Two Primary Cancers-Breast & Colon

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pabbie
pabbie Member Posts: 370
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer
Two Primary Cancers-Breast & Colon
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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited June 2008

    Did anyone start with their first cancer in the colon or other areas? I was first diagnosed with stage 3 colo-rectal cancer in 1999. I had chemo, radiation, and surgery. (Age 41)

    Diagnosed with breast cancer in Feb. 2008 (grade 2, tumor size 2.2 cm-Onco-type 20). (Age 50)

    I am currently receiving radiation treatments and will be put on hormone therapy this month. (June)-Does anyone feel like they never fully recovered from there first cancer treatments? I currently suffer from chronic low energy, depression, and anxiety. My white blood count was "moderately low" for years after treatment.

    Does anyone feel like they were more motivated during there 1st cancer diagnosis? This 2nd one feels so much more emotional for me. Thanks for listening. Take care of yourselves.

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  • lemonpie
    lemonpie Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2008

    Yes, I do feel like I was more motivated with my first cancer.  My most recent cancer came very soon after treatment ended for the first one and while I really dont feel "sick"  and overall I think I have quite a bit of energy I do suffer with bouts of depression and my anxiety has always been an issue with me... I'll cry at the drop of a hat and I find myself feeling sorry for me alot!!  Wishing you all the best...

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  • dalycity
    dalycity Member Posts: 248
    edited June 2008

    Dear ladies:  I'm so sorry to hear of your second cancer.  My doc told me that since I have BC, then my chance of having a second cancer (such as colon, or other) increases. I was like - well, what shall I do?

    Cancer is like life - no one can predict what my future is; no one can tell me if my cancer will come back or if I'll have a new primary one.  So, I'll just deal with today since I cannot control tomorrow.

    Best wishes 

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  • susan_CNY
    susan_CNY Member Posts: 276
    edited June 2008

    hi pabbie, I can associate with you, I had hysterectomy at 32 for cervical cancer had hysterectomy, then at 50 had stage 2 colon cancer, did resection and chemo, was celebrating the 1st year out clear colonoscopy when remembered I missed my mammo while on chemo and sure enough had partial mast and rads for Christmas. I know that I feel like which part is next?, and wow, why on earth did I have kids?  

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited June 2008

    Thank you ladies for the kind words & support. I am so glad to have found this bc web site. Treating and recovering from cancer can be so isolating and lonely. I appreciate all of you.

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  • susan_CNY
    susan_CNY Member Posts: 276
    edited June 2008

    pabbie, how are you doing? I wanted to ask , have you talked to your doctor about your depression and anxiety? I take medication for both when I need to, has really helped me through some low times. Chin up hon! 

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited June 2008

    Hi Susan-Yes I do take medications for depression and anxiety. My doctor and I going to work on trying to treat my irritability. My meds for anxiety also help me sleep. Let me know if you have any ideas in treating irritability. Thanks for caring. By the way, are you from New York? I saw CNY. I was born in New York but raised in California. Take care.

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

    pabble--my mom is a 3 time cancer survivor, bc once colon ca twice. Her mom had colon ca and her grandmother had bc, I have LCIS. I haven't been genetically tested as yet, still thinking about it. My oncologist says they are "cancer cousins", but a genetic counselor told me there isn't a definitive link between the two. The good news is that my mom is a survivor of the bc over 21 years now, the colon ca over 6 years.

    Anne 

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  • angelll
    angelll Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2008

    Hi,

    Thank you for giving information about how the 1st stage of cancer, but i m not.  you can see this if you want to know how the 2nd stage of cancer is?

    Breast Cancer  - 

     "Faith is an oasis in the heart which can never be reached by the caravan of thinking".

