Second time round

Hi Viv, lovely to hear from you. I think I am more fearful this time than last time because it is back after only 3 yrs. I coped really well the first time, after the initial shock, but I feel more depressed this time, and scared. I guess it is still early days, only 2 weeks since I knew it had come back and in that time I have had 2 ops so maybe I am being a bit harsh on myself. I am trying to be healthier now, drinking green juice, listening to my body, resting when I need to. But my job is very stressful and I am worried how I will cope when I go back in a few weeks. I am not in a position financially to stop working or take a lesser paying job. So this scares me too. I feel like I am being very negative this time round, which isn't like me, hopefully I can turn the corner and find my fighting spirit again, which I know is in there somewhere. Once I have been back to my oncologist in 2 weeks and know which treatment I am having I might feel more positive. She did say it is most likely to be changing to another drug (she has taken me off the tamoxifen) and that I shouldn't need chemo this time. I can't have more radiotherapy in the same area so that's not an option. Thank you to everyone for your support xx

Hi Jenny, can't help you on the ovaries, but I have had a recurrence. First time I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy but no chemo. Eleven years later I had a recurrence in the scar tissue from the lumpectomy and in one lymph node, so I had a mastectomy and reconstruction in November last year and chemo that finished in May. Now on letrozole. In many ways I found the second time easier to deal with, after the initial shock, anger, fear etc settled, even though it was my first chemo experience. I knew the ropes generally and had a heap of breast cancer survivor friends through my dragon boat team, whereas first time round I knew no one with cancer so really thought it was a death sentence. I feel like there has been less challenge to my sense of who I am this second time, as I have already got used to being a person who has had cancer. Unlike Tonya, I changed my life around massively after the first time, and this second time I am just keen to get back to the 'new normal' life I built over the last 12 years. So as with all bc things, we all seem to react differently. I hope it all goes well for you. Viv

I am glad your dr is proactive and has ordered that test. It's so hard not to worry...but stayng busy does help. Wishing you all the best. Paula

I didn't know this about the liver and tamoxifen Jandy.Thanks for posting it.Try not to worry Tonya until you find out things for sure.:) xoxRobyn

Hi Tonya. Tamoxifen can have a deleterious effect on the liver making it fatty and less effiecient similar, as I understand it, to what happens when people drink too much alcohol or eat a very fatty diet.. Some people theorise that the fatty liver casused by tamoxifen could be the resason that many women gain weight when taking it. From what I've read you can counteract it to some extent by healthy eating and exercise. And it is yet another reason we should avoid alcohol. You probably know all this. I just thought I would mention it as a possible reason your liver enzymes are slightly abnormal.  Good luck. I hope everything is okay.

PS Good luck Jenny . I hope everything goes smoothly for you too.

 

Sorry to hear you've had a recurrence-what a bugger! But it seems you've caught it early (and it's same pathology as the last one)and so it will be classed as early breast cancer again.Wow,what are the odds of getting cancer on your scar line after a mastectomy-1%? I had a recurrence 4 years ago.My first bc was in 2003 and I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and radiation.mine too was oestrogen +ve and I took Tamoxifen for awhile but it drove me nuts so I stopped it. I was 47 at the time and peri menopausal.I got bc back in the same spot 7 years later- my odds were 8%.It hadn't spread so had a mastectomy and chemo and then Tamoxifen.I've been ok for over 4 years now.I was in disbelief/angry at first but then quickly jumped into battle mode.And yes,you kinda know the drill this time.I suppose I was so relieved it hadn't spread but it makes you wonder how on earth a few cancer cells can survive the treatments and sprout again years later.After I got over the second bout of bc,I decided to make changes and de stress my life.With the first bc,I just wanted to get back to "normal"life and after a few years I felt confident that it was a "one off".So with the second bout,the rug was pulled well and truly from under me.I wasn't the same and I needed to adjust my life to accommodate the possibility that bc could strike again.In some ways I'm mentally stronger and I can put the bc threat to the back of my mind.But when it comes time for check ups I can get abit anxious.And because I've had bc,my doctors err on the safe side and order extra tests.This week I'm going for an abdominal ultrasound because one of my liver enzyme blood tests was slightly elevated.It's probably nothing but I've already made the leap to liver cancer! I will just try and stay busy.I don't know about ovary removal but I guess if you get a thorough explanation as to the "fors"then you should to consider it. You will be ok Jenny cos it's early bc again.You will do whatever you have to do to be safe again.I'm thinking of you and sending you pink sister strength,support and hugs. Love,Tonya xx