Why do you think you are high risk?

Actually Nutty Nicki, I think this thread is very informative for all of us. I find it very helpful to read why others believe they are at high risk for recurrence. It is a fear we all have and it is good to be able to talk about it. It can also be helpful to those that may not be aware of some of the ways to reduce our risk.

Just thinking about it makes me start to get panicky!

I was premenopausal when my cancer was found
I had multi focal cancer
I was stage 3C
I had 27 of 32 nodes positive
One of my positive nodes had extranodal involvement
I’m triple negative, which means there are no great new post treatment drugs for me to go on
I took birth control pills for many years
I started my period at 11 years old
I’m very overweight
I’m out of shape
I eat real butter and red meat
I heat up foods in the microwave in plastic
I use Styrofoam cups
I got cancer once, and that is the biggest indicator that I will get it again

Heck, today I am feeling so pessimistic maybe I should just roll over and die…it would save the cancer the trouble of coming back!!

I guess being alive is a risk factor. I just try (and usually fail miserably) not to think about it too much. Sigh….

Deb C.

I don't know....I exercised and have stayed a healthy weight most of my life and still got bc. Although I haven't exercised regulary in the past 6-8 months, I don't know if it will make a difference as far as recurrence or not. However, I know I should start again and it's good for many reasons !!! And I could definately change my eating habits (for more reasons than one)! As far as the bilateral masectomy decision...I had a bilat tram flap and had dcis w/comedo necrosis in left breast. Right one was fine. BUT, I am glad I did it so that I could have some peace of mine. Based on all the research I had done, I felt this was the best for me. I have no regrets. AND THEY MATCH!

Why I think I am at high-risk for recurrence:

Path report reads "prognosis poor, unfavorable"
Was told I had a very aggressive cancer and
am at high-risk
Stage IIIA
grades mostly 3's
HER2 positive +++
ER/PR negative
7 of 20 nodes positive
on Prepro for several years
weight fluctuates as well as diet
have cooked in plastic in microwave
grew up in industial town with high polution
many nodules found in lungs, but thought not to be cancer
maternal grandmother had bc (in her 80's)

Quote:

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Hmmm...
Janis
Still think it is a crap shoot. Some days I think I dodged the bullet, other days I think it is a matter of When not IF.

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I feel exactly the same way. Each day is a psychological/emotional roller coaster and not a ride to be enjoyed.

I feel at high risk -
- started menses age 12
- Fibroadenoma removed at age 19
- Very petite and low body weight and recently read article identifying this as risk factor.
- Took OC pills for 10 years
- No children
- BC diagnosed at age 49 pre-menopause, ER+, PR+, HER2-neg, Stage 2A, IDC 1.8cm and 1+ node.
- Dense breast tissue and unable to feel lump. Three doctors (gyn, onc, surgeon) plus me could not feel the lump and I am small breasted. It was detected on mammogram screening and I am thankful the radiology oncologist had sharp eyes to detect it!

However, this makes me very uncomfortable for the future and I am seriously considering bilateral mast. I am in the process of scheduling ooph since I'm ER+100% and PR+100% and want to take AIs. Currently on Tamoxifan but again uncomfortable due to family hx of strokes and uterine fibroids. So I want to make the medication switch ASAP to avoid serious SE.

It's really rather frustrating after gone through lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and now ooph plus medication to still feel so unprotected. The sad part is my lumpectomy was very successful with minimal scar so cosmetically I should be thrilled. Instead I view my breast as ticking time bombs and wonder when the explosion will occur again. After doing all I can then the rest is in God's hands. Joann

Why I think I am at high risk?: Mother had Uterine, Breast & Lung cancer , all diganosed pre-menopausal in that order, which she succumbed to the last one 18 yrs. ago. I got my first period at age 10. The birth of my first child was at age 20. I smoked from age 15 to 35. Diagnosed with DCIS at age 40. Now have Atypical cells found in same breast, after 2 lumpectomies & radiation the first time 4 yrs ago.I am now considering a bi-lateral mastectomy to prevent further diagnosis. I have always been healthy, have excercised, ate pretty healthy.As I said, Mom had bad history of cancer, Father has prostrate cancer for the second time, daughter had cancer, neuroblastoma stage 4 at 3 yrs old. Had BMT, doing very well. Cancer is all around me. I believe it is inevitable it will return. I need to be pro-active in my steps to prevent its return. Also considering ovarie removal. Thanks for listening! Jackie

At high risk, had positive mammo approx. 5mm area found, positive ultrasound that ruled out cyst on DEC 18th,06,biopsy done on 12/26/06, awaiting biopsy pathology report. Am status post DCIS, stage 0, had lumpectomy f/b radiation EIGHT years ago. Took the bull by the horn and made my own appointments to a Breast CAncer Center at a local hospital in my area. They're seeing me this Thurs. 1/4/07. Have picked up all my previous films, ultrasound etc. and medical records, PATH RESULT pending. I expect the worse scenario. Lost a son 2004 and nothings the same. Maybe this is a sign!!!

