second time with breast cancer

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pelona
pelona Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I need to talk to someone that has had breast cancer more than one time. How did you feel the second time. I am very emotional and done feel like doing anything I love to do. I have one more chemo to go. Pelona

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  • aarabak
    aarabak Member Posts: 5
    #2
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    I have had breast cancer twice now. Once almost 5 years ago and then once a year ago. I finished chemo a year ago this coming March. It is hard to get back into the swing of things, but I am slowing beginning to return to my activies and find interests again. It was harder the second time. A
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #3
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    Hello, so sorry to hear the cancer has returned. Where is it this time?
    I was diagnosed 5 1/2 years ago and this insidious disease has popped it's head up 5 times. I'm beginning to feel like that little duck at the county fair. You know, the one that goes across in front of you. Shoot it and it turns around and goes back, shoot it again, well, you get the picture.
    All I know to tell you dear is that once diagnosed, always diagnosed.
    Remember these three things:
    you have to stay smarter than it is (research)
    eat more than it does (that's all cancer does is eat up energy, nutrition, etc...)
    and...
    never let it know you are afraid of it. If you fear it, then it will spread like wildfire.
    My first reaction, the first tme it came back was, "I really don't have time for this!"
    Hope some of this helps. If you need to, email me here at the site, and we will talk more.
    God bless.
    hummingbyrd
  • roxanne53
    roxanne53 Member Posts: 154
    #4
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    I had breast cancer twice, too.
    I must quote Hummingbyrd as they were the same words I used for second go of it "I don't have time for this!!"
    The first diagnosis DCIS required a mascetomy and no other treatments.

    Three years later on almost the same date of 1st Dx, I think at least within 24 hours of anniversary date the second dx showed its ugly face with Invasive lobular carcinoma, stage 3a.
    I was actually at the same hotel, same conference, and same everything for the 2nd dx.
    Thought provoking. Just beginning to feel good healthy again.(I thought anyway)
    Initially, was fearful because of the unknowns. Then you go on and start the treatments and keep on going forward.
    The second time, my treatments were mascetomy, chemo, radiation, and now the Arimedex medication.

    So now I have a bilateral mascetomy and see onclogoist quarterly and have blood work done.

    Take care knowing your are not alone with a second diagnosis.
    HUGS
    Roxanne53
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
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    Hello pelona.
    I am a two-time breast cancer survivor.
    In 1986 I had a radical mastectomy on the right side followed by 10 months of chemotherapy.
    Just about the time my hair came back, in 1988, I had a radical mastectomy on the left side followed by 10 months of chemo and 5 weeks of daily radiation.
    By this time I was so tired and discouraged that I could hardly function. However, here it is almost 20 years later since my first diagnosis and I am living and enjoying a normal life.
    It does get better. But you must be patient. When you finish you chemo, allow yourself to GRADUALLY get back into the kind of life you lead before. Don't rush it. Take baby steps. And when you are 20 years out you will be able to encourage someone else.
    God bless and keep you.
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #6
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    i had bc in 1990 and it returned, on the other side in 2004. i agree - it has been much harder to deal with the 2nd time around. i thought i was done with it and there it was again. when i went for the followup mammo in 2005 i had to have 2 areas biopsied - this was on the side that i had just finished treatment for, so i was a complete mess. biopsies turned out to be benign, so that was a HUGE relief. still messes with my mind, though. :-)

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