Second breast cancer

Oh I am so sorry you are worried. This is the worst part waiting isn’t it. You must let us Know how you get on and keep the updates on the site so we can support you. Take care 

Oh 

That is rubbish news. Though it’s a smallish lump which is something.I’m sure you are going crazy with worry and I hope you get your results as quickly as possible.

My good friend had her HER2+ cancer return in the other boob and underwent a double mastectomy (she had a lumpectomy first time around) then a short amount of chemo and hormone therapy again. 

Tey to stay as positive as possible though I’m sure that’ll be very hard. I’ve bookmarked this thread so I can see how you get in. Please keep us all updated and sending all my positive thoughts your way xx 

Hi Robbo16, 

Thank you for your reply. Yes the waiting is the worst, especially when your imagination goes into overdrive! I'll definitely keep posting on here, it's good to be amongst people who understand.

Hi Beyoncepower,

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry to hear about your friend who's had her HER2+ cancer return, we all know it is a possibility but it's still a shock when it happens. With my first cancer I chose a mastectomy over lumpectomy and it proved to be a good choice as, apart from the main lump, two small focuses of cancer were found elsewhere in the breast, which would not have been detected with a lumpectomy.  Wish I'd been offered a double mastectomy at the time, we just never know what's around the corner.  I will update when I have more news xx

Hi

Gosh, yes I bet you are so glad you went for the mastectomy. I have to say it s very encouraging that you have been cancer free for so long. 

I asked my consultant re a double mastectomy and he said he wouldn't take the 'good' one off as it's seen as healthy. While I understand that, it seems nuts if years later we have to come back with BC in the remaining boob. There were areas of calcification in my good boob but obviously not enough to merit a double mastectomy. It is frustrating.

I am keeping everything crossed for your results xx

I am sad to read your story, which is very similar to mine. I had a positive second outcome so thought I'd share it with you.

I was first diagnosed in 2013 when I was 32yrs old, I had a double mastectomy then, followed by silicone reconstruction. 

In 2016, a lump appeared on my chest wall, high up near my collarbone. It was found to be a malignant node and it was discovered that I also had malignant nodes in my neck and auxilla and deep inside my chest (this one was too deep and too close to my lungs to biopsy). I was terrified to say the least and assumed the worst. 

I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy (which damaged my reconstruction resulting in it having to be removed - I am now proud to be flat). I take daily exemestane and get monthly zoladex implants. My nodes all shrunk back to normal size and there were no mets. The enlarged node deep inside my chest was almost classed as secondary because it was so far away from my chest, but they pressed ahead with treatment anyway - thank God! It shrunk, so they can only assume it was malignant as it responded to chemo.

Anyway, I now live with chronic fatigue syndrome which I blame on trauma and medication. My mum died when she was 32 - but I didnt!  Two cancers down and I'm clear again. 

I am high risk for ten years (I am 4 years in....) but I'll take that for now

Please try to see hope and press on.

Love and Light to you. Xxxx

Hi Beyoncepower,

It's so frustrating isn't it when you are refused the option of a double mastectomy.  It's all very well, and understable, that doctors are reluctant to remove what they deem to be healthy tissue, but they have no idea of the ongoing anxiety we face on a daily basis when we have to live with the threat of cancer returning.  If they saw areas of calcification in your good boob I really think they should have given you the option of having it removed, just doesn't make sense not to. 

Wishing you all the best with your treatment, it's not always easy but we are strong and we get through it xx

Oh Wilson 2 I'm so sorry to hear how much you have been through.  I was 54 when I was first diagnosed, but to have to go through bc at such a young age as you are must have been even more traumatic.  Too lose your mum when she was so young is such a tragedy too.

You must have been terrified when the new lump appeared in 2016, but thank goodness the treatment worked for you. I took Exemestane for 5 years and found it difficult, the first 18 months in particular were really hard as my joints were so painful, and the fatigue was almost too much at times.  However, it did ease as time went on, and by the end of the 5 years I would happily have taken it for longer if it had been offered - but it wasn't!  

I do think it is worrying that we are not offered extra checks, such as an annual CT scan or something, after surgery, chemo and radiotherapy have finished, as I'm sure this would give us so much more peace of mind, and quite likely pick up earlier any suspicious nodes such as you had.  I had an annual check-up with my surgeon and a mammogram for 10 years after my first diagnosis, then was put back onto the 3-yearly NHS mammo programme. 

I'm keeping everything crossed for you that you remain well now xxx

UPDATE

Had my follow-up appointment with the consultant on Monday and the breast lump is Grade 1 Ductal - I forgot to ask whether In Situ or Invasive but plenty of time to catch up on that one.  The nodes take from my axilla were inconclusive so I had two more biopsies, bruises on bruises now!  Consultant offered a lumpectomy, and despite her telling me there is evidence that women having lumpectomies can have better outcomes than if they choose mastectomies, I have once again opted for a mastectomy.  After my previous experience I would have no peace of mind at all if part of the breast was left, even if there were clear margins.

I have a tel appointment with the BC nurse next Tuesday to get the results of the biopsies.  If they are clear then no nodes will be removed, but if not then a sentinel node biopsy will be done during the op.  Although I had full axilla clearance last time, I'm lucky not to have suffered with lymphoedema and that's despite later breaking my wrist on that side!

Op is scheduled for 1st April and I will stay in overnight.  I spent the best part of the day at the hospital on Monday, having the biopsies, ECG and pre-op checks and I'm very pleased with how quickly things are progressing.  At this stage I have been told I am unlikely to have chemo but will probably have radio therapy.  

Onwards and upwards ladies, we can do this! xxx

I'm watching start chemo next Thursday , 6 sessions then radiotherapy   I'm just curious to what treatment you would get if your cancer did come back again , would you  get chemo and radiotherapy again. As it damages the heart..x