Topic: anyone have a re-occurance with bilat masectomy?

Hi.

I had bi-lateral mast. on May 2nd, node negative... I'm getting chemo, 4 tx of Taxotere and Cytoxan.  I have just had tx #3.  Will have #4 on Oct 9th and reconstruction on Nov 7th...

I like to hear encouragement from others.

I sure don't want to go thru this again!

Good Luck!

Harley

Are you on a hormonal?

I had a grade 3 cancer...no node involvement. I had a prophylactic mastectomy 6 months after my first mastectomy...no chemo no rads. My breast surgeon thought I was high risk to get bc in remaining breast...which is why I decided on the 2nd mastectomy.That was 15 and a half years ago...no recurrence.

jezza

Rose I have not been on line in a few days .No my oncologist said I did not need any since I had to have a complete hysterectomy. I was on femara for 8 months but developed a tumor (thank God it was   b-9) But it was 10 cm. and very painful . I had lost my right ovary the month before because a report had said it was on the right side.

So was told next am oh so sorry but now we will have to take out the left ovary as soon as you recover from this . It grew from 4 to 10 cm. in 6 weeks. Anyway now I have very little confidence in some of the doc's I am seeing .Should I just get over it and go on .It is hard since I was made fun of for being scared when I found my lump. The surgeon had me wait for a month for mammo because he said it was nothing . Then found out is was not cyst and after removal turned out to be I.D.C. and the margins were not clear so I freaked out and went to another breast surgeon(who I love )and had double mastectomy. I had abnormal cells in both breast and lost all nodes and some muscle. Nodes were clear but I hear so much about re-occurrence that was really just a miss the first time.Thanks for letting me vent this a.m. and I covet any remarks.Love Elaine

Cewoliver,

I saw your post above. How awful that the doctor humiliated you for being scared of a breast lump, which then turned out to be breast cancer! Shameful!

I understand you took Femera for 6 months, which suggests your breast cancer was estrogen sensitive. Rose asked if you were on a hormone, and you answered no, that because of your hysterectomy and ovaries having been taken out, your doctor advised it was not necessary.

It's never to late to start a hormone drug, Cewoliver. Many of us use a hormone as a "safety net" to double reinforce the treatment we received (your surgery).

Perhaps you might want to talk with your oncologist, or if you do not have one, ask your primary doctor to refer you to an oncologist to discuss whether a hormone might be helpful.

It may give you more peace of mind, which is definitely worth a lot.

Keep posting, perhaps with the details of your original tumor findings, like size, and the pathology report, and talk about any lymph nodes, and estrogen or progesterone (receptor) positive or negative. Perhaps we can help too.

All the best,
Tender

I think anything under 32 is "normal". Mine was 19 when diagnosed then 20 after mastectomy, down to 14 and lately constant at 17.....I freaked out when it went to 20 but my onc says it could fluctuate by the minute....so no worries he says....

God Bless

Hi Colleen, I had bilateral mast. in 2000. I had chemo radiation and herceptin for 1 yr, also took tamox for almost 5 yrs when i had my recur . The recur of mets was to the lungs (Many spots in both lungs no large tumors). that was in 2005, I have been getting chemo and hercetpin for almost 2 yrs. this time and today just found out I no longer will be getting chemo, only the hercetpin because I am in remission. It took a long time to get rid of the spots but hopefully  I will stay clear for a long time. Take Care KLynn

Yes  Kmb,  I was part of the original herceptin trial then, some women were put on 6months of herc. while others got the year plan. I was hoping at the time to get the 6 months because after chemo and rads I had just about had it. Of course my luck i was given the yr plan lol,( luck of the draw). I was able to quit at any time because of the trial, and i though I would , but when push comes to shove you do what you have to and iIstayed  the course of 1 yr. which I am very grateful for. I was stage 2 something --- I had 6 of 17 positive nodes.I have a great doc and followed his advice. My initials are KLB funny huh???? Take care KLynn

Krissey,

that is so unfrigginbelievably unfair!!!...I am sending you a big cyber hug!!

Thank God no mets.

I suppose due to the mast you didn't get Tamox or AI's?

Do you have hormone receptors yet for the new primary?

Why can't they take more nodes? Would they not want a complete axillary disection?

Lots of good thoughts, vibes and prayers for an uneventful chemo!! May it kick cancer butt once and for all!!!!!

Hugs!!

ICH!  Please let me know how your appointment goes!   There are really and truly a ZILLION (well, not exactly) but a lot of other things it could be!  Fat Necrosis...Scar Tissue...etc..Do you have Implants or totally new tissue from a Flap?  Fat Necrosis is pretty common in the tissue transplants.  As for the other question...I had three invasive cancers taken out..One was microscopic...The others, one was er+ 40% and the other was er+10%..still waiting on the Receptor test results....When I had DCIS I was 90% er+, I guess it is normal to drop a little..but the 10% is the one they are questioning as a new primary..it also has an invasive lobular component while the others were ductal.