      

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

    Colon cancer is very prominent in my family, breast cancer is not.  My paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather are both colon cancer survivors.  My son had polyps removed at 3-1/2 years old.  The only breast cancer in my family were two great-great aunts who were diagnosed after 80 years old.  The more I research, the more I am convinced there is a link between the two cancers.  Most recently, my tissue tested positive for Topo-2 Alpha, which is commonly linked to colon cancer.  This is a new marker that is being tested in BC, my specialist was unaware of it, my onco had only been made aware of it the night before he 1st met with me.  I think as time and technology go on, there will be a very definitive link between colon and breast cancer.  Bless you all, and good luck! 

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

    Hi...


        I has to do with the density of the tumor. Cancer is formed when normal cells from the surrounding tissues "go crazy" and start to reproduce at an abnormally fast rate. Breast tissue is very dense, so therefore cancer cells created from breast tissue will naturally be more dense, too. But, colon and pancreas tissue is comparatively thin and not so dense. Therefore, you need other kinds of diagnostic tools to be able to see diagnose those cancers.

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  • Kacie
    Kacie Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2008

    I was diagnosed with stage 3a bladder cancer in 2006, surgery only, no chemo or rads; and now just recently diagnosed with IDC triple neg. node positive, 10/08.   No cancer in my family.  At first I was relieved to know that it was not metastatic bladder cancer.. but then I found out this type of breast cancer is not too good either as all of them are not. Overwhelmed, but Just going with the flow now and keeping my hope intact. 

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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited November 2008

    hi there just reading your story and I was dxd with stage 2 colon and stage 3 bc at the same time . Within 2 months I had bc surgery and a colon resection . It scared the crap out of me at the time because i could no understand how I could have 2 primary sites at the same time . But now I see it happens more often than I thought . I was also dxd with BRCA1 , my younger sister died of bc when she was 36 ( i am 2years older than her)

    I am now 2 years out and feeling good , but I did go back to my gp to get antidepressants which have been a godsend , do not be afraid to talk about depression to your dr they are there to help !

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  • Joliene
    Joliene Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2008

    I just got my third dx on Dec. 22 - Merry freaking Christmas!   Anyway, first dx in '96 with DC and then in 2001 had "just" lobular.  Three rounds of chemo between the two.  This time I had a swelling above my collarbone that turned out to be lymph node positive for cancer, but don't know what yet.  The first time was rough, but I really breezed through the second dx - I think because I was told it was "only" lobular.  This one is hitting hard - I'm very emotional.  Some of that could be that my younger brother got a dx of terminal brain cancer in October and I'm still reeling from that.  I'm also tired of being told about how tough I am because I've done so well in the past.  Frankly, I don't want to be tough, I want to fall apart and be taken care of, but that's not my nature.  Wow, I really got off topic.  I guess I was getting at is that yes, this third time is more emotional.

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited December 2008

    Welcome, sorry you have to deal with this a third time. It is very emotional. I feel the same way you do. And I was dx'ed w/ my second cancer (IDC) almost a year ago. I feel like I'm moving forward in very slow motion. I decided not to return to work in January because my job was very stressful and I wanted to work reduce hours in which I couldn't.The work issue has been the most stressful for me. After my first cancer; I feel like I moved forward (Age 41), after chemo., radiation, and surgery.

    This time I have no drive. It does feel weird. 

    Please take care of yourself. You're not alone.

    P.S. I do have a husband who works but eventually I'll have to get with the program.

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  • ria
    ria Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2009

    I was dxd with thyroid cancer and then breast cancer, about nine months apart. No cancer in the family. I didn't feel emotionally recovered, in acceptance, or what have you when I was dxd with breast cancer in both breasts. Moreover, I wasn't doing well yet on my thyroid meds. Also, since thyroid is rare and breast is so in the media, I often felt isolated with regards to the thyroid cancer.

    It's been tough, together with all the impact on family and contacts and work and stuff, but after 2,5 years I'm now feeling well.

    I now paint about my experiences. Should you want to take a look, they're on

    http://painting2cancers.blogspot.com/

    Everybody take care!

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited January 2009

    Ria,

    I LOVE your paintings.  they're wonderful.   I am so impressed with their power, and that you are SUCH an artist in spite of being a mathematician.

