Forum Discussion

tooyoung42's avatar
tooyoung42
Member
13 years ago

When Breast Cancer Spreads to Ovary

I am looking for other women who have experienced a similar journey to me.  I was diagnosed with what they thought was breast cancer in 2008 but they never found my primary cancer.  They did find cancer in my lymph nodes in the right axilla and I had them surgically removed, followed by chemo and radiation.

In January this year, unfortunately they found cancer in my right ovary which was confined to the ovary without evidence of spreading anywhere else.  However, the doctors are unsure as to whether my cancer was orignally breast or ovarian and they say we will never know.   So of course now I am having a different type of chemo that treats breast, ovarian as well as some others.  Is there anyone out there who has experienced a simliar journey?  I also had both ovaries removed in January this year.

Would love to hear from anyone with a similar experience and to know how you are coping.

thanks,

2 Replies

  • tooyoung42's avatar
    tooyoung42
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Janice,

    Thanks for responding.  Your comments about the lobular breast cancer are very interesting.  In fact, I am seeing my breast surgeon tomorrow to get my breast MRI results which I had done a week ago, and so will definitely ask her about this.  It is quite amazing at how different doctors do treat the disease but then I guess not all cases are the same and that is something that my doctors have definitely repeated to me time and time again.  The only good thing that has come out of all of this for me now is that because they found cancer in my ovary, I am now eligible to have a yearly PETSCAN of my whole body; this is something that was not offered to me back in 2008 when they could not find my primary cancer.  In hindsight though, I think it would have been a good idea, although even a CT scan of my whole body didn't pick it up back then either, so go figure!!!

    Also, I did ask my oncologist about having my ovaries removed about two years ago and she kept telling me it wasn't necessary and that they were keeping an eye on this via blood tests, etc...

    Thanks again and take care,

    Connie.

  • lutte's avatar
    lutte
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi

    I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2011, only after enlarged lymph nodes showed up in my left axilla. Like you no primary was ever found, however I was told that the cancer cells in my lymph nodes were definitely breast cancer cells typical of lobular breast cancer. I'm surprised they couldn't tell you what the cells were in your lymph nodes. I had chemo and radiation and in a couple of months I will have my ovaries removed  as a precaution even though they are clear at the moment. I have no breast cancer in my family, however my mother died from ovarian cancer at my age now. The ovary removal was recommended to me because of my mother's history and because there is a loose link between breast cancer and ovarian. What amazes me is the inconsistencies in how different doctors treat the same disease. Very confusing!

    All the best

    Janice