Round Two

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smithlme
smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer
Round Two
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  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2008

    As I was coming up to my One Year Cancerversary I was shaky. I had had my first post Mastectomy mammo the week before and was called to return for more pictures. Because of my previous diagnosis the doctor wasn't comfortable to wait and recheck in 6 months and a biopsy was done. You could have picked me up off of the floor when she called me back with the news. DCIS just 7 1/2 months after ending chemo in August. Where did this come from? Was it barely there when I was first diagnosed and the chemo kept it from growing? Now that chemo was over did it start growing again?

    Needless to say, I am having another Mastectomy on April 22. It has been a week filled with doctor appointments and a numbness unlike any other. I'm seeing a shrink on Tuesday to help me deal with this, as I can't seem to focus on much. All my family and friends have been wonderful but none of them have the magic words to make this all better...

    Linda

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  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited April 2008

    Im so sorry to hear that Linda CANCER SUCKS! You are in my thoughts an prayers! I know exactly what you mean by no ones has the magic words to make this better!  I wish you all the best for your surgery keep us posted on how you feel....... Take care of you!

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  • LUVmy2girlZ
    LUVmy2girlZ Member Posts: 2,394
    edited April 2008

    Linda ~

    DCIS in the opposite breast!  I am sure you feel like, cut me a freakin break...especially in this short of a period!  This is unfair and the women here unfortunately can relate or have those dreaded fears always lurking in the back of their heads.

    I am so sorry you are going through this journey again!  However, compared to WHAT you just went through..DCIS is taken seriously no less, but as I read you went through chemo/Stage II...sadly, yes you will loose your breast yet again!  However, look at it this way...it was caught early...no rads/or chemo on this journey!!!  PLEASE don't take any offense here....I want you to just try and focus on that as it could have been worse...YOU Linda have fought a SERIOUS battle you can do this again!!!

    THANK GOD this is caught early...focus on that.  I know, at times easier said than done...I too had a mastectomy/DCIS/lymph nodes/and 7 weeks of radiation due to a positive margin...its not easy.....

    I HOPE for you that this is caught so early then you can move forward with your life.

    Sorry to hear about your journey ...you just had to turn around and head back didn't you !?  LOL

    Kidding aside....you ARE a SURVIVOR you can do this!

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited April 2008

    smithlme,

    I've been there, too, though my first cancer was not as serious as yours. Still, it was invasive and I had lumpectomy and rads, and was taking Tamoxifen. Three years later, extensive DCIS found in my other breast! I opted for a bilateral mastectomy.

    One thing that might make you feel better. From what I was told, DCIS may react differently to treatment than cancer that has already invaded the tissue outside the ducts. My DCIS was so extensive that it was certainly there at the time of my earlier diagnosis. The Tamoxifen didn't seem to affect its being there or its continued growth. BUT, it's possible that in fact the Tamoxifen DID help, by keeping the DCIS from becoming invasive. I had so much DCIS, yet not even microinvasion. In your case, as you suggested, perhaps the chemo did keep the DCIS from growing or maybe the chemo actually killed off any cells that were starting to move out of the ducts into the tissue. And yes, once the chemo was over, I suppose it could start growing again or a new area of DCIS could develop.

    I know, from personal experience, what a shock it is to get a second diagnosis like this, but having a new primary, especially one that's early stage, is really better news than a recurrence. Plus, as you know, DCIS is actually curable. I'm sorry you have to go through a second mastectomy, but hopefully that will give you peace of mind. One positive--NO MORE MAMMOS!

    Barbara

    BreastFree.org 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    Linda, I'm sorry you have to go through this again. It's crazy. Perhaps it was there all along but not detected? Makes me wonder what treatment is the most effective other than mastectomy. You did it all the first time and this seems very soon for something else to show up. I'm sorry for the emotional trauma you have to face yet again let alone another mastectomy. Thank goodness they caught it so soon, it still sucks though. Best wishes....Viv

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  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2008

    Thanks for all the kind words. Yep, this sucks BIG time. I got my biopsy results today from my Onc and this time the Cancer's ER+ and PR-. There was no mention if the HER was + or -. Not a triple negative this time like the first tumor. I have an appointment with my Onc two weeks after my surgery for my final pathology report. It will be interesting to hear what she'll have me do. Maybe Tamoxifen? Yes, no more mammos, so that's a weird plus! I just want to get the surgery over so I can get this out of me...

    Linda

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  • LUVmy2girlZ
    LUVmy2girlZ Member Posts: 2,394
    edited April 2008

    Understandably so!  Did your Onc. mention something about being trip neg ?  It seems I have read on these threads with those dx seem to have another cancer in opp breast or recurrences...coincidence ??? NOT SURE..

    At any rate...is that your Tat ?  If so, another one perhaps ?

    Our BEST Linda....give this the " ONE TWO PUNCH "

    Lots of LUV

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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited April 2008

    Hi again, I was just answering you over in tripleneg.

    I am an overachiever like you!

    Had IDC/Tripleneg in the left breast and ILC/ER+ in the right breast.

    I had a bilat after that diagnosis.

    I am really sorry you had this happen to you, but I am happy that you caught it early. It is great it was still DCIS when they found it.

    How are you feeling after all your surgery? 

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  • LUVmy2girlZ
    LUVmy2girlZ Member Posts: 2,394
    edited April 2008

    Hey nosurrender ~

    LOVE the cat by the way...I have a Diva just like it ! LOL

    JUST finished up 7 weeks of rads on my mastectomy ...due to a positive margin!  Long journey to say the least as everyone unfortunately here can relate I'm sure.

    I just read a thread on trip neg....lots of interesting info I might add...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    Luvmy2girls, I have noticed that too. Since they do not test HER2 for the DCIS I don't know if I would be trip- or er-pr-her2+. I am 3 weeks out of unilateral mastectomy and waiting for final pathology.If ours is not hormone driven, what drives it then??

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  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2008

    Luv,

    Yes, it's the tattoo I got for my two sisters and I almost three years ago. My sister who's an 18 year survivor, and I, walked in the Komen 3 Day that year. When I get healthy again I'll be getting more. I need one for me!

    Nosur,

    My body's tired after all the surgeries this past year. The TRAM has been a long heal. Hopefully the Mast will go as well as the last one and I heal quickly.

    The whole triple neg thing just has my head spinning...

    Linda

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