Recurrence after lumpectomy

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Member_of_the_Club
Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Since I am looking at the possibility of local recurrence after lumpectomy/rads (most likely DCIS if anything . . . still a good chance of b9), i would love to hear someone tell me again that this doesn't affect overall survival. I keep thinking this would be a sign that the initial treatment failed, and its not my breast I'm worried about.



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  • suave
    suave Member Posts: 189
    edited October 2007

    A recurrence doesn't have to affect the overall survival. I always remember a book I read about this women who had 5 recurrence. She wrote the book and she did change some things like no more dairy. Instead she started with soy milk. I liked the book alot. what I did not feel comfortable with is that I still have my ovaries etc and I don't dare try soy. She did have everything removed. I try and stay away from milk, though, I am not sure it is bad for me because I use organic. I am now on rice milk and I don't eat meat unless it is organic.

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  • acarr
    acarr Member Posts: 104
    edited October 2007

    I had a local recurrence 18 months after my mastectomy.  I had also undergone 8 rounds of chemo, so I was terrified that since chemo had failed to prevent a local recurrence, it possibly had failed in preventing mets.  My Onc tried to reassure me that this would not affect my overall survival, but it took a while for me to believe it.  I am now 16 years past that local recurrence and still NED. - Amy 

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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited October 2007

    Hey MOTC, It doesn't affect survival!!!

    I had my new cancer show up after 5 and a half years of being NED from triple neg. My new tumor was in the opposite breast. And it changed receptors and type. I went from ductal to lobular and ER/PR+++.

    ALL my docs have told me this is like getting breast cancer for the first time.  it is not a recurrance like mets, it is a new breast cancer.

    I am being treated very aggressively- had bilateral masts, been in chemo since april, etc.

    I am fighting this sob with everything I have because I want to be ned again. I pray yours is not cancerous.  But as my doc has said to me, "If it is going to come back this is how you want it to return."  

    PM me if you want to talk.

    Good luck!!

    Love,

    g 

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  • AnnieMc
    AnnieMc Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2007

    Member of the Club, I am sorry that you are dealing with the possibility of a local recurrence.  I had a local recurrence of DCIS (11/05) 18 months after I was diagnosed with stage 1 triple negative IDC (4/04).  The whole time between the core biopsy confirming the local recurrence and the mastectomy was extremely difficult for me emotionally.  I was terrified that this was an indication that the chemo did not do anything in the way of preventing mets.  All three of my doctors (my surgeon, my medical oncologist and my radiation oncologist) told me this does not effect my prognosis, but it took me awhile to actually believe it.  I was very relieved when I found out after the mastectomy that it was "only" DCIS because I did not have to have any further treatment.  I was a little worried because the sentinel node did not show up the second time, so my nodes were not evaluated.  But, with a small area of DCIS, this should be o.k. 

    I am now almost three and 1/2 years out from my initial diagnosis and two years out from my recurrence and I feel great.  Also, in case you are interested, I was able to do immediate reconstruction even though I had previous radiation.  I had a lat flap and a small implant and had no problems. 

    I wish you well. - Anne     

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited October 2007

    Thanks everyone, this is very reassuring. I saw my surgeon this morning and he isn't terribly concerned. When i asked if the concern was a new primary or a recurrence, he said that would only be if it was cancer, and that is unlikely. Also, he thinks the area of calcifications are so far from the original tumor site that we would be looking at something new, which is actually reassuring.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited October 2007

    MOTC,

    That's good news from the surgeon.  Fingers & toes are all crossed that he's right - no new primary, no recurrance, just a bunch of harmless new run-of-the-mill calcifications. 

    Good luck with the stereotactic biopsy next week.  Lots of positive thoughts are winging their way to you! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    How you doing MOTC??

    We Roctober sisters were having this same conversation via email. Hope you are doing ok!

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  • tawyna1
    tawyna1 Member Posts: 273
    edited October 2007

    hi motc,

    i met a woman who had 2 reocurrances 15 yrs ago she is doing great. it was at radiation were i saw her she was not there for herself she was bringing her mother in law. hope you are  doing great 

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited October 2007

    Posted elsewhere but all was b9. Phew.

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  • tawyna1
    tawyna1 Member Posts: 273
    edited October 2007
    YEAH, YEAH I AM SO GLAD.Cool
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  • nowheregirl
    nowheregirl Member Posts: 894
    edited October 2007

    Party time!!!

     

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