BC in 05 now its back in a lymph node

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healthteach
healthteach Member Posts: 14
BC in 05 now its back in a lymph node

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  • healthteach
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2008

    I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 05-double mastectomy, chemo, declared cancer free and now it is back in a lymph node that was "left behind" that had microscopic cells and chemo did not get......it is no where else , I had my scans, just the armpit area in this node.....surgery to get it out tomorrow then we will talk treatment AGAIN!  Anyone ever have this?? The dcts told me it is less than 1% that this happens! (LUCKY ME)

  • AbbysMom
    AbbysMom Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2008

    Hello Healthteach,

    We are in the same boat, almost exactly.  I too was diagnosed in 2005 with BC - had a double mastectomy and chemo and was doing just fine.  During a regular check up the dr thought she felt something in the armpit. Biopsy revealed cancer.  All scans etc were clear.  It was an isolated recurrence, probably "left behind" after SNB. Had a full axillary dissection and just finished chemo.  Now on to radiation.  So far so good.

    Welcome to the One Percent Club!  If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.

  • booklady
    booklady Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2008

    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?

  • healthteach
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2008

    Abbys mom,  Thanks for getting back to me, I would love to chat-I am having the lymph node removed tomorrow and will talk treatment with the oncologist after the biopsy comes back.....I am assuming chemo AGAIN but was hoping you would say you did not have it.  Was it the same treamtent as last time , AC and taxol??? How old r u-I am 38.....and to book lady no symptoms just an enlarged lymph node that I felt.....and everyone swore was 99.9% benign until the biopsy came back

  • AbbysMom
    AbbysMom Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2008

    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!

  • healthteach
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2008

    Hi.  My dct as well said this is very treatable, had the surgery yesterday and now waiting for the biopsy report so we can discuss treatment.  I did taxol the first time and was allergic to it so that will not be an option for me.  The ovaries are going to come out it is just a matter of when. Once the report comes back and I go to the breast surgeon and oncologist I will know more.  I found my lump (and all of my lumps) myself and too have felt great.  I was actually finally putiing it behind me. UGGGGGGGGG....For now I am just very sore.  Where do you live?? I am in NY.....Are you only Abby's mom or do you have more.  I have three kids.....twins who are 6 and a 9 year old and I am a health teacher.......way to busy for cancer!!!  Look forward to hearing from you-

  • may31
    may31 Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2008

    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! 

  • healthteach
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2008

    Thanks May31!  Just got back the report-it is only in the 1 node and I am waiting for the oncologist to see course of treatment-

  • AbbysMom
    AbbysMom Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2008

    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
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2008

    My twins are a boy and girl in 1st grade and my older daughter is in 4th grade.  She is having a hard time with me not being able to do much with her........she was 6 the first time and actually me having no hair embarrased her so with her being 9 now I am really going to be an embarassement.  She just learned, through a lovely friend thats mom must have talked in front of her, that when I had no hair I had cancer.  I never said the words to her but she has not connected this surgery with that ....YET, until the hair loss (if there is) I don't think she will.  The little ones did not even seem to notice or care.  It is a hard age to begin with and having a mommy different than everyone does not help her.  I think we have all had enough.  The kids do keep your mind off of stuff, between basketball, soccer, brownies etc they keep me very busy!  My husband works in NYC so he often gets home late.  I do have a babysitter here everyday since I usually leave for work before they go to school.  SHe has been a great help through all of this-

    I am like you and would like to know course of treatment and get going and I am aggressive in treatment too.  The oncologist called and said we can meet next week. He is out of the office until Monday and we can not do anything until I heal anyway!!!To bad you are ALL the way across the country, I was hoping you were close....

  • chumfry
    chumfry Member Posts: 642
    edited March 2008

    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. Laughing

    --CindyMN

  • AbbysMom
    AbbysMom Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2008

    Hi Healthteach!

    Just wondering if you've gto your game plan yet.  Thinking of you and wishing you and your family all the best!

  • TINAMAE
    TINAMAE Member Posts: 106
    edited March 2008

    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

  • healthteach
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2008

    Hi.....have not been on in a while.  No game plan yet, I had my ovaries removed two weeks ago...the oncologist said no chemo and may be radiation (which does not thrill me)  I have an apointment with him on Wednesday to start my new medicine since he took me off tamaxofin. Tina Mae-Is your friends cancer estorgen positive?? Did they discuss removing the ovaries to cut the estrogen?

  • marshabel
    marshabel Member Posts: 142
    edited April 2008

    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 

  • TINAMAE
    TINAMAE Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2008

    Hi Healthteach, no she is triple negative like me, they have started her on a chemo pill and radiation which thats how they found it , by doing the cat scan to start radiation, the drs say it is deep in the collarbone lymph nodes and if this doesnt work they dont know if there is anything left to do.

    Thanks tina

  • healthteach
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2008

    Marshabel-The 1% club is for reocurrance in a lymph node.  I am not doing any chemo treatment just hormonal therapy (removing my ovaries and going on aramadex) and radation.  Do you have implants?  I had implants put in originally and I am nervous they will not make it through the radiation-

    Tinamae-did your friend do the radiation???  Wont that help?

  • AbbysMom
    AbbysMom Member Posts: 17
    edited April 2008

    Hi Healthteach!

    Good to hear from you and happy to know you are on your way to better days!

    I have implants and just finished 33 radiation treatments, which included 5 boosts right to the axillary area.  So far so good - some redness and itching on the foob, very red and burned feeling in the armpit area.  I understand the the skin continues to react for a while after rads are over, so it will be interesting to see who the foob handles it.

    I wish you all the best and hugs to your wonderful kids!

  • marshabel
    marshabel Member Posts: 142
    edited April 2008

    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 

  • healthteach
    healthteach Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2008

    Abbys mom-Hi!!!  I went back to work-I am a high school health teacher-so I have not been on in a while.  I have had 5 radiation treatments so far.  I am glad to hear you are doing well and that your implants made it!!  I feel better knowing that I have a treatment plan. (and knowing your boobs survived!) Hope all is well with you and your family! XOXO

  • kasiamile
    kasiamile Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2008

    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

  • Diana_B
    Diana_B Member Posts: 287
    edited June 2008

    I'm in the 1% club too, even though I had an axillary dissection and radiation the first time (and two different chemos)!

    I think I read that they're predicting more axillary recurrences in the future due to the SNB procedure. 

  • AbbysMom
    AbbysMom Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2008

    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

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