Has anyone else experienced this?

roxysmom
roxysmom Member Posts: 2
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum, and I've been wanting to join a support group for a while.  I'm glad I found you.

Seventeen years ago I was diagnosed with TNBC, stage II, growing at fifty percent.  I had a lumpectomy, lymph node dissection (2 involved) six rounds of Adriamycin and four weeks of radiation.  All was well until November of 2012 when I was diagnosed with TNBC again (not a recurrence), Stage 1, growing at an alarming rate of 90 percent.  This time I had bilateral mastectomies and I am currently going through chemo, Cytoxan and Taxotere, and will have my last of four treatments April 8th, then reconstruction.

I've had the BRCA tests done and I'm negative, though I will still consult a doctor about ovary removal because so much research is still in the works on gene testing, and I feel at risk.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you! 

Comments

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #2
    No I have

    not experienced this, but just wanted to welcome you to the board.  This is a really good group, very supportive and hopefully someone  that tnbc people will chime in. 

    Best to you,

    Carol

  • lauragian
    lauragian Member Posts: 5 Member
    #3
    Yes

    Hi - I had a stage 1 in 2004, lumpectomy with radiation.  All was fine until 2011, when another tumor was found that, like you, was also not a recurrence, although it was in the same breast.   I recall one of my doctors speculating that it is possible that the radiation did not get "all" the cells that were cancerous in 2004.  My first tumor was a grade 1 (slower growing), but my 2nd one was a grade 3 (fastest growing).  I was very surprised that another turmor grew, especially since the breast had been radiated.  As a matter of fact, I never felt the second lump because my radiated breast was firm and lumpy anyhow.  I had a mastectomy and at the same time a DIEP flap, which failed.  I then had chemo, then a 2nd attempt at reconstruction which was successful!  I just had some fat grafting for my new breast yesterday and am recuperating from that.

     

    I hope you are able to find others in your community to connect with and support what you are going through.

     

    God bless you,

    Laura

  • lauragian
    lauragian Member Posts: 5 Member
    #4
    Yes

    Hi - I had a stage 1 in 2004, lumpectomy with radiation.  All was fine until 2011, when another tumor was found that, like you, was also not a recurrence, although it was in the same breast.   I recall one of my doctors speculating that it is possible that the radiation did not get "all" the cells that were cancerous in 2004.  My first tumor was a grade 1 (slower growing), but my 2nd one was a grade 3 (fastest growing).  I was very surprised that another turmor grew, especially since the breast had been radiated.  As a matter of fact, I never felt the second lump because my radiated breast was firm and lumpy anyhow.  I had a mastectomy and at the same time a DIEP flap, which failed.  I then had chemo, then a 2nd attempt at reconstruction which was successful!  I just had some fat grafting for my new breast yesterday and am recuperating from that.

     

    I hope you are able to find others in your community to connect with and support what you are going through.

     

    God bless you,

    Laura

  • roxysmom
    roxysmom Member Posts: 2
    #5
    lauragian said:

    Yes

    Hi - I had a stage 1 in 2004, lumpectomy with radiation.  All was fine until 2011, when another tumor was found that, like you, was also not a recurrence, although it was in the same breast.   I recall one of my doctors speculating that it is possible that the radiation did not get "all" the cells that were cancerous in 2004.  My first tumor was a grade 1 (slower growing), but my 2nd one was a grade 3 (fastest growing).  I was very surprised that another turmor grew, especially since the breast had been radiated.  As a matter of fact, I never felt the second lump because my radiated breast was firm and lumpy anyhow.  I had a mastectomy and at the same time a DIEP flap, which failed.  I then had chemo, then a 2nd attempt at reconstruction which was successful!  I just had some fat grafting for my new breast yesterday and am recuperating from that.

     

    I hope you are able to find others in your community to connect with and support what you are going through.

     

    God bless you,

    Laura

    Thank you Carol and Laura!

    Thank you Carol for reaching out and giving support.  I really appreciate it!  Smile

     

    Hi Laura,  It's a strange thing to say, but it's good to know someone else has been through this.  I'm so glad you"re doing well, and that the second reconstruction worked!  Mine too was in the same breast, though nowhere close to the first tumor, though there was a little speculation that some cells may have remained, but 17 years seems like a long time.  Who knows?  There's still so much we don't know about BC.  When I spoke with my PS, she said she would try to reconstruct with an expander in the radiated breast, but if it looked like it wasn't going to work, she would have to do a flap instead.  She also said it may not be as immediate and obvious as that, and in that case, we would have to watch to see how my skin reacted over time.  Why did your flap fail?  And what was done differently that the second attempt was successful?  I hope you're recuperating comfortably and happy with the results.

    Blessings,

    Linda 

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #6
    camul said:

    No I have

    not experienced this, but just wanted to welcome you to the board.  This is a really good group, very supportive and hopefully someone  that tnbc people will chime in. 

    Best to you,

    Carol

    I have not experienced this

    I have not experienced this either.  I did want to say hello to you and welcome!  I hope that more pink sisters can post a reply to you inre to this.

    Hugs, Debby

  • dgzlz
    dgzlz Member Posts: 1
    #7
    TNBC

    I am new to all of this, but I was diagnosed with stage 2 TNBC last September and went through lumpectomy, lymph node dissection (they took 7) and 35 radiation treatments. Radiation ended January 29th.  I am hopeful that they got it all and can leave that traumatic experience in the past.  Sorry to hear that you had to go through all of that again and that the reconstruction goes well.

     

  • muffingranma
    muffingranma Member Posts: 107
    #8
    lumpectomy

    I had cancer back in 20005 They done a lumpectomy and took one lymph node and I did radiation treatments. Everything was ok until August 2012 when it looked like I had a bruise on my breast in two places , I knew I never hurt myself. I decided to call my cancer doctor, he sent me for a mammogram. nothing showed up on it. But she said let the doctor here look at it. The doctor looked at it and said I had radiation cancer. It doesn't show up on mamograms or blood test, but it is in your blood cells. They done a biopsy it came back positive Its Angiosarcoma.  They said I had less than two years to live. It is rare few people get it. you can't get rid of it. I had four surgery's one was a mastectomy. It has been horrible to much to write. I am doing radiation again. So I have had cancer some years a part. I pray all goes well for you. Just check your breast for whhat looks like brusies that won't go away and gets dark, If you do, have it checked.

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