BC in 05 now its back in a lymph node

Abbysmom or Healthteach, did either one of you have any pain or any symptoms  or anything unusual that prompted you to get scan, or was it detected by regular checkup?

Hi Booklady and Healthteach,

Healthteach I am thinking of you today and hoping your surgery goes well. 

I was 39 when diagnosed in 2005, stage II (2.1 cm - almost stage I!) node negative.  At that time I did ACx4. No radiation because I had a double mastectomy/node negative.

Fast forward almost 2 years to the day, during my regular checkup my doctor feels something that I couldn't feel, even after she showed me where to feel.  The ultrasound tech even had trouble seeing the area of the doctor's concern.  Can I tell you how much I love my doctor and her second-sense about things?!?  I had no symptoms whatsoever - in fact, i felt great. As you know, it turned out to be cancer, isolated in the lymph node. 

My docotor told me that this is very rare - as you say about 1% - and because of that there just isn't that much data on how to treat.  I tend to opt for the most aggressive treatment I can, it just works for me psychologically.  So, we did a regimen of 12 rounds of taxol/gemzar followed by radiation.  Also threw an oophroectomy in there for good measure (I am ER/PR+, HER negative).

Chemo is done and I am 8 treatments into my radiation -- so far so good.  The chemo was, well, chemo. No doubt about it.  I had to get new wigs and new hats because I had donated all my stuff from the last time around. Bummer!

As I understand it, this type of recurrence is still considered curable.  That's something I cling to everyday.

I am here for you anytime you need to talk.

Cheers to you both and to all the wonderful women on this site!

I have to jump in with this conversation.

I was originally diagnosed in May '04 with DCIS and microinvasion determined with sentinel node biopsy. I had a single mastectomy followed by oopherectomy in Jan. They had difficulty in determining hormone status since it was tiny so I was put on arimidex and assumed hormone positive.

Originally the diagnosis was  found with an MRI and did not show on mammagram or ultrasound. I had some breast pain similar to that experienced with a breast infection. At that time MRIs were not routine.

Last year I had my routine mammagram on the remaining breast followed by the MRI for both breasts. Big surprise-it detected a swollen lymph node which the surgeon could not even feel on the mastectomy side!! Long story short he did more surgery and 3 of 9 nodes positive. ER- and HER2 +. Full scans negative

I did six rounds of TCH and herceptin. The chemo wasn't bad and I have about three more herceptins. I also had radiation to prevent possible recurrence.

It is difficult to hear one is in the 1% range but I am confident that I have what's best for the situation. My oncologist is positive which helps.

Maybe this will help you.......I do understand! 

Excellent news, Healthteach!!  Hooray!

Hoping that you're feeling better soon -- it is hard with little ones around to have have a sore arm.  I healed pretty quick and regained full range of motion within a month or two.

You will feel even better once you've met with your Onc and mapped out a game plan.  It's always easier for me to be doing something than to be waiting.

I have one wonderful little girl, Abby, who is 4, and we live in San Diego.  What a trooper she is, I was diagnosed the first time just after her first birthday.  Nothing phases her - mommy has hair/mommy doesn't have hair, she rolls with it no matter what.   She keeps me focused on the important things in life- there were times that her daddy and I would try to explain that mommy has to go to doctor for treatment to make me all better, etc., and she would thoughtfully take this all in and then say, "oh okay. what's for dinner?"  I had to laugh

Tell me more about your kids, I'd love to hear about them.  Even though we are far apart, know that I am here anytime you need me.

Hugs to you!

Healthteach, I hope you won't have to have chemo, but if you do, you probably won't get AC again. My first BC was in 2005, then I developed a second primary last year.

My 2005 chemo was dose-dense 4AC/4Taxol, while my 2007 chemo was 12 weekly carboplatin/Taxol. My onc said one time with AC was enough because of the potential for heart damage. But I have lots of heart disease in my family, so maybe that was a factor.

I was triple neg both times, and carboplatin's supposed to work well for triple-negs. I can tell you that the weekly treatments were much easier to tolerate that the dose-dense regimen. It was less convenient because it was more appts, but each dose was smaller so it was easier on my body.

Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

--CindyMN

Hey girls ,I need your help I have a friend who is 27 and had idc they did a double masectomy and she had 4 positive nodes at diagnosis, she did 4 rounds of ac and then 4 of taxotere, now just when she is going to start radiation they do a pet scan and the dr said some of her lymph nodes lit up so then a biopsy on them and they came back positive for cancer, the dr says not much to do but try radiation and a chem pill other than that nothing can be done, I just find it hard to accept this  anyone have any suggestions .

Thanks Tina

Hi, healthteach -

   I have a similar situation.....I was diagnosed with IDC 3/07, had lumpectomy, SNB (negative) then chemo and rads, because I was triple negative. I finished my treatment in Oct. 07, then had my first follow up scans Feb. 1, which found a recurrance in a lymph node. I had an axillary dissection, and just had the cancer in one node, but have just started a new round on chemo again. Last year I had AC/T, this time it's CMF. My doctor also remarked  about being in the 1% group. There sure seems to be a lot of us 1 percenters!  My question is this:  Exactly what are we 1% of ........ recurrances, or just recurrances in the lymph nodes?

Keep me posted on your treatment. I wish you all the best!

Marsha 

Healthteach - No implants for me, just a lumpectomy, not mast. I'm triple negative, so no hormonal therapy either.   I had a hysterectomy a month before my BC diagnosis, due to benign masses in ovaries and uterus. Good luck with your implants, hoping the rads won't fry em!

Marsha 

hi all,

i was diagnosed in 06 tripple negative BC no lymph node involved went through AC and taxol lumpectomy radiation two years later i got a cloth in lungs my doc ordered pet scan and we found few nodes positive and nodule on lung just had wedge resection of lung and waitng for treatment, the interested thing that it came back as ep- and her2+ so well starting a battle over again. hope all of you feel better , oh yes i am only 32 good luck everyone

hello HealthTeach and All!

Just thought I would check in and see how the members of the One Percent Club are doing!  I am done with radiation now and am doing well.  The implant on the radiated side is starting to get a little bit firm, but we sort of expected that to happen. 

 I saw my Onc a few weeks ago for a check up and all is well.  I talkd to her about the recent trial showing zometa may be helpful in preventing spread of BC to the bones and she agreed that the results were interesting/promising.  We got approval from my insurance company and I had my first treatment of zometa this week (it will be two treatments per year).

Are you all having tumor markers run for your check-ups?  My Onc offerred to do them but I really find myself getting so anxious over them that I told not now, maybe later when I'm feeling less scared.  She was okay with that. Just wondering if anyone else feels that way.

Wishing you all the best and hoping that you are all enjoying the summer!

Love and hugs, 

AbbysMom