Hi!! This is my first time here, so be kind to me!! Is there any one else out there had a 2nd primary tumour? My first was diagnosed in 2005, treated with mastectomy, lymph nodes were clear, and reconstruction, then tamoxifen. In Feb this year, i found another lump in my right breast. It turned out to be a second primary, grade 3. 6 lymph nodes affected. I had another mastectomy, TAC chemo and radio. Am now just starting herceptin.
I am feeling very worried about the future. i know that it is quite unlucky to have had this twice now, but am feeling concerned that I am never going to be free from worrying about it spreading to other parts of my body.
i would really like to hear from someone else that has had any experience similar to mine. It would be nice to know i am not on my own. I have lots of friends to support me, as well as my family, but they dont't really know how it is for me. I also feel like I have to put on a brave face for them. I find it a bit difficult to let them know how much i worry.
thanks for listening and i hope to hear from some one out there soon!!
FormerMember
I have not been in your position, but it is possible that a second primary is as though the first had never existed, and you have as good a chance now as you had last time. Except you probably didn't have Herceptin last time! Maybe someone else will come on and tell you I'm talking rubbish. Only believe them if they have personal experience. It is always best to trust your oncologist now that you have finished the surgery phase. He/she will have the knowledge you seek. You may have an oncology nurse who you can talk to, either Macmillan or regular staff.
I was never aware of being brave for my family. I found out as much as I wanted to know, and decided that it was not going to beat me. My family did support me in this, so I just went along with the treatment, relaxed as much as possible to let the treatment do its work, and I am in remission. It could come back, or start anew in a different place, but if it does, I will just cope as well as I can. Doing it for me, because I found it helped me to overcome feelings of despair.
I would go for a walk and decide to worry for 5 minutes. I kept getting distracted after 2 minutes, but I didn't wake up in the middle of the night worrying about my end. I thought it could go the wrong way, and I might die, but my chances according to my surgeon were good, and my oncologist said it was better safe than sorry. So I went ahead with the Chemo, though I wasn't at all sure if it was worth it. I'm glad I did.
