Here we go again...after 15 years NED

Thank you everyone for your kind words. This site was my savior the last go around of 15 years ago so when facing this again I turned to this site. Over the years I have talked with various other people who have been diagnosed with BC and told them how this site helped save my sanity. Here is an update. Luckily shortly before the appointment I was contacted by my doctor's office telling me that as of yesterday they changed their Covid-19 protocol and will allow one person to accompany the patient for consultations only. This was awesome news and my husband was able to accompany me. The news keeps getting better... my scans were CLEAR, hallelujah! I asked if this would be considered a recurrence because it's attached to scar tissue from the lumpectomy. She said after 15 years definitely no, it's a new cancer. Based on how aggressive TN is there is no way that it would not have surfaced and grown way before 15 years. The oncologist has decided that I need mastectomy first (bilateral by my choice) followed by 4-6 rounds of chemo (4 if no lymph node involvement, 6 if lymph). She told me that the "standard of care" chemo treatment for TN is TAC, which I had 15 years ago. Apparently there is a lifetime limit for Adriamycin because it is very damaging to the heart. She said if they were to give it to me I could have heart failure. Therefore I will only be getting Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide. Because it's not metastatic I don't qualify for immunotherapy or any other meds. Because of my prior chemo I'm not eligible for any clinical trials. She said if I could have had TAC she would have had me do chemo first but since I can't she wants surgery first. She said Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide are "wimpy" chemo when compared to Adriamycin. She also said if the plastic surgeon who will do the reconstruction can't coordinate her schedule with the surgeon performing the mastectomy I should not wait as the tumor is very aggressive and I can have reconstruction after chemo is done. So now I'm praying they can coordinate but I'm leaving it to the universe. Strangely I'm excited about having surgery. I just want this thing out of me. But even stranger, I'm anxious that maybe I'm not going to get "enough" chemo since I can't have Adriamycin. Although I'm not looking forward to chemo again I'm more concerned that the cancer can hit hard enough to be gone. So although my new breast cancer journey has just started I at least have a game plan. I slept last night the best I have since I found the lump. You all know and understand. Thank you. I'll be back to post again and this time I will be posting more in other areas to hopefully help others as well as myself.

I am now one week post double mastectomy. Had the drains removed a couple of days ago. Pathology showed that the tumor was actually 3.6 cm. Radiologist thought it was 3.3 but said the ultrasound was bouncing off of the scar tissue. It's high grade, which I expected since it's TN. They got clean margins. Looking at myself the first time was tough for both me and my husband of 32 years. But his comment was "I don't care, I love you anyway and we're going to grow old together" that attitude definitely makes it a little easier on me. I'm still in some pain but it's getting less and less every day. I'll be starting chemo on June 3rd of 6 rounds of Taxotere and Carboplatin. Now that all decisions are made and I have a total game plan I feel much stronger and in control of my future. I'm not looking forward to chemo again but I WILL survive. Thank you for all your thoughts, suggestions, and support!

Laurie