Hi everyone I'm back, would give anything to be someplace else though.

2Floridiansisters

I went for my yearly mammogram and sure enough they saw somwthing, went and had it biopsied and yesterday was told I have cancer again. Last time which was 5 years ago I had Invasive Lobular and DCIS this time I have Invasive Ductal crap. I went with a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation and surgery 5 years ago, now I have no idea what I can do. My doctor which is military is sending me to meet with the oncologist tomorrow, the same oncologist I had 5 years ago. Why.....what will he do for me, just automatically get me going on chemo again? Can anyone come and talk to me, what's your advice? I can't ever have radiation again on the same breast so readiation is out, so then what will they do....make me have a mastectomy this time around? How will my skin hold up, I though skin that's been radiated cannot have any surgeries after the fact cause the skin won't heal well, how would I have a double mastectomy now? I'm confused, is reconstruction out of the question for me at this point?

aisling8

Hello

Hello,

I don't have answers to your questions, just wanted to welcome you back though I, too, wish you were you just stopping by to say hi.

I think people have gone on to have mastectomies after prior lumpectomy and radiation. Sometimes, though, reconstruction is problematic after radiation. This is just stuff I've learned from reading lots of posts, and I'm sure your doctors will advise you well.

Keep us posted.

Big hug to you,

Victoria

Puffin2014

mastectomy after radiation

I have a friend who had lumpectomy/chemo/radiation for breast cancer 20 years ago. This past year her mammogram showed cancer again and she had a bilateral mastectomy and is having reconstruction surgery. It's been a slower recovery on her previous radiated side (went through an infection) but has been able to continue with the reconstructive process. She wants the 2 breasts to be even, so they're using the radiated breast as a guide when doing the fillings. When they've reached the limit of what that skin can handle, she'll stop.

2Floridiansisters

Thanks Victoria and Puffin,

Thanks Victoria and Puffin, I'm going to the oncologists in about 2 hours from now. I'm just sick with worry, didn't get any sleep at all, just when I thought all of this was behind me here comes the latest. Does the nightmare ever end?

2Floridiansisters

2Floridiansisters said:

Thanks Victoria and Puffin,

Thanks Victoria and Puffin, I'm going to the oncologists in about 2 hours from now. I'm just sick with worry, didn't get any sleep at all, just when I thought all of this was behind me here comes the latest. Does the nightmare ever end?

Puffin do you mind me asking

Puffin do you mind me asking how old is your friend, part of me thinks I should not even consider reconstruction since I'm 56, am I too old to bother> I am lost as to what to do. Thanks again.

cahjah75

2Floridiansisters said:

Puffin do you mind me asking

Puffin do you mind me asking how old is your friend, part of me thinks I should not even consider reconstruction since I'm 56, am I too old to bother> I am lost as to what to do. Thanks again.

Victoria

I just came back on CSN today.  I'm sorry to hear that you are now dealing with IDC.  I had double mastectomy at 61 with no reconstruction. My tumor was so large I had to have mastectomy on one breast (ILC) and I had LCIS in the other hence the double mastectomy.  My family history was a factor too.  Whether to have reconstruction is a personal choice.  I don't know about the radiation.  Wishing you answers and listen to what your surgeon recommends.

2Floridiansisters

cahjah75 said:

Victoria

I just came back on CSN today.  I'm sorry to hear that you are now dealing with IDC.  I had double mastectomy at 61 with no reconstruction. My tumor was so large I had to have mastectomy on one breast (ILC) and I had LCIS in the other hence the double mastectomy.  My family history was a factor too.  Whether to have reconstruction is a personal choice.  I don't know about the radiation.  Wishing you answers and listen to what your surgeon recommends.

Hello Cahjah I remember your

Hello Cahjah I remember your name from 5 years ago, because I also had the Invasive Lobular the first time around. Boy do I wish I were cancer free like you.  If I choose to do no reconstruction can I ask you how you felt? Like how long was it beofre you just didn't have any pain in your chest to deal with? Does clothing rubbing your skin bother you?

Nightmareshope

Hi

I just  wanted to say that i have cancer in the right breast and i was going to get radiation also but decided against it even thoguh my surgeon was pushing for it. at first i was just going to get a mastectomy on one breast and then after not being able to get the sides cleaned up i went with another surgeon who said he could do that.  so i decided for a mastectomy on both breasts. this is a recent decision as i was  diagnosed wtih cancer in july of 2015. i dont know if i will get reconstruction or not. i am also in my fifties and live alone and dont think it will be necessary as from what i understand you cant feel much after they get done with the reconstruction.. and it is strictly for me anyway not anyone else.. im sorry but i dont know that much about radiation except it was going to take a long time and hurt. so i opted out. i also have had already a lumptectomy and then the surgeon wanted to go back in and get what was a new diagnoses DCIS. so i said no to that also. one thing i know for sure is not to take anyone elses advise for your decision in my case..... i had like four different people telling me all different things to do.... good luck and i know you will make the right decision for yourself.

