A question about BC

The mastectomy of course doesn't prevent metasteses if the bugfers have akready hidden somewhere and laying dormant.

But it removes 99% of breast tissue so recurrence is very low. But it does happen. I believe though more easily found as it is not hidden in breast tissue as least but more the surface area of skin still there.

But what can we do?  I've followed the treatment plan, continuing with oral meds. Will it teturn? I don't know. What I do know is I don't want to spend the rest of my life fearing it, thinking about it. We will always worry with aches and pains. ..but I refuse to let the fear suck the joy out of my life...one that I hope will be for many more years to come.  

It's comes down to a choice. A mental shift. No more power to that bitch cancer I say..

The crux of the question I see is the "is it common" part. No it is not common, nor is it rare. For some a simple single lumpectomy and radiation is enough and for others it seems to be a revolving door of surgeries and treatments. We are all of us different and that is what makes breast cancer research so hard as we all get differing sorts of cancer too.

Hi @SoldierCrab, I guess not common but possible really is the answer for them. I was TNBC and had bilaterals, really so 0% risk to unaffected side. There is no guarantee of getting every single cell of breast tissue on the affected side so always a percentage of risk remains. However, there are a lot of other prognostic factors with grade etc that influence the ongoing (or not ongoing) path of the beast. I think that like you said 'minimising risk of recurrence' is what resonates with most of us! Bec xx
PS you rock @SoldierCrab, you are so generous with your time and info and links etc for all of us - thank you! X

thank you @onemargie  and @LMK74
I just wanted to bounce it off ladies here so I was sure that I had said the right thing to her... 

Margie, I think like you is it like Russian roulette the wheel will spin and the ball will drop where it wants to. I like you have had double mastectomy and chemo & rads I was TNBC and I am 5 years out no recurrence.... I am grateful I got the bitch early and I have done what I can to minimize my chance of recurrence. 

I had triple neg too I forgot to mention. And TNBC responds really well to chemo too so that’s a bonus. Xx

I wouldn’t say it’s “common” these days that it returns after a double or after any treatment whether it’s a lumpectomy single mastectomy, rads Chemo  etc. I’ve had a double and that has certainly reduced my risk of it returning in my boobs hence why I did it as I’ve read about it coming back in the same side or the other boob too much for my liking and  as I have none now and I’ve been told it’s very unlikely to return or recur somewhere else (maybe 10%) but there’s no guarantees the longer you go without a recurrence the less likely you are for that to happen.  But of course it still can look at Olivia Newton John she’s just had a recurrence last year after 20 years in her spine and she’s had a totally organic diet etc I just don’t think about it anymore otherwise it will just consume my life. I’m happy with the decision I made to get them both of and just hope and pray the fucker never comes back. But I do still enjoy life I walk every morning eat as well as I can but don’t get all anal about it if I want chocolate cake I just eat it or have a glass of wine if I feel like it. There’s no point focusing on the “what if’s” its a waste of time. I’m grateful I got it early grsteful I got through surgery and treatment and live life life the best way I can. That’s it.... simple. Margie xxx  

@SoldierCrab, I really think nothing is guaranteed even having double mastectomy. It all comes down to luck as far as I'm concerned. I guess it reduces the risk somewhat. Even radiation doesn't guarantee it kills off all the cells.