Here I go again. Looks like its back for the 3rd time. Was diagnosed with ER & HER2 + BC in Dec 2021. I wanted a mastectomy but was told breasts were to big, 40G. No lymph nodes involved so ended up Jan/Fed 2022 with lumpectomy and radiotherapy. I decided chemo and Herceptin as research suggest only a slight increase in return. Jump to June 2023 back with new lump on margins of previous site. Was sent for ultrasound. Person doing this said on entering "it will just be scar tissue". Sure enough did the ultrasound and said, scar tissue, you can just go home now, don't need to go back to see the consultant. Not great over next 6 months, very tired and breathless, culminating in being hardly able to breathe over Xmas period. GP thought infection, after 2 lots of antibiotics made no difference I was sent for x-ray. Opposite lung was full of fluid. Plural effusion. Sent to lung consultant who drained just over 1ltr of fluid and left 1ltr. Tests came back as breast cancer cells in fluid. Then nodules started to appear on skin of breast, back to consultant who said straight away, yep that's breast cancer. So then ended up on chemo Herceptin & Pejeta. After 1st treatment nodules noticeably better. Unfortunately I was so ill with chemo I was hospitalised. I managed 1 more round of chemo then they had to stop it and the Pejeta. So been on 3 weekly treatments of Herceptin for over 18 months. Last 4 monthly scan in June showed small spot on lung. MDT discussed it and at last treatment 3 weeks ago they said possibly infection and would wait and see at next scan in Sept. At that appointment I highlighted that looks likes nodules are back on breast, they don't appear to be spreading or developing as fast as the 1st time. I also told them about breast pain, which has now gotorse. Treatment and consultant due next week. next . My thoughts are, if this is it back again: Mastectomy, which I know won't cure it, but remove the source, as obviously all the previous treatments haven't got rid of what's in that breast. Then move on to new chemo and immunotherapy treatment consultant spoke about if it was back. I don't want to be back here again in another 18 months, with the possibility it's spread even further. Anyone been here, or got advice. During all of the above I have lost my husband to colon cancer and 2 sons to lung cancer, the last only 2 weeks ago. None of them had obvious cancer signs and they only got between 1 and 4 months from diagnosis.
Oh my goodness you have been through a tough time over last few years! I am so sorry to hear about you losing your husband, and both your boys, I cannot imagine what you have gone through
You are such a strong woman.
Im sorry I cannot give you any advice/ help, I just couldn’t read and not reply. I truly hope you get this sorted soon and send you my warmest thoughts. Take care x
