Recurrence after mastectomy
I had breast cancer three times. Each time I was told it was unlikely I would ever get breast cancer again.
I had two lumpectomies, chemo and radiation on left breast in 2003 (IDC) In December 2018 I was diagnosed with ILC in same breast. Treated with mastectomy. I stayed on AI for 6 months then quit for multiple reasons.
August of 2022 I had IDCI w/microinvasion and very small amount of IDC in right breast, treated with right mastectomy and back on Letrozole, which I hope to stay on for as long as my oncologist recommends.
My question is how do women who get recurrences in their breast area, chest wall, find out they have breast cancer again. I have no peace of mind and feel that I will get breast cancer again at some point in time. I don't really know what the early symptoms are other than lumps along the chest wall.
I will see both my oncologist and breast surgeon several times a year for the next few years but would really like to know how they will even be able to tell if cancer returns or not.
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I too had a mastectomy in 2015. Completed chemo and 6 years of hormone therapy only to have a recurrence in Aug 2022. I felt the lump myself in about the same area as my first. In the little bit of breast tissue that was left over after my double mastectomy. I just figured I am that unlucky. But not unlucky enough to have had it spread to other parts of my body. But like you now I will always be afraid of it coming back or spre
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I had bmx in 2012. RO at the time said if it came back, it would be on the scar in the cancer side. Wrong!! 7 years later I found a pea size lump in the nodes on the other side. I’ve been clean for 3 years, not on any meds. I see MO every 3 months, have yearly PET/ct. Am waiting for another reoccurrence, have always been told I’m high risk. If it happens, I’ll deal. If not, yay me. I’m not going to change my life in fear of it. You don’t know you’re free from cancer until you die from something else
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spookiesmom, THANK YOU!!!! That was the information I was looking for and I feel the same about life after breast cancer. I do feel I will get it again, but like you, if it happens I will deal with it. I am sorry you had a recurrence, but thankful for the advice.
lillyishere, I appreciate your clarification. You are right, the "fool me once saying" doesn't really apply to most breast cancer survivors, but my former breast surgeon at a very well known cancer hospital in Philadelphia lied to me, so I feel it applies to me.
My past "breast teams" are history, and I have moved on. I am very happy with my current team and I trust them 100%, but I wanted to know what to look for as far as recurrence is concerned so I can at least feel I am being proactive. For me, having breast cancer three times felt like having breast cancer for the first time, three times!
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Maverick I forgot to add, go ahead and retire, get that puppy ENJOY LIF
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