Here I go again.
Blackduck
Member Posts: 21 ✭
I am 25 months post mastectomy, 4 rounds of TC chemo, no radiation, was then put on Exemestane which apparently is the rolls Royce of Tamoxifen and a Zoladex injection every 28 days. First diagnosed in July 2015, I decided on mastectomy. Tumour was measuring 4.4cms and was found to be very aggressive. Most common form of b/c was diagnosed, being 90% oestrogen and 90% progesterone positive. At my 2 year annual checkup a mass measuring 1.8 x 1.0 cms was detected in my other breast, this was not there 12 months ago. Biopsy has been performed and sadly this is another visit from breast cancer for me. My original surgery showed there to be NO lymph node involvement and the only reason for me having 4 rounds of chemo, as a precaution, was due to the aggressive nature of the tumour. My multidisciplinary team has told me that this is nothing to do with the original cancer and that this is extremely random as it only happens to 6% of women who have previously dealt with b/c.
This cancer is a 2nd primary and not a secondary from the original. There are no reasons as to why this has happened and I am struggling to get my head around it. I now have to make the decision as to whether I have another mastectomy or opt for the lumpectomy followed by radiation. Any advice, suggestions or information from others who have found themselves in this same situation would be greatly appreciated. Love to all xx
This cancer is a 2nd primary and not a secondary from the original. There are no reasons as to why this has happened and I am struggling to get my head around it. I now have to make the decision as to whether I have another mastectomy or opt for the lumpectomy followed by radiation. Any advice, suggestions or information from others who have found themselves in this same situation would be greatly appreciated. Love to all xx
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Comments
I certainly miss my breasts but have never regretted the decision.
I know statistically lumpectomy with radiotherapy do just as well. My fear was that early detection in my breasts was difficult and therefore too risky.
It is a personal choice and no answer is wrong. You just have to chose with your surgeon the right decision for you..
Hope treatnent is kind. There are a number of women here who have gone through similar who I am sure will link in with you. Kath x
If you think you are going to be able to trust a de-lumped boob, fine. If you don't think you will be able to relax, maybe it needs to come off too. Rotten position to be in. Good luck. Marg.
I know after my 6 year journey for me?? if I'm ever faced with it again I'd do a mastectomy and no treatment, and I base that only on the fact of what happened to me originally. Its so personal! do what feels right for you.
Hugs Melinda xo
Such a hard decision to make.
I tried a lumpectomy on my one breast affected, but pathology after surgery meant chemo, mastectomy and radiation.
I would rather have had a mastectomy the first time in hindsight but no one could see the extent of my cancer from the scans.
If anything goes wrong with my second breast though, it comes off. I am not mucking around again. And yet I am pleased I didn't go with my first instinct to take them both off the first time, and am quite fond of it now, so that would be a gut renching decision.
I hope you can find a decision that you are comfortable with, so many things to consider with so little to guide you.
Probably the only good news of yours being a second primary is that it isnt a secondary one. You did it once girl and you can get over it again. If it was me, I would just do the mastectomy however I am 55 and only have the tiniest boob ever. During mammograms they have trouble getting enough to flatten for a picture. I have found the best treatment is the one the woman chooses for herself. We usually get it right.
I am in the same boat except I was cancer free for 7 years before finding a new primary in the other breast. I had extensive (9cm) DCIS in 2003 at age 35 and had a mastectomy and reconstruction (TRAM) but no chemo or radiation nor hormone treatment at that time. The second diagnosis was in 2010 at age 42. This time it was 2.5cm invasive ductal carcinoma. No lymph node involvement. I had another mastectomy, lat dorsi with implant reconstruction, chemo (4 x TC) and I have now been on Tamoxifen for the past 7 years. I have recently found out that I have a gene mutation (PALB2 rather than the more common BRCA 1/2).
Apparently there is no difference in the survival rates between people who have mastectomies and people who have lumpectomies and radiation. I could have had a lumpectomy but after already going through it all once before, I didn't want to have to worry about a possible third diagnosis and so went for the more radical decision of a mastectomy again. My surgeon was 100% behind me.
Best of luck with your decision. If you want to chat any time, PM me.
Louise
Best wishes and whatever you decide will be the right decision for you.
What an absolute horrible situation. I'm one of the 6%. I remember saying to someone "the good news is, it's a new primary cancer". they looked perplexed and said, "I've never hear anyone before say a primary cancer was good news". It's attitude, and experience that get you through. You know what you're in for this time, sort of. I had a lumpectomy 23 December 2013, with an invasive triple negative. Then, October 2016 I found a new mass on the other side. It was lobular, and all over the place, so it was hard for me to detect. This one had receptors, so it's a different beast. Had a mastectomy on the left, but they didn't take the right one at the time, and that's what I'm lining up for now. I've had 3 rounds of FEC and 9 rounds of Docetaxel/Cycophosphlamide in total, also total of 4 surgeries and 55 radio sessions, I think I would glow now under UV lights. For me, and I do have an allergic reaction for Doce, I did find the chemo tougher second time around, as I think I hadn't totally recovered from last time, I meant, let's face it, our bodies are never really the same again.. What I found harder the second time was there wasn't so much support, people are kind of tired of it, they remember you coped last time, and they are not as shocked. On the flip side though, I wasn't as worried this time. Yes, there are sleepless nights again, but it's a more familiar foe. Regarding what type of surgery, for me, 2 in 3 years is enough, I want them both off, they feel like ticking time bombs. I'm Bracca negative, but my family history is very, very strong. Between Mum, my sister and myself, we've had 5 cancers in 5 years. That's enough, all the breast are going. I felt huge relief after my first mastectomy. I really did feel all the cancer had gone. I'm very keen to have the second (hopefully not during Christmas this time, anyway, it's mum's turn again), just hoping I have some reconstruction options.
Best wishes through all this rubbish.