disneyfan2008

hugs
 
 
Denise

hugs

 

 

Denise

button2

So sorry to hear that your

So sorry to hear that your cancer is back. If I were you, I would get a mastectomy and be done with it. I got one on one side and now I don't have to get mammograms at all there. It's nice to know it can't come back. If I get anything on the "good" side, I would get another mastectomy and not bother with lumpectomy. I have a question, were you on any kind of drug like tamoxifen during these last 5 years? Good luck to you going forward, I'm confident they caught this early... hugs, Anna

TraciInLA

button2 said:

So sorry to hear that your

So sorry to hear that your cancer is back. If I were you, I would get a mastectomy and be done with it. I got one on one side and now I don't have to get mammograms at all there. It's nice to know it can't come back. If I get anything on the "good" side, I would get another mastectomy and not bother with lumpectomy. I have a question, were you on any kind of drug like tamoxifen during these last 5 years? Good luck to you going forward, I'm confident they caught this early... hugs, Anna

Mastectomy after radiation - my experience

I'm so sorry you're dealing with a recurrence.  It it helps, I'll share my experience:

6 years ago, I had bilateral lumpectomies, chemo, and radiation to both breasts.  8 months ago, after some genetic testing, I decided to have a double mastectomy.  I'm 46.

I was pretty certain I didn't want any reconstruction, but wanted to talk with a plastic surgeon, just to consider all my options.  My breast surgeon told me most plastic surgeons wouldn't even meet with me or consider reconstruction on me, because of my previous radiation.  Only one plastic surgeon in our area was willing to meet with me; he told me my only two options were 1) flap reconstruction, or 2) fat grafting.  He said implants were out of the question for radiated skin.  I'm sure surgeons have varying opinions on this, and my breast surgeon offered to send me for a 2nd opinion -- it just wasn't important to me.

I did not have any reconstruction, and I'm completely happy with my decision.  I "go flat" every day, everywhere, and am truly enjoying how easy and comfortable it is.  I had large breasts all my life, and now it's just delicious to never have to worry about wearing a bra again, to wear any kind of shirt or blouse I want.  So I don't have breasts, so what?  Some people don't have an arm or a leg, and they can't hide it -- why should I try to hide my flat chest?  

Of course, we all have different feelings about this, and I don't mean to imply that what's right for me is right for everyone -- this is just what's working for me.

Traci

 

2Floridiansisters

TraciInLA said:

Mastectomy after radiation - my experience

I'm so sorry you're dealing with a recurrence.  It it helps, I'll share my experience:

6 years ago, I had bilateral lumpectomies, chemo, and radiation to both breasts.  8 months ago, after some genetic testing, I decided to have a double mastectomy.  I'm 46.

I was pretty certain I didn't want any reconstruction, but wanted to talk with a plastic surgeon, just to consider all my options.  My breast surgeon told me most plastic surgeons wouldn't even meet with me or consider reconstruction on me, because of my previous radiation.  Only one plastic surgeon in our area was willing to meet with me; he told me my only two options were 1) flap reconstruction, or 2) fat grafting.  He said implants were out of the question for radiated skin.  I'm sure surgeons have varying opinions on this, and my breast surgeon offered to send me for a 2nd opinion -- it just wasn't important to me.

I did not have any reconstruction, and I'm completely happy with my decision.  I "go flat" every day, everywhere, and am truly enjoying how easy and comfortable it is.  I had large breasts all my life, and now it's just delicious to never have to worry about wearing a bra again, to wear any kind of shirt or blouse I want.  So I don't have breasts, so what?  Some people don't have an arm or a leg, and they can't hide it -- why should I try to hide my flat chest?  

Of course, we all have different feelings about this, and I don't mean to imply that what's right for me is right for everyone -- this is just what's working for me.

Traci

 

TraciInLA you were the very

TraciInLA you were the very first person that ever spoke to me on here all those years ago, so thanks so much for coming back again to speak with me. Well I went to the oncologist today and after meeting with him I'm feeling better somewhat, he gave me a prescription for Xanax so I stopped and got that filled. I haven't slept much since the news The military hospital was supposed to FAX him my latest info but they dropped the ball and didn't do taht so he could only go by what I told him today. My hemoglobin was really low so he's having me take iron and folic acid, now the fun part he's having me go have a colonoscopy next week and a pet scan then bt then he'll have my biopsy info and we take it from there. Thanks all of you for sharing with me your situations. I think I'll be going flat too, I never have sex anymore anyway so who cares whether or not I have breasts. Thanks agin everyone for now.

camul

bet you do wish you were anywhere else.
Good news it is confined to breast so you are able to have a mastectomy. That is what many of my friends have had to do. It is good to hear that you have been doing well these 5 years though. I too recognized your name right away. I wish you the best and keep us posted on what your onco suggests.
Hugs,
Carol

GlowMore

Puffin2014 said:

mastectomy after radiation

I have a friend who had lumpectomy/chemo/radiation for breast cancer 20 years ago. This past year her mammogram showed cancer again and she had a bilateral mastectomy and is having reconstruction surgery. It's been a slower recovery on her previous radiated side (went through an infection) but has been able to continue with the reconstructive process. She wants the 2 breasts to be even, so they're using the radiated breast as a guide when doing the fillings. When they've reached the limit of what that skin can handle, she'll stop.