    Best of luck to you.

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  • susan_CNY
    susan_CNY Member Posts: 276
    edited January 2009
    wow Ria! your art is amazing, thanks for sharing Smile  Pabbie, hope you are doing well, I had my yearly onco visit 2 weeks ago, still NED, 6 year colon and 5 for breast I am so happy to say. Now being tested for Angina though, just getting old I guess lol , going to color my hair and do some retail therapy, seems to be my comfort and smiling is good medicine
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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited January 2009

    Congratulations Susan. I also enjoy coloring my hair.

    I've been NED with my colorectal cancer since 1999. I just had my first mammogram today after my BC dx and treatment which started in Feb. 2008.

    Thanks for sharing., it really helps me to know of another person w/the same cancers that is doing OK. Take care.

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  • janeinca
    janeinca Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2009

    Diagnosed with colon cancer 1999, breast cancer 2000, endometrial cancer 2005, breast cancer again 2008. Bilateral mastectomy Nov. First chemo last week. Certainly many advances over the years, e.g. Oncotype DX, but I've learned not to celebrate too soon. I'm definitely having a difficult time dealing with another diagnosis. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2009

    pabbie----my mom has had both bc (22 year survivor) and colon ca (twice since 2002) and is still doing fine and is 79 years old.

    Anne

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  • susan_CNY
    susan_CNY Member Posts: 276
    edited February 2009

    Hello Jane,  I hope your chemo time goes swiftly with few side effects, cancer is so scary.  awb, 22 year survivor is so cool, you really have a Mom who understands what you are dealing with, God Bless her.

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  • Patti746
    Patti746 Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2009

    Janinca:

    Did you have any symptoms with colon cancer? I've already had the breast cancer and am due for a colonoscopy.

    Pat

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  • janeinca
    janeinca Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2009

    Hi Pat:

    No symptoms. Doctor recommended a colonoscopy after doing a DRE during routine annual exam and finding blood. I am very fortunate to have had access to good medical care and to have had the cancers detected early.

    Hope all is well when you have the colonoscopy. 

    Jane 

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  • tibet
    tibet Member Posts: 545
    edited April 2009

    Jane

    Was your 08 bc a recurrence or new primary? How did you find you colon cancer? Any family history on BC or Colon cancer? Hope to hear from you. alex

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  • ciannuzzo
    ciannuzzo Member Posts: 7
    edited May 2009

    I have breast cancer and LMS sarcoma. I have had mastectomy with reconstruction 1/28/09, Drs. found a tumor, days later it raptured while I was at the Drs. office, did surgery the same day, 3/2/09 found to be leimios sarcoma. They had to remove my gallbladder, 1/2 of stomach and portion of the intestine. I am recovering now, I have two rounds of chemo, one round consisting of three days in a row of chemo, 8hrs a day followed by the shot on the fourth day. Very tough, however I just want to survive like everyone else. I keep thinking if I keep saying I will survive I will. I thought I was the only person fighting two cancers...I guess not!

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  • juli09
    juli09 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2009

    ciannuzzo, you have been through a lot.

    I've been reading all of the posts and wanted to share some of my mother in-law's journey with you all. I wanted to provide a little background, so it is a long post and I apologize for that.

    She has retinitis pigmentosa, which is an eye disease that has rendered her legally blind and so she isn't able to access these sites on her own.

