Recurrance

mom62
mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi,

I had chest pain for quite a while and had all kinds of tests. I just found out on Wednesday that I have recurring breast cancer. I was 5 years out, thought I had made it. I had a masectomy over 5 years ago and chemo. I will be doing radiation and hormone therapy. I am so angry and afraid. I have three kids and I want to see them grow up. Just had to vent thanks for listing.
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Comments

  • ritazimm
    ritazimm Member Posts: 171
    Sorry
    I'm so sorry to hear your news. I can't imagine how disappointed you are. I'm thinking that once a person gets five years out.........they are starting to think tha they have safely made it! I know that there is nothing that can be said to make you feel better, but just know that we are all here for you and that we will help you through the fight ahead!

    God bless! You'll be in my prayers!
    Rita
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    I'm very sorry......
    I'm very sorry for your recurrence. What a crappy thing to have happen.
    I think we all worry about it happening. I know I do. I'm not sure how I would take it but I do know that I would not be happy about it!!!

    I'm glad that you came to vent. It helps to let off steam. And I know that there are others here who have had recurrence. I'm sure that they will post here.

    Big hugs,

    CR
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    ritazimm said:

    Sorry
    I'm so sorry to hear your news. I can't imagine how disappointed you are. I'm thinking that once a person gets five years out.........they are starting to think tha they have safely made it! I know that there is nothing that can be said to make you feel better, but just know that we are all here for you and that we will help you through the fight ahead!

    God bless! You'll be in my prayers!
    Rita

    I am so sorry this is
    I am so sorry this is happening to you. I would have thought after 5 years, that you would be in the safe zone. I myself am just starting this journey. I wish you the best and my prayers are with you
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    Mom62... you come here and
    Mom62... you come here and vent any time you need or want to. We are all here for you... I am so very sorry that you are traveling down this road after being almost to the five year marker.. that must have come as such a shock...These people are inspiring, with a lot of hope, kindness, understanding and wisdom... (I am just starting this journey and have found a wealth of comfort here)... You are in my prayers.....and sending you a hug!

    ~T
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    Hi Mom, welcome and so sorry
    Hi Mom, welcome and so sorry you have had a recurrence. I certainly can understand your anger. Was your first bc ER neg? I was just wondering why they didn't put you on hormone blockers in the first place.

    There are more powerful chemo's now for bc then were in standard use 5 years ago, I was wondering why you weren't getting them.

    Good luck to you with your radiation and be sure to come back again for whatever you need even if it's just to vent.

    hugs
    jan
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    HUGS
    Hello Mom62, Welcome to the bc board however I am sorry you had to find us. I have had recurrances and understand your shock and fear. I too was becoming pretty sure it was behind me when it reared its ugly head. It is no fun to have to fight it again, but it is doable! We are here for you, come and ask questions or vent anytime you feel the need.

    Big Hugs,

    RE
  • arbojenn
    arbojenn Member Posts: 118
    So sorry!
    I am so sorry about your bad news! You probably are in still that "waiting for all the lab results" to come back yet, too!

    Keep positive! Do you know your hormone receptor status yet? Things have changed so much in breast cancer treatment in the last few years! (I have recurrent,too, after ten years out. Mastectomy, chemo and hormone treatments for six years after. Then, BOOM! Its back. It does take you by surprise and make you want to scream some not so nice words.)

    Please let us know when your team shares your options with you and the ones you choose. There are a lot of options, now. That doesn't make it easier to bear, but it does give you hope. All those walks we went on for research funding are paying off now! You are going to get through this, day by day! And vent away! (I let loose with some of those words when I am in the shower. It helps to get those demons out!)

