Jenn4cats · July 2019

I was diagnosed with IDC on 9/13/18. My oncologist ordered scans to check for possible metastasis, and the PET/CT found a suspicious spot on my liver. They thought at first it was metastatic breast cancer, but the biopsy didn’t match. Turns out it was a rare bile duct cancer called cholangiocarcinoma. The working diagnosis came on 9/28/18. I did 5 and 1/2 rounds of chemo targeted for that cancer (gemzar & cisplatin — 2 weeks on / one week off). I then had a liver resection on 2/14/19 that confirmed the diagnosis. I then had my bilateral mastectomy on 4/24/19, and I’m now doing chemo targeted to the breast cancer (taxotere and cytoxan). It has sucked having to deal with all of this at on each one, but in some ways I think it might be better than thinking it was over only to have something else come up later. Good luck to you in dealing with this new diagnosis

LisaPizza · December 2019

Jenn4cats. I’m sorry about your diagnosis but I think you are right about it maybe being good to deal with both cancers in one go.

I like you have breast cancer and bile duct cancer. I am BRCA2 which increases risk of these types of cancers. Mine has dragged out over 4 years, and I am so sick of it.

Hopefully by now you are almost over chemo

AliceBastable · December 2019

I had two cancers in 2008 (endometrial/uterine and my first basal cell skin), then breast and kidney in 2018. My breast surgeon says I haven't set a record but I'm still pretty weird. I'm a little worried about getting two more new ones in 2028, since I'm running out of parts.

LisaPizza · December 2019

AliceBastable

Have you got a known gene mutation? My BRCA2 clearly increases my odds.

I also have had a BCC cut out of my nose but I don’t really count that as cancer since it can’t kill you.

My liver spot was found when I got appendicitis, so I have got rid of quite a few body parts too! Appendix, gallbladder, boobs, ovaries and Fallopian tubes, lymph nodes in my arm pit.. gotta throw this stuff overboard to keep afloat!

AliceBastable · December 2019

LisaPizza, I had genetic testing, but my insurance limited how much it would pay, so it was just for the breast cancer (referral was from the breast surgeon). I didn't count my multiple basal cell carcinomas until I had a large recurring one that resulted in Mohs surgery, with an incision from the bridge of my nose to the corner of my mouth. And my PCP's NP told me her grandfather had one on his head that grew inward into his brain and did kill him as it slowly ate into it. Ugh.

ShetlandPony · December 2019

If you talk to a cancer genetics specialist, I bet they would order a Lynch panel for you. All the cancers you list fit with a Lynch mutation. I would bet money on it. (If that wasn’t a sleazy thing to do, betting about cancer.) The immediate problem I see with not finding out is that if you have a Lynch mutation you should be getting yearly colonoscopies to find and remove precancerous polyps. MLH1, MSH3, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM. And don’t let them tell you breast cancer is not a Lynch cancer.

AliceBastable · December 2019

My test included checking for Lynch syndrome genes, and nothing showed up. The conclusion was that my cancers have been for non-inherited reasons, or a mutation in a yet-to-be discovered gene. There are other possible hereditary renal genes, but those tests were not covered by my insurance, and I'm not all that curious. My adult son might want to mention it to his primary care physician to see if he should be screened via ultrasound or CT at some point. My Dad's renal cancer appeared when he was in his late 80s, and mine in my late 60s, so it doesn't seem to be a young person's problem.

AnnC2019 · December 2019

I had melanoma removed from my leg about a month after my mastectomy. It was caught early. I honestly did no research or anything about this because my focus was mainly on my breast cancer. Having melanoma kind of dampened my spirit for a beach holiday. I will have to cover up my body parts and use a lot of sunscreen.

Struggling with Breast cancer and another cancer?

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