RECURRENCE OF BREAST CANCER AFTER BEING CANCER FREE 20 YEARS - ARE THERE OTHERS?

Kimmeal
Kimmeal Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have a recurrence of breast cancer after being cancer free for the past 20 years. I would like to hear from other women who might have a similar situation. I have two tumors. One is in vitu and another invasive, grade 3. If you are out there, I would love to get your support and learn of your wisdom.

Blessings,
Kim

Comments

  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #2
    Welcome Kim to the club no
    Welcome Kim to the club no one wants to join. I have not had a recurrence, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma also Grade 3 in June 2007. Have finished all treatments and am on Tamoxifen for 1 yr now. I am so sorry you have to fight the beast again, but know we are here to walk every step of the way with you and lend any support we can. Hugs and blessings to you too, Lili
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #3
    Hello Kim,

    I am so sorry you have to go through all of this again but I am sure glad you found us. This board is filled with some of the most caring, supportive and insightful folks I have ever met.

    I had a recurrance after being in remission for 10 years, I was a stage 2. I was given the results of the tests on Valentines day 2007 so it sticks in my head. The thing I found interesting was how much the treatments had improved in those 10 years. The chemo still made me ill, but less than it did before and there were other options to help with this.

    I wish you all the best in this most recent battle with cancer, know that we are here for you and will support you all the way!

    RE
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #4
    I am just finishing up
    I am just finishing up herceptin treatments after my first time. My Sister had a recurrence after one year...she was a sruvivor for 5 years after the recurrence. I am sorry that you are having to go through it all over again. I have heard repeatedly that treatment options have improved a lot over the years. I know they have changed even in the time between the end of my Sister's battle in '03 and my diagnosis in '07. I also know this site it a great place to come for the voices of experience, and I am sure you will hear from some who have been in a similar place in their journey.

    God bless, seof
  • Jmic7
    Jmic7 Member Posts: 1
    #5
    seof said:

    I am just finishing up
    I am just finishing up herceptin treatments after my first time. My Sister had a recurrence after one year...she was a sruvivor for 5 years after the recurrence. I am sorry that you are having to go through it all over again. I have heard repeatedly that treatment options have improved a lot over the years. I know they have changed even in the time between the end of my Sister's battle in '03 and my diagnosis in '07. I also know this site it a great place to come for the voices of experience, and I am sure you will hear from some who have been in a similar place in their journey.

    God bless, seof

    Cancer - Replay
    I had breast cancer 16 years ago in my left breast. Now it is in my right breast. Almost identical to 16 years ago. I was lucky once again! Just the radiation. I have just completed treatment number 25 and have 10 more to go.

    It is hard to hear that diagnosis again! God bless you all!

    Janet
  • Kimmeal
    Kimmeal Member Posts: 5
    #6
    mmontero38 said:

    Welcome Kim to the club no
    Welcome Kim to the club no one wants to join. I have not had a recurrence, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma also Grade 3 in June 2007. Have finished all treatments and am on Tamoxifen for 1 yr now. I am so sorry you have to fight the beast again, but know we are here to walk every step of the way with you and lend any support we can. Hugs and blessings to you too, Lili

    THANK YOU
    Dear Lili:

    Thank you so much for responding to my query. I felt that I was the only one who had experienced a recurrence and that no one would reply. I am so glad that you are doing well. It is my prayer that you will NEVER have to journey down this road, but once! I am grateful to know that there is a place to seek advice and companionship. You will be in my prayers.

    Blessings, love, and lots of hugs,
    Kim
  • Kimmeal
    Kimmeal Member Posts: 5
    #7
    RE said:

    Hello Kim,

    I am so sorry you have to go through all of this again but I am sure glad you found us. This board is filled with some of the most caring, supportive and insightful folks I have ever met.

    I had a recurrance after being in remission for 10 years, I was a stage 2. I was given the results of the tests on Valentines day 2007 so it sticks in my head. The thing I found interesting was how much the treatments had improved in those 10 years. The chemo still made me ill, but less than it did before and there were other options to help with this.

    I wish you all the best in this most recent battle with cancer, know that we are here for you and will support you all the way!

    RE

    THANK YOU RE
    Hi Re:

    Thanks so much for your message. I was first diagnosed in 1988 when I was 31. I am so glad to know that at 52, there are far more advance medical treatments. Wow, on Valentine's Day. After 10 years, I am sure that you, like me, never thought that it would return. It is still somewhat surreal to me. I feel fine but on Feb. 23, my life will change completely when I have surgery and then begin chemo.

    Stay strong. It is my prayer that in the next 20 years, there will be a cure!

    Blessings, love, and lots of hugs,
    Kim
  • Kimmeal
    Kimmeal Member Posts: 5
    #8
    seof said:

    I am just finishing up
    I am just finishing up herceptin treatments after my first time. My Sister had a recurrence after one year...she was a sruvivor for 5 years after the recurrence. I am sorry that you are having to go through it all over again. I have heard repeatedly that treatment options have improved a lot over the years. I know they have changed even in the time between the end of my Sister's battle in '03 and my diagnosis in '07. I also know this site it a great place to come for the voices of experience, and I am sure you will hear from some who have been in a similar place in their journey.

    God bless, seof

    THANK YOU SEOF
    Dear Seof:

    Thank you for responding. The more I read the responses to my query, the more I am inspired by each and everyone of you. I can only hope and pray that after my surgery and the beginning of my treatments that I can stand as tall as you. Thank you for sharing your story and that of your sister. God bless you. I will hold you in my prayers.

