USEFUL RESOURCES

class="donate-button" > Donate

USEFUL RESOURCES

Topic: Blindsighted, 2nd ER+ Tumor Just 3 Years Into Hormonal Treatment

Forum: Second or Third Breast Cancer — For those confronting a new primary diagnosis or undergoing treatment.

Jump to Bottom arrow down

Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 10:36AM

Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 10:36AM

minisub wrote:

Hi everyone, long time listener, first time caller. I was diagnosed in 2018 with ER+/PR+ IDC. Went through lumpectomy and radiation, then started on Tamoxifen + Lupron injections. After a year, I was switched to AI + Lupron and have been on that "gold standard" regimen for two years. Imagine my shock when I developed a tumor in the opposite breast (thankfully small and DCIS) that is strongly ER+.

Freaking out a little as to how this is happening just 3 years later and wondering what the future holds (I'm 41). Does anyone have access to data on how common a second ER+ tumor is while on hormonal treatment? My estrogen levels had been checked just a few months prior to diagnosis and confirmed to be in the post-menopausal range. I realize nothing is bulletproof but this has me really scared.

Has anyone else been through this? How do you deal with the anxiety that this is going to happen over and over again despite being on the "gold standard" for treatment?

Dx 6/2018, IDC, Left, 3cm, Stage IIA, Grade 1, ER+/PR+, HER2- Dx 9/2021, DCIS, Right, Stage 0, ER+, HER2- Surgery Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Sentinel, Underarm/Axillary Radiation Therapy Whole breast: Breast, Lymph nodes Hormonal Therapy Aromasin (exemestane) Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
Log in to post a reply

Page 2 of 2 (12 results)

Log in to post a reply

Apr 24, 2022 10:51AM exbrnxgrl wrote:

minisub,

The unfortunate reality of bc is that there is no guarantee, despite treatment, that you will not have a recurrence or even a new primary. There’s also no way to predict who will or won’t have to deal with bc again. Focus on what you know now and don’t borrow trouble from the future! Take care.

Surgery 9/1/2011 Mastectomy (Left); Mastectomy (Right) Radiation Therapy 11/1/2011 Other part Hormonal Therapy 12/1/2011 Arimidex (anastrozole), Femara (letrozole), Aromasin (exemestane) Dx IDC, Left, 4cm, Stage IV, Grade 1, 1/15 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Dx DCIS/IDC, Left, 4cm, Grade 1, 1/15 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Log in to post a reply

Apr 24, 2022 09:29PM parakeetsrule wrote:

Recurrences are unfortunately common. And they usually occur within the first few years after diagnosis and treatment, so finding another one at three years isn't unusual. Estrogen blockers don't block 100% of the estrogen your body is producing, and even if they did, cancer finds a way around it. That's why so many cancer treatments eventually stop working. You're super lucky it's just DCIS! But it's definitely scary to have another trip around the cancer ride. :(

Stage 2 at 37, Stage 4 at 41. Cancer is dumb. Cookies are good. Dx 3/21/2017, IDC, Left, Grade 2, ER+/PR-, HER2- Radiation Therapy 11/6/2017 Whole breast: Lymph nodes, Chest wall Hormonal Therapy 12/8/2021 Faslodex (fulvestrant) Targeted Therapy 12/13/2021 Piqray (alpelisib) Dx IDC, Other, Stage IV, ER+, HER2- Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol) Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone) Surgery Lymph node removal (Left); Mastectomy (Left)

Page 2 of 2 (12 results)

Scroll to top button