New Here - another recurrence threaed

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Taffygirl
Taffygirl Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
Hi all, I was wondering if anyone can answer my probably unanswerable question... I notice that there are a number of women who were dx'd as Stage I, went through treatment, etc., and then were subsequently dx'd with Stage IV several years later.

My question relates to the original treatment you received, did you have mastectomy, lumpectomy, radiation, chemo or a combination of all for your initial diagnosis? Do you feel that your doctors were aggressive enough in your treatment for Stage I?

I'm in no way implying that more could have been done, we all know that cancer is a crapshoot under the best of circumstances. I just think your insight would be very helpful to women recently diagnosed.

BTW, I was dx'd with Stage I IDC and DCIS, left breast in 2002. I'm also BRCA1 positive.
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  • Kitty_Cat
    Kitty_Cat Member Posts: 31
    edited July 2007
    I have always wondered the same. But you didn't list your treatment and surgery??? chemo? lump or mast? grade? radiation?

    Several mistakes were made with my dx to cause me concern of a recurrence. Just had my two year scans on Monday -- so I don't know if I am ok. I started out a St. 0. After surgery a Stage 1.

    The studies I read drove me crazy! Mixed Stage 1 with DCIS and or threw in some Stage 3. Mixed grades. Lymph node status! etc.
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  • Taffygirl
    Taffygirl Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2007
    Sorry, I forgot to post what I had done. 2002: lumpectomy, axillary node dissection (all negative), radiation, ACx4

    2005: prophylactic oophorectomy, bilateral mastectomy.

    In other words, there's nothing else I really could have done. But after having a scare this week (tiny lesion on liver found by CT - which by all appearances seems to be a cyst), I'm starting to have those old fears popping up again.
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  • Taffygirl
    Taffygirl Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2007
    Sorry - I'm new at this...

    I was grade 3, triple negative too. They didn't even call it triple negative then, just negative everything, lol.
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  • JerseyGemini
    JerseyGemini Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2007
    I was stage 1, 8mm, ER+100%/PR-, HER2neu-, Grade 1. I had 12 nodes removed and they were all negative. I had double mastectomy with immediate tram reconstruction. No radiation b/c took all the nodes and all the boobs.

    I did 8xCMF (which research showed was equal to A/C in stage 1, HER2- tumors) and then 3.5 years of monthly lupron shots and tamoxifen. I chose to do the lupron, I had one onc. say no chemo but three others said to do it...they wouldn't have been able to talk me out of it. I was 30 years old at original dx.

    As of April 2007 I'm Stage IV with one met to rib. Now ovaries are gone and I'm on Femara daily and Zometa monthly. Am considering doing radiation to the one spot if we see the "lesion" is responding to this treatment (god i hope its responding).

    It sucks to have it come back..big time. But I do have to say that I am consoled in some way by the fact there was nothing else I could do. I even had my first mammo at 23 b/c my mom and grandmother died from bc. And when I went for my 2nd opinions at Sloan Kettering and CINJ, the doctors voluntarily told me I was over aggressive. I know myself and I would have had big time regrets if I hadn't.

    Tess
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  • Taffygirl
    Taffygirl Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2007
    JerseyGemini,

    Wow! I am so sorry to hear about all you are going through. When I was initially dxd I was told by my surgeon that I didn't need chemo, just radiation. Well the oncologist said I probably should because I was young (33). Am I glad I did because I didn't know I was BRCA1+ positive at the time. I remember thinking that if it were to come back, I didn't want to have regrets about not doing everything I could have. I still feel that way. Ultimately I know that it isn't up to me what happens, as I'm sure you understand, but at least I didn't cut any corners the 1st time around.

    When were you originally dx'd and are you BRCA+?

    p.s. I'm a gemini!
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  • tampachick
    tampachick Member Posts: 49
    edited August 2007
    Hi,
    I wwas dx stage 1, triple neg, 1.4cm, had lumpectomy, 4A/C and 6 wks rads. I'm 33 and BRCA1 positive. Finished in June and have a "scare" this week. I hope I am concerned for no reason but still, gotta get it checked out. Go for the ultrasound Monday.

    I think I did everything I could at that time with my age. Will try to have kids (hopefully in the next year) then have ovaries taken out. I would do a double mast if I had a recurrance.
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  • dalycity
    dalycity Member Posts: 248
    edited September 2007

    I asked my surgeon why do some BC recur even with Stage 1.  He said no matter what the percent of recurrence is for Stage 1 (good prognosis), there's always a few people who don't do well; and at this time, no one can tell which ones these are; and there are no known tests for this yet.

    I feel my doctor was aggressive in my treatment. He did say many women are considered 'over-treated'; and every case must be individually weighted.

    Best wishes, 

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