    My brother in-law died unexpectedly almost two years ago and my mother in law was devastated. She wasn't eating or sleeping and subsequently fell down the stairs. She would't go to the doctor, she's very stubborn, but I'm finding out now, thats actually a good thing. She ended up having a lot of pain in her leg after the fall and also became ill. Finally, in August of last year, we convinced her to go to the Dr. She was admited to the hospital with pnemonia and a large blood clot in her leg, most likely from the earlier fall. While treating her they spotted something on her right breast in one of the xrays. It was the dreaded word, cancer. She had the biopsys, lumpectomy and some lympnodes removed and was getting ready to start her treatment, when they decided to do a colonoscopy (she's 65) which is a good thing, because she was diagnosed with a second primary cancer. She had it removed after it was found to be cancer, and while recovering in the hospital her bowels were perforated while they were doing a dye injection, to see why she was having some complications. They had to reopen her and do a five hour emergency surgery to repair and clean out her system from the leak. She finally made it home and then ended up with a severe infection near the incision and had to have it reopened and packed. This had to be done daily for two months until the incision closed and healed from the inside out. After a long recovery, they were able to start her chemo for both primarys which included pills and injections. About a month or so ago, towards the end of her chemo treatments, they had to take her off the chemo because it was doing to much harm. She was swelled in her lower extremities, nails were falling off, nerve endings on her hands and feet were being affected and so on. Through all of this she has been a trooper in every sense of the word. Finding strength and displaying it in ways I never thought possible. She amazes me as do all of the posts on this site. She recently went in to begin the mapping process in order for her to start the radiation part of her treatment, and while she was there they did a mamogram which showed something in her left breast. She went in for a biopsy and removal of the area and we got the news on Friday that it was a third Primary cancer and was caught very early, but is invasive carcenoma. She is in surgery today to remove lympnodes to see if any cells have traveled so now its back to the waiting game. Its unbelievable how much has happened in the last 10 months and what all of you and she have endured and continue to endure. Those of us who have not personally been touched by cancer physically, will never truely know or understand your journeys. However, I hope that you can find encouragement and strength from those around you and that the power and inspiration you emit to others can in turn be given to you. Does anyone know what will happen if the cancer is in the lympnode? Will she be able to handle chemo again, so soon and if not, what are her options?

    Thanks and again, sorry for the long post.  

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  • Amazon_Archer
    Amazon_Archer Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2009

    juli09,

    So sorry to hear about your m-i-l, my prayers are with you. I was 37 when I was diagonosed with bc. It has been 17 years.  I had a modified radical mastectomy with 32 lymph nodes removed on the left breast,  4 nodes were positive. I went in for my yearly mamo this year and they found bc in the right breast. My surgery is 2 weeks from today. I also decided because of my age and family history it was about time to have a colonoscopy done. I had it done yesterday. They found I have diverticulitis and they also found 3 polyps, which they removed and sent for biopsy. I don't know how long I will have to wait on the results for that. It is making me worry now though. The bc they caught early. They were just going to do a lumpectomy but I am going with another modified radical mastectomy so I will at least be symetrical.

    But yeah, I'm really worried about the results of the polyp biopsy. Does anyone know how long it normaly takes to get the results? They tested my bc when they did the biopsy and had the results before I was even awakened from anethesia. They did the colonoscopy right in the doctor's office in a little surgery room they had, so they had to send them out to pathology.

    I can deal with the bc since it's the 2nd go around. I'm really not sure how I will handle the news if the polyps come back positive for cancer too. 

    So now it's the wait and see game some more.

    *sigh* isn't life grand?

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  • juli09
    juli09 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2009

    Amazon - Thanks for the prayers.

    Sorry to hear about all of the things you are enduring. I'm not sure how long it takes to get the test results back, but it seems that for most tests that are sent to pathology out of the doctors office, ususally take 3 to 7 days to get the results back, but don't quote me on it.

    By the way, my m-i-l is resting at home and just waiting for the lymph node report. She said the waiting game is the hardest. It drives her crazy.

    I'll keep you posted.

    Thanks and take care! 

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  • Amazon_Archer
    Amazon_Archer Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2009

    Well I got the biopsy results back..they were b9...woot...but because of the size and my past history and family history I will now have to have a colonoscopy every 3 years. I have also discovered I'm not quite as cool about this upcoming surgery next week as I thought I was. The closer it gets the more nervous I'm getting. Went in for all the pre-op stuff yesterday and surgery is now only 6 days away and I am starting to get a might bit nervous. Not quite as bad as the first time around but still nervous.

    I'll keep ya posted. Thinking good thoughts for all of you and keep fighting the good fight.

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