Topic: Hodgkins Lymphoma and BC

Michele,

I am a simliar case as yours - diagnosed with Hodgkins in 1992 at the age of 36 which was considered the high end of age for that disease.  I had 6 mo of chemo and 4 weeks of radiation and now have ILC.  I was told in July by my oncologist that the radiation could mean a threat for breast cancer then in Jan it was picked up on a annual digital mamogram.  I opted for bilateral since i couldn't have radiation again and the turmor was found to be 90% insitu so i was glad about that.  I too am er/pr+ and her 2-.  Crazy huh?  I hope all goes well for you.  

To tell the truth I don't recall the exact combination of drugs but I believe ABVD sounds familiar and I think the standard MOPP was just being modified.  I do remember adrimyicin which would have been the A.  Sorry about that.  Yes, I was still seeing my oncologist once a year for check up.  That was the first time he told me that he wanted me to have a breast exam by him at appt in July then go to gyno in Jan for my annual so i could see two docs a year for breast check up.  We even talked about MRI but since there are alot of false positives with that we decided on this plan and the annual mamogram. 

I am a 30 year survivor of Hodgins Disease.  I received radiation to the chest.  I was diagnosed with BC May 14, 08, had a mastectomy and will start chemo 8/5/08.

Susan,

I don't know how I missed that you have had 3 cancers.  Both my onc and my surgeon are concerned that I may be heading toward more cancers after this one.  I hate to go in for visits with them because then I start worrying too.  Glad to hear of your successes!

Michele

Also, I'm wondering how many of you with a Hodgkins past feel that you were looked after well enough by your doctors in terms of the breast cancer risk.  I kind of feel that my doctors dropped the ball and they should have been more on the alert, perhaps catching this in the "in situ" stage rather than the full-blown cancer it is now.  I've had several doctors since then (24 years ago) and I do remember one taking the risk more seriously, and she looked into whether I should be taking tamoxifin as a preventive--she decided against it for someone reason (I can't recall.)  But since then, my primary care only had me getting yearly mammograms, and the cancer didn't show up on those because I have lobular carcinmoa (which shows up mainly on MRI's). 

So, just wondering if you feel your follow-up care re: heightened bc risk was good.

 Janis 

Hello, I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Jan 2005 it was caught early I was Stage IIA.   I underwent chemo (ABVD) and radiation.  I have redness on both my breasts with like white small circles, anyways, I wasnt too concerned, but I had a pap today and when the gynocologist checked my breasts she found a lump on my right breast that I had missed.  She told me to get a mammogram on the right breast, but when I went to schedule the appointment the doc there wanted to do it on both. I guess b/c of my history?  I hope it turns out to be nothing.  2010 I will officially be considerd a Hodgkins survivor.  Keep me in your prayers.  Thanks. 

I finished chemo in October and started Herceptin only.  I had two treatments of that and had to stop due to low MUGA scans.  I had 2 low EF's and am seeing cardiologist today.  I was told that some of this problem is probably due to past radiation tx.  I also decided not to have radiation but to have mastectomy.  I was also told that the bc was not caused by the radiation because it have been located in a different area.  I too am interested in hearing more from others with this dx.

I have just returned to this site to research some questions on reconstruction and found my way here.  I am presently a 4 year survivor of bc stage II.  Had a bilateral mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction, which was a failure on 1 breast and then followed up with expander on the failed side.  I was originally diagnosed with stage I Hodgkins Disease at the age of 18 and bc 30 years later.  I was treated for the Hodgkins with Cobalt? radiation (no longer used), and have been told and have also read, by my oncologist that there is a direct coorelation between secondary cancers occurring from childhood treatment with radiation.  Unfortunately something that cured 1 cancer created another but as I try to look at it that something gave me 30 years and I'll gladly take another 30.  Good luck and bless you all.