Much like Cheri123, in risk factors and beliefs too.

OBESE all my life (but quite happy when I'm around 200 lbs, just trying to get back there)

Smoked around 27 years, 1 1/2 pack per day, menthol (quit right before starting chemo 8/04)

Nodes 2 positive of 14

An area of DCIS found beside the IDC, probably more.

Lumpectomy

ER/PR + , took Tamoxifen 13 months, took a 2 month holiday, then started Arimidex, then ovaries started working again, which meant I was unprotected for about 2 months while on Arimidex. (but I've had the hysterectomy/ooph and still taking Arimidex)

Years on bc pills, then on meds for polycystic ovaries (which is another story)

Diet & exercise isn't very good, but I'm working on it. I lost the 35 pounds I gained during chemo etc.

Her neg (guess that's good and bad)

Exposed to radiation & other toxic substances for over 20 years at work.


42 at diagnosis

father died of lung cancer

maternal grandmother died of cancer, but the primary souce is unknown

But, like Cheri said, I have a 'gut feeling' about this. A few weeks ago, right out of the clear blue, I had this gut feeling that it was gone, and bc wasn't coming back, not as recurrence and not as mets. It's hard to explain, it was like a spiritual revelation. Anyways, I'm going on faith that it's gone, and won't be back. If I'm wrong, then I've not wasted one day worrying about what is out of my control. I hope my peace of mind remains with me til the end.

I have a question-my rad. oncologist told me that I have an 8% chance of getting breast cancer in my right breast-I had a lumpectomy for DCIS in my left-2 tumors.But you said the ACS says we have a 3-4 fold increased risk of developing breast cancer again. Is that really true? Why would my onc. say otherwise? I`ll have to do more research, I guess. Kathy

Here's what the American Cancer Society says about your risk of getting BC again - in either breast - after you've been diagnosed with BC once:

Quote:

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Personal history of breast cancer: A woman with cancer in one breast has a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from a recurrence (return) of the first cancer.

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The important thing to understand is that this 3-4 fold risk increase is measured against the base level of risk for a woman with no other significant risk factors. While the average woman has a 13% risk (a 1 in 8 chance)of getting BC in her lifetime, this number averages together all women, including those who are very high risk for genetic (or other) reasons. I believe that the base level BC risk is about 6%-8%. So applying the ACS 3-4 fold risk increase, this means that someone who has already been diagnosed once with BC has anywhere from an 18% - 32% risk of getting BC again (a new primary BC rather than a recurrence). The number varies based on personal factors and of course could be higher if you have other significant risk factors. Additionally, the older you were when first diagnosed, and the older you are, the lower your risk of getting BC again (you simply have fewer years left in which to get a 2nd occurrance). However if you were young when first diagnosed your risk will be at higher.

Here's the complete ACS information on BC risk:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/conten...st_cancer_5.asp

The risk of a getting a 2nd primary BC is also discussed on the Komen site:
http://www.komen.org/intradoc-cgi/idc_cg...PersonalHistory

I was told by my doctor that I am high risk because of what they saw under the microscope.

I had a 2.7 cm tumour, DCIS, lumpectomy, no nodes or vessels, all clear margins, called "aggressive", treatment 6 months CEF chemo, 18 radiation treatments,

ER/PR positive, her2 negative, pre-menopausal at diagnosis, smoked for 15 years, quit 12 years ago.

Barb

I am at high risk because

1. I have bc - premenapause
2. I am BRCA2+
3. My mother had bc twice - 30 years apart - age 50 (like me) & age 79
4. Maternal grandmother likely died of ovarian cancer
5. Maternal aunt likely died of ovarian cancer
6. Paternal aunt has ovarian cancer
7. Paternal cousin dx with bc at age 40

all despite all the things I did "right":
I'm thin, watch what I eat, exercise, got my period at 14, had my son at 23, breastfed for 15 months.

I'm scheduled for bilat mastec next Wed. 4/4 - I don't want to do this again. Also considering oopherectomy.

Ellen

How do you report offending posts like the one above?

We are high risk because:

1. Diagnosed at stage 3 IDC
2. High grade 8 cm tunor
3. Just 33 pre menapausal
4. Metastatic cancer in lympth nodes
5. Before treatment started, cancer spread to nodes at base of neck.
6. Premenapausal
7. Herceptin stopped due to joint pain
8. Risk stated as 50-75%