Well here I am again…
After 10 years, here I am again. I meet with my oncologist and surgeon soon. Still waiting on HER Fish results. Will be going for an MRI soon. I figure I’m facing mastectomy as I had lumpectomy/radiation the first go round. It’s in same breast.
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thank you!
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Hi Itam16. I had a reoccurrence after 17 years. I understand you may be in shock, angry, or just accepting.
I had a partial mastectomy, chemo and radiation the first time around. With the reoccurrence, I had to have a mastectomy on the cancer side. I opted to get a full mastectomy with no reconstruction. I like it, but it’s not for everyone.
I discovered that chemo was much easier the second time. So many advancements were made in the 17 years between. I think the chemo was milder and the side effects management was so much better.I’ll pray for during treatment. You’ll get through it as you did before.
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thank you.
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Sending positive vibes! I had a second diagnosis (opposite breast) at the beginning of this year, after 13 years. Being in treatment again is certainly not fun, but you already know what you're made of 💪 Keep us posted, please!
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thank you. Wishing you all the best.
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I had a recurrence after 19 years on the same side. The first time I had a lumpectomy, rads and chemo. That was 33 years ago. The second time I had a BMX and chemo. That was 14 years ago!
It was shocking and disappointing but honestly, I found the second time easier because I knew what to expect. We are here for you.0 -
thank you! I appreciate the support from all of you.
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@groucho2 I’m in a similar situation. Had lumpectomy, chemo, rads in 2005. Last month, 20 yrs later, dx’d with recurrence. Having bilateral next week with no recon. Won’t know if chemo is in the plan till after surgery. I’m really nervous about the scars. How are you doing with that? I’m 70 and not in love with my boob, but dreading that first look after surgery.
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@ltam16 I feel your pain. Wishing you the best possible result.
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malegal, I am so sorry to hear about your reoccurrence. It’s no fun the first time and definitely no fun the second time.
I was left with horrible scars on my non-cancer side after my mastectomy. I won’t bore you with details, but I blame my surgeon and myself for not stating clearly what I wanted and expected.
Talk to your surgeon about the scars and how she closes up. What should you expect? I suggest you stress to her that you want to be flat. No lumps or bumps, no leaving extra skin for reconstruction, but flat like a prepubescent girl.
I did not have this discussion with my surgeon. I chose her because the nursing supervisor (my friend) told me she was good. I wish I’d chosen a different surgeon that I’d used before.
If you don’t trust your surgeon to give the results you want, cancel surgery and find a different surgeon. To a surgeon, you’re a mastectomy. For you, the scars are forever.
Best wishes and prayers……..grouch2
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When I met with surgeon to go over path report and decide on what type surgery, I made it very clear that one of my fears was how those scars would look. She said for me to think about exactly what I wanted and we would have a long discussion immediately before surgery. I was leaning toward totally flat, thanks for that recommendation. Onward we go right?
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Good for you, Marlegal. I like the way your surgeon talks with you and how she is tuning into what you want.
Onward!
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Looks like this thread is asleep. I'm going to resurrect it, because I am also "here again."
I was first diagnosed in 2008 with a Stage 1 ER+ PR- HER2- IDC on my left side. (I guess you can see that in my signature.) Because of a decades-long history of fibrocystic breast tissue that was radiographically dense, I decided monitoring that tissue after a lumpectomy and rads was hopeless. (My oncologist agreed, after-the-fact.) So, I had a left-side mastectomy + SNB (3 nodes, all negative), with no reconstruction. I've learned since that what I requested of my surgeon is technically called an "asthetically flat closure." I've been happy with the result. My Oncotype score was 26, so surgery was followed by 4 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere; and then I was on anastrozole for 10 years.
Fast-forward almost exactly 18 years from the first dx: a routine screening mammogram on my right side found suspicious-looking microcalcifications, which led to a spot/compression mammogram, which led to a stereotactic biopsy, which led to a preliminary dx of "DCIS, intermediate to high nuclear grade, solid type with comedo necrosis and microcalcifications." This time the tumor cells are ER+ and PR+, which I guess is good. Everything points to this being a new primary, but it's all based on a biopsy. The real dx awaits surgery, which hasn't happened yet. I meet with the surgeon on Jan. 13th. Wish me luck!
Edited to add: My PCP referred me to a surgeon, but also to a med onco, "because this will probably be up-staged after surgery." I don't know why I hadn't considered the possibility (likelihood?) of high-grade DCIS being up-staged to IDC. I was so hopeful until he said that.1
