Possible new local occurence

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Lainey64
Lainey64 Member Posts: 740
edited December 2020 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi everyone. Where to start? First of all, I am uncertain where to post. Since I am stage IV, I will start here. I was originally dx in 2008 with IDC. Had lumpectomy, rads, chemo. I was in the clear until 2015 when I had my recurrence to the sternum, bone mets. I have been on chemo since 2015 with decent results. I was in remission briefly in 2016 until it reared its head again in 2017. So here I am, on the next to last day of 2020 waiting for my breast surgeon to call with info regarding a skin biopsy... How I got here? About a month ago I started to notice a tightening, thickening, swelling on my lumpectomy side. I made an appt with my BS and was able to see her PA. Today I went for a diagostic mammo and sonogram. (Note, my last mammo was in August and was normal). The radiologist at Solis said she didn't see any lumps but quite a bit of edema (fluid) build up in my breast and said her recommendation is for a skin biopsy to rule out IBC as the culprit. A ton of questions are going through my head that I have a feeling won't be answered until week at the earliest. I've been dealing with this beast for so long and "thought" I knew it all... hahaha! Ironically, I'm currently on Navelbine and this is my "off" week. I don't see my onc until my treatment next Wednesday. Unfortunately he was off last week when I was there so I saw someone that was filling in for him and she didn't have a lot of info other than "we may have to change your treatment depending on the results". I know this is a 'wait and see' thing. But please, has anyone here had a local occurrence in the same breast years after dealing with a recurrence and being Stage IV? So many thoughts going through my head at the moment.


Thanks and blessings to everyone!

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited December 2020

    Wouldn't it just be more metastatic spread, ie what we call progression? If it was not IDC but something else then I guess it might be a new primary but otherwise I think it's progression & it's just a fluke that it hit the original organ...?

    Could this be lymphedema? A punch biopsy to check out what's happening in the skin seems reasonable too.

    & also whaaaat, you're still getting mammogams? None for me, just chest & abdo CTs. Is it SOC to do mammos on stage IV pts who've not undergone mastectomy?

    hang in there. This waiting for answers from drs & pathologists & radiologists is the suckiest. I hate it

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  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 740
    edited December 2020

    Hi Moth,

    First of all, thanks for reading my post and for the quick reply!

    Yessss! I've been doing mammo's every year. I haven't been told otherwise so just continue to go. I get a PET every 3 months and the last one I had in November showed no new areas.

    I do have lymphedema in my left arm so that is also going through my mind. I haven't had a flare up in several years.

    Suckiest... yes, you said it perfectly!!



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  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 740
    edited December 2020

    I wanted to provide an update just in case this will be helpful to anyone in the future. My BS and Onc discussed and have submitted an order for me to have a Venous Doppler ultrasound to rule out any clots that may be causing the fluid buildup. Last night I noticed a slight swelling in the wrist of my LE arm. I am starting to think this might be lymphedema related but letting the doctors do their tests and hope and pray for the best outcome.

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