may31

I had a mastectomy in June 2004 for DCIS with microinvasion. There were some isolated floating cells but the sentinel node dissection came back negative. Chemo was not advised but I did have arimidex as they assumed I was estrogen positive. Initially this was diagnosed through a core biopsy after the mammagram and ultrasound were negative. I did have a MRI at the time since I would have had a double mastectomy if anything showed up on the right side.

Fast forward three years....I have continued a mammagram on the right side and then MRI on both sides. Last year the lymph node area on the mastectomy side lit up and I was diagnosed with recurrence to the lymph nodes (3). I was then diagnosed estrogen negative, HER2 positive and had six rounds of TCH and herceptin for a year. I had scans done of the rest of the organs which have been clean but will have my final one next week.

I have asked the doctor if I did not have MRIs whether this would have been caught. He initially didn't think it was anything serious and attributes it to the keen eye of the radiologist.

Hopefully this won't be your situation but thought I would let you know my experience.

LittleFlower,

He hasn't done that. I have been on four different eye drops and now am trying pills. I am rather young (almost 56) and my mother (almost 86) was just diagnosed with glaucoma. If this doesn't work he will try the laser surgery. I have been trying to put it off until I am finished with all my treatments although neither the opthamologist nor the oncologist have heard of any correlation. Since my nose runs constantly with the herceptin and the mucus membranes appear affected I still question whether it has affected my eye pressure.

My original diagnosis was in 2004 DCIS with microinvasion and some floating cells with sentinel biopsy. I had mastectomy and put on arimidex although they really couldn't determine hormone status. MRI last year discovered enlarged lymph node and had more surgery then TCH regimen and radiation to the same breast as original cancer.

The glaucoma in some ways has bummed me out more than the recurrence!

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! 

I'm confused. I don't quite understand your treatment regiment since you say you had a mastectomy and then a partial mastectomy on the same breast. Where did you have the recurrence?