    Have you told your children? How are they coping?
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    Hang in there.....
    So sorry to hear your news. I'm not sure how I would react if this happened to me but I bet it would be the same as you are going thru. Keep us posted & updated and come here any time you need to.....there is always someone here 24/7. :) Pammy
  • klayfield
    klayfield Member Posts: 9
    BEWARE, BE VERY AWARE
    My breast cancer reoccurred after a 13 year disease free interval. When I was first diagnosed several physician friends of mine said, it's not a matter of if it will return, but when. I don't mean to be negative, my message is, if you have had breast cancer, stay the course, ALWAYS be under the care of an oncologist, even if you only see them once a year. Once you have breast cancer, you have lost the priviledge of ingoring pain. If you have pain that is not relieved, seek medical assistance, from an oncologist.
    My diagnosis was delayed over a year because I trusted my family physician, she knew I'd had breast cancer, and so when I started having problems, and pain, I said to her, as long as it's not cancer, I'm OK, I should have insisted on a referral to an oncologist...but I trusted her...bad decision.....so many lessons to learn, that's what this site is for, to learn from all those who have gone before, are there now, and to influence our friends and family who could start this journey at the drop of a hat....
  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member

    Hi Mom, welcome and so sorry
    Hi Mom, welcome and so sorry you have had a recurrence. I certainly can understand your anger. Was your first bc ER neg? I was just wondering why they didn't put you on hormone blockers in the first place.

    There are more powerful chemo's now for bc then were in standard use 5 years ago, I was wondering why you weren't getting them.

    Good luck to you with your radiation and be sure to come back again for whatever you need even if it's just to vent.

    hugs
    jan

    I have been on tamoxafin
    I have been on tamoxafin since I got off chemo. I guess it doesn't work for me. They are going to do radiation and I'm getting shots to shut down my ovaries. I didn't have radiation after my first bout with bc so they are using it now. My oncologist doesn't think I'll need chemo. My first bc was er+. Thanks for your thoughts.

    Terry
  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    RE said:

    HUGS
    Hello Mom62, Welcome to the bc board however I am sorry you had to find us. I have had recurrances and understand your shock and fear. I too was becoming pretty sure it was behind me when it reared its ugly head. It is no fun to have to fight it again, but it is doable! We are here for you, come and ask questions or vent anytime you feel the need.

    Big Hugs,

    RE

    I'm ready to fight. Just
    I'm ready to fight. Just really feeling low. I mostly worry about my kids as I take care of everything around the household. I'm a control freak and it really bugs me when I can't be in control.
  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    taleena said:

    Mom62... you come here and
    Mom62... you come here and vent any time you need or want to. We are all here for you... I am so very sorry that you are traveling down this road after being almost to the five year marker.. that must have come as such a shock...These people are inspiring, with a lot of hope, kindness, understanding and wisdom... (I am just starting this journey and have found a wealth of comfort here)... You are in my prayers.....and sending you a hug!

    ~T

    Sorry to hear you are just
    Sorry to hear you are just starting this journey. It's not one I'd wish on anyone. It is an eyeopener to life though. You will certainly find out who your friends are and how wonderful they can be. I wish you well on your journey and if you need anything please let me know. Been there, done that..........
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    I am so sorry too mom62. I
    I am so sorry too mom62. I know we all try to get to that 5 year and think we are maybe, kind of ok, but, I guess we aren't. And, I guess you just proved too that a mastectomy doesn't mean you can't get bc again. I think some think it can't happen to patients with mastectomys and my oncologist told me it can. You still have breast tissue, so, anyone that has had bc, needs to be alert. Well, so sorry again and I will certainly pray for your good health.
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    mom62 said:

    Sorry to hear you are just
    Sorry to hear you are just starting this journey. It's not one I'd wish on anyone. It is an eyeopener to life though. You will certainly find out who your friends are and how wonderful they can be. I wish you well on your journey and if you need anything please let me know. Been there, done that..........