Hey Puffin....20 years ago?

Your friend was NED for 20 years?  Could you please ask her if she was Negative or HER2 Positive?

Thanks, Glo

GlowMore

Well Damn

Just so sorry for your bad news...........sending you prayers for Strength & Courage...

Keep posting and let us know what is going on..........  Glo

Gm2873

Back

I had Stage II 20 years ago and opted for a mastectomy with flap reconstruction. I found a tumor in the other breast last October and was Stage IV with bone mets. I'm now NED after Taxotere, Herceptin, letrozole and zometa. This time around, I opted for a mastectomy with no reconstruction. I figured they'd have a hard time matching the "flap" on the other side, and I just didn't want to go through all that surgery. I also had chest wall radiation this time and radiation to the sacrum. I'm feeling great and plan on going another 20 years!

 

Gayle

Jean 0609

Sorry you are back my friend.

Sending hugs and loves my dear sweet Pink sister.  Good to hear from you, but sorry you had to come back here.

 

xoxo,

jean

 

 

VickiSam

Jean 0609 said:

Sorry you are back my friend.

Sending hugs and loves my dear sweet Pink sister.  Good to hear from you, but sorry you had to come back here.

 

xoxo,

jean

 

 

Welcome Back .. so sorry that you have to deal with

the beast again...  Gentle hugs -

Vicki Sam

LouisaP

VickiSam said:

Welcome Back .. so sorry that you have to deal with

the beast again...  Gentle hugs -

Vicki Sam

I'm having a RT mastectomy

I'm having a RT mastectomy next month. Ive just met with 2 plastic surgeons. Ive already had chemo but will be having radiation, maybe. They want me to but i'm not sure. Both surgeons recommended putting in expanders then a few months after radiation implants. So they can do it as long as your skins not bad. If the skin is too bad they can do the flap surgery. I cannot handle being flat. I am very large DDD so I;ll have a reduction on good side at same time as mastectomy & expanders. Then when implant put in he'll touch up good side as needed. For me this is the best. I'm 59 and not near the end of my sex life.

carkris

LouisaP said:

I'm having a RT mastectomy

I'm having a RT mastectomy next month. Ive just met with 2 plastic surgeons. Ive already had chemo but will be having radiation, maybe. They want me to but i'm not sure. Both surgeons recommended putting in expanders then a few months after radiation implants. So they can do it as long as your skins not bad. If the skin is too bad they can do the flap surgery. I cannot handle being flat. I am very large DDD so I;ll have a reduction on good side at same time as mastectomy & expanders. Then when implant put in he'll touch up good side as needed. For me this is the best. I'm 59 and not near the end of my sex life.

i was diagnosed in 1994 then

i was diagnosed in 1994 then had a local recurrence in 1995. i had a mastectmy because of DCIS that was making it impossible to get clear margins around the original tmor. Back then they did not test for her 2. and progesterone. onely estrogen pos or neg. My first one was estrogen neg. the one I had in 2009 was was estogen pos. progesterone pos and her 2 neg. I did not have reconstruction completed the first time because of the recurrence which required radiation. I always felt very lopsided so having the other other one actually felt better to be "even" if I could have had a sucessful reconsruction I would have done it but limited it to the simpler implants. didnt want to have a long recovery or complications. But when I entertained the idea I kind of wanted to have boobs again. the one thing though is that they dont have feeling . Anyway its is fine but i do miss my boobs except they tried to kill me.

bethsbaby

Sorry you are back

hi,  so sorry to read that you are deating with this again.  I too was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma in January 2011.  I opted to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction.  I ended up having three tumors , non of which ever showed on a mammogram.  I am sure they will be looking to see if it has spread, but would think that they would start some kind of chemo.  The good thing about that is they would be able to see if the chemo was working by watching new area on scans.    As far as reconstruction,  the radiated skin would probably be removed if you had a mastectomy.  They can do amazing things now with reconstruction.  I would suggest you check out the website www.Breastcancer.org. Their discussion boards are very specific and I am sure you could find some who are going thru the same thing you are.  I hope your next appointment is soon and they can answer your questions.  This may be a secondary cancer and not a recurrance ?  I don't know.  But will keep you in my prayers and hope things work out.