If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here

LilyWasHere - Recurrence or a new cancer. It seems very murky. Maybe overconfidence in the success of treatment leads to a conclusion that it must be a new cancer vs recurrence. My oncologist said there was no way to really know since cancer mutates so much. I'm curious what your oncologist says. It is BC #3 for me, and oncologist thinks each is a """new"""" cancer rather than recurrence. 7 years between the first two, both on left. No symptoms, mamogram with followup imagery found both. 3 years between cancer #2 on left and cancer #3 on right (after a bi-lateral). The "symptom" was a swollen right arm. Ultra sound at urgent care for possible blood clot. No clot but lots of fluid. Eventually Dx'd as cancer, again. Even with a bilateral, some breast tissue remains. The R-breast was tested/sampled for cancer after removal, none found. After BC #3 oncologist had genetic panel specific to BC, over 20 mutations looked for, none found.

2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinel node removal, negative. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right. No symptoms, found with mamogram and followup imagery.

2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinel nodes remove, negative. Started anastrozole, joint issues immediately. Stopped. Afer joints cleared up started tamoxifen. No symptoms,found with mamogram and followup imagery. PET showed no metstatis.

2019 ER+ R-axilla. Right arm swollen, clot suspected. But turned out to be tumor causing lymphedema. Taking Ibrance and Arimidex. CTs seem confusing.

LillyisHere, it is correct that you would not get mammograms. If there is anything of concern, the doctor may order an MRI with contrast. Anything of concern on the skin or lymph nodes can usually be checked with an ultrasound and biopsy or fine needle aspiration. I found my local recurrences myself, every time. Are you having symptoms you are worried about?

The only local symptom I am having so far is that where the cancer was located and a brutal biopsy was done, yes 4 hr biopsy where I was poked many times created a large hematoma. The area looks dark like a bruise. It is been 18 months since the biopsy was done and 15 months since the breast was removed. I don't see any reason for a bruise to show up right on the same spot.

Also, it is been several months I feel a spot on my sacrum that keeps hurting but I'm not sure because of the exercise or something else. I will also have a US in my abdomen area. Probably it is nothing and I have a feeling that one of SE of AI that is not written in the books is that makes the nerves over-reactive towards pains and aches. My theory this one

H2BMe, here's hoping for answrs and happy results.

Lilly, hi!

I had ILC in right mx breast in 2012. It was a year out from silicone implant ops.

I thought for awhile it was necrotic tissue. Rock hard lumpy areas. Didn't feel like the ductal lumps I'd had before.

Also,wasn't like everyone's description of 'sheet like' stuff. was really unevem jagged, pretty large areas.

I was shocked it was ILC. They diagnosed with u/sound then core biopsy like buttons machine described. Good luck with this.

ucfknights, in looking at your emtire posting history, it seems that consistently you are much more anxious about your mom’s situation than she is, and often not in proportion to what the realistic situation is. Why are you concerned

ucfknights, a bug bite appearance might be nothing . Or it might be something. Generally speaking symptoms which persist for 2-3 weeks need investigation.

Does your mom's cancer agency have counselling resources? They're usually available to family members and cargeivers. Your anxiety about her health is troubling you...i think you need help addressing it so you can approach with more peace and calm.

Best wishes

Hi Lilly,

No bruise or anything visible to naked eye.Touch only.

Are you getting it checked out soon?

It took me awhile to get mine checked because as I said, I told myself it must be necrotic tissue.

They did an u/sound and then seeing something, did biopsies.

Thinking back , they did the sterotactic upside down one, as well as an aspiration type. Hope this makes sense.

Please let us know how you go.

H2BMe

It seems to be great news...

I get your anxiety here. Let's hope your Onc appt can confirm for you, or you get a confirming scan for peace of mind.

Great news happy2beme...I had 1 sclerotic lesion show up on a CT scan a year ago. After that I had both a MRI and a bone scan with SPECT of the spine. Neither of the follow up scans found any concerns so my doctor did not think it was something to worry about (hope she’s right). I think you should feel good that the PET scan was clear.

Hi All, a couple of days ago I felt a lump on my cancer breast near the breast bone(bet 10-11 o’clock) this is freaking me out. Last week I also had a deep throbbing pain in my lower back close to the spine under the muscle for 3days but went away with Advil. I have no pain in movement so my doctor did a urinalysis that came back ok. I am also dealing with dry throat for a month now, my mind is going the dark side. I’m seeing my onco on Monday, what kind of imaging/test would I expect since I had MX, no reconstruction. My anxiety is up the roof, here we go again 😔 I am 2 years post MX and on Anastrozole

LillyIsHere, thank you, Ihope you’re right but this lump is hard and round just outside my scar line.

Hi Anx

Your anxiety is understandable. Monday is not too far away. I would think ultra sound first. If suspicious, then a biopsy from lump.

Let us know how you go.

Astrid.

Sabrina, I had the same pain and panic as you describe after BMX, cancer side shoulder where lymph nodes were removed. I was in such pain and so worried. MO ordered x-ray that didn't show any problems. I asked another doctor who told me that during the surgery, they rotate the arm in so many directions and that may have caused an injury. I googled, and read that this happens in 30% of cases and can take up to 2 years to resolve. I was lucky that took me 6- 7 months to be back to normal. MO recommended Motrin and warm pads. I didn't follow her directions but you may give it a try and see if it gets better.

You may find more input to your concerns if it is posted in the Not diagnosed with recurrence/metastasis but concerned thread. That one gets a lot more visibility than this one tends to get.

Hi Anx,

I had a wide excision on left mastectomy side, followed by radiation and hormonal tx.

I'm hoping the best result for you on Monday.