    Thank you... But I want to
    Thank you... But I want to let you know that I'm here for you too.... getting through this will all of you has been a real source of strength for me... even though I do have my moments of just wanting to ignor it... or becoming a blubering fool.
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    klayfield said:

    BEWARE, BE VERY AWARE
    My breast cancer reoccurred after a 13 year disease free interval. When I was first diagnosed several physician friends of mine said, it's not a matter of if it will return, but when. I don't mean to be negative, my message is, if you have had breast cancer, stay the course, ALWAYS be under the care of an oncologist, even if you only see them once a year. Once you have breast cancer, you have lost the priviledge of ingoring pain. If you have pain that is not relieved, seek medical assistance, from an oncologist.
    My diagnosis was delayed over a year because I trusted my family physician, she knew I'd had breast cancer, and so when I started having problems, and pain, I said to her, as long as it's not cancer, I'm OK, I should have insisted on a referral to an oncologist...but I trusted her...bad decision.....so many lessons to learn, that's what this site is for, to learn from all those who have gone before, are there now, and to influence our friends and family who could start this journey at the drop of a hat....

    I wish you all the best.
    I wish you all the best. But, after reading these posts, it certainly scares me. It is like

    you said, WHEN will it come back. :(
  • sunnygirl
    sunnygirl Member Posts: 57 Member
    klayfield said:

    BEWARE, BE VERY AWARE
    My breast cancer reoccurred after a 13 year disease free interval. When I was first diagnosed several physician friends of mine said, it's not a matter of if it will return, but when. I don't mean to be negative, my message is, if you have had breast cancer, stay the course, ALWAYS be under the care of an oncologist, even if you only see them once a year. Once you have breast cancer, you have lost the priviledge of ingoring pain. If you have pain that is not relieved, seek medical assistance, from an oncologist.
    My diagnosis was delayed over a year because I trusted my family physician, she knew I'd had breast cancer, and so when I started having problems, and pain, I said to her, as long as it's not cancer, I'm OK, I should have insisted on a referral to an oncologist...but I trusted her...bad decision.....so many lessons to learn, that's what this site is for, to learn from all those who have gone before, are there now, and to influence our friends and family who could start this journey at the drop of a hat....

    I guess I'm uninformed, but I was not aware of the "not a matter of IF it will return, but When" matter. That scares the #*#** out of me. I just finished chemo and was feeling pretty upbeat!! Not so much now. Cheryl
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    sunnygirl said:

    I guess I'm uninformed, but I was not aware of the "not a matter of IF it will return, but When" matter. That scares the #*#** out of me. I just finished chemo and was feeling pretty upbeat!! Not so much now. Cheryl

    Is this true. Just when it
    Is this true. Just when it will come back. This scares me to. I had not thought about the when, because I haven't gone though the beginning yet. Just the surgery. This is another reality check.
  • klayfield
    klayfield Member Posts: 9
    Be of gentle mind but be aware
    There are many people who do NOT have a reoccurence, and there are many more than people realize that do. Physicians are probably the most skeptical people in the world, hence the attitude of it's just a matter of time. I spent the first 5 years after the original diagnosis scared spitless, the next 5 years just moderately so, after 10 years I became complacent, I was cured....
    This is NOT to scare you, it is to save your life....Once it comes back, basically it's incurable...Again early detection is your best defense...I don't think any of us that have had a reoccurence did anything to cause it, it just happened, so don't live your life in fear of cancer, but don't live your life like you never had it....it's like having a chronic disease, there's a certain amount of maintenance that needs to be done.....
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    I am sorry Mom62. This is
    I am sorry Mom62. This is horrible what is happening to you, and, just not fair. I, like most, thought that 5 years out was good, but, I guess it isn't, which is so scary. And, you vent whenever you want. That's why we are here! Prayers with you!
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    sunnygirl said:

    I guess I'm uninformed, but I was not aware of the "not a matter of IF it will return, but When" matter. That scares the #*#** out of me. I just finished chemo and was feeling pretty upbeat!! Not so much now. Cheryl

    So sorry about the
    So sorry about the recurrence. This scares me too. I guess, it always comes back?