Recurrence of breast cancer
I've just been diagnosed with a recurrence in the same breast exactly two years after my lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatment in 2009. Absolutely devastated as this is a different cancer,...
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Good advice. Day by day. Did you have a mastectomy 2nd time around?
This cancer for me is a different one. First was oestrogen positive and I've been on Arimidex. This one is not. It is negative and a grade 3. The surgeon said it must not have been killed with my initial radiation and chemotherapy. 1% chance of that and I'm it! Bad luck for me.
Reconstruction can't be done using tissue expanders because of the previous radiation (it damages breast tissue) hence the more drastic reconstruction using skin and fat from my stomach. (free tummy tuck!) I can't have radiation this time either, so hopefully just chemo will do the trick. I am dreading the chemo so much as it was a terrible experience last time.
If the cancer has spread I won't bother with the reconstruction.
On top of this, I used up all my leave at work last time, so this time I will run out of money. Luckily I have family who will help. I do feel like just retiring and being poor. :) Wonder what Centrelink benefits are like?