    Blessing, love, and lots of hugs,
    Kim
  • Kimmeal
    Kimmeal Member Posts: 5
    #9
    Jmic7 said:

    Cancer - Replay
    I had breast cancer 16 years ago in my left breast. Now it is in my right breast. Almost identical to 16 years ago. I was lucky once again! Just the radiation. I have just completed treatment number 25 and have 10 more to go.

    It is hard to hear that diagnosis again! God bless you all!

    Janet

    THANK YOU FOR SHARING
    Dear Janet:

    I am so glad to know that your cancer was caught in time. I, however, hate that you, like me, have yet another battle. The blessing, however, is that yours was caught in time. That is something to rejoice about. God bless you. Be strong and I will keep you in my prayers.

    Blessings, love, and lots of hugs,
    Kim
  • marie747
    marie747 Member Posts: 4
    #10
    twice in 8 years
    sorry to hear after 20 years. this my 2nd in 8. this time its on the left breast. one tumer, just had a lumectomy with nodes out. they called to let me no that my nodes were clear,but they have to go back in to clean the "marg" in two weeks from now. I just found this site and its good to have youll be in my prayers. oh after i go back in for the next opp, then find out how may treatments i get. last time it was agrasive with aderimayacine and 2 other meds for my chemo for 6 months and 32 days of rad. i know i didnt spell that word right.But good to know you can only get that med once in your life -aderim??- that was pretty hard but heck i made it befor.just fight kim fight you have the right and you seem strong may
    GOD bless you....marie
  • deb2001
    deb2001 Member Posts: 23
    #11
    Mine is bck after only 2
    Mine is bck after only 2 years! Mets to lungs and bones!

    Be strong!
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #12
    Hi Kim
    Yes, I had a recurrence in my other breast this year, after 23 years of being cancer free. It just goes to show, You can NEVER let your guard down. I had a lumpectomy and am now in radiation treatments. I have to have 37 of them. Then, take tamoxifen for 5 years. I didn't know if many women were repeats like me. Even though I was glad to read about some of you, it makes me sad that there are some of you. Hope that makes sense..........
  • ohilly
    ohilly Member Posts: 441
    #13
    Jeanne D said:

    Hi Kim
    Yes, I had a recurrence in my other breast this year, after 23 years of being cancer free. It just goes to show, You can NEVER let your guard down. I had a lumpectomy and am now in radiation treatments. I have to have 37 of them. Then, take tamoxifen for 5 years. I didn't know if many women were repeats like me. Even though I was glad to read about some of you, it makes me sad that there are some of you. Hope that makes sense..........

    we're in this together
    I'm too new to have had a recurrence (diagnosed January of last year, BRCA positive) but I just wanted you to know my thoughts are with you.

    You're going to beat it!

    Ohilly
  • ohlaura
    ohlaura Member Posts: 4
    #14
    I was free for 16 years and got it again and now I'm post 5 years on the second. I'm off all the chemo and treatments. Having some immune deficency problems. I guess you are never done with it, I'm post for 3 months, insomnia, thrush, painful muscles, but glad to be alive and able to work in my garden and yard. It is hard, but survivable (if that is a word). Good luck and God's blessings.
  • shalomzoe
    shalomzoe Member Posts: 3
    #15
    ohlaura said:

    I was free for 16 years and got it again and now I'm post 5 years on the second. I'm off all the chemo and treatments. Having some immune deficency problems. I guess you are never done with it, I'm post for 3 months, insomnia, thrush, painful muscles, but glad to be alive and able to work in my garden and yard. It is hard, but survivable (if that is a word). Good luck and God's blessings.

    3rd time reOccurance after 19 years
    Hi Kim
    Be encouraged and stay strong! I had bc for the first time in 1985 at the age of 27, had a lumectomy all the lymph nodes removed, and 30 rounds of radiation. In 1987 a reoccurance same breast under the scar had the breast removed and no treatments. Then in 2008 a third time totally new bc in the other breast had a lumpectomy, 6 nodes removed all clear chose not to have any treatments. Now I have decided to have the other breast removed and have reconstructive surgery for the tram flap. I am scheduled for surgery on the 22nd of April I am so looking forward to it as weird as that may sound. So if I can pass all of the tests I will be going through with it on the 22nd ...

    Just a word of encouragment not to focus on the cancer ... but on living and loving life and those around you ... I too am glad that you found this site ...

    Know that God has blessed you!
    Donna
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #16
    shalomzoe said:

    3rd time reOccurance after 19 years
    Hi Kim
    Be encouraged and stay strong! I had bc for the first time in 1985 at the age of 27, had a lumectomy all the lymph nodes removed, and 30 rounds of radiation. In 1987 a reoccurance same breast under the scar had the breast removed and no treatments. Then in 2008 a third time totally new bc in the other breast had a lumpectomy, 6 nodes removed all clear chose not to have any treatments. Now I have decided to have the other breast removed and have reconstructive surgery for the tram flap. I am scheduled for surgery on the 22nd of April I am so looking forward to it as weird as that may sound. So if I can pass all of the tests I will be going through with it on the 22nd ...

    Just a word of encouragment not to focus on the cancer ... but on living and loving life and those around you ... I too am glad that you found this site ...

    Know that God has blessed you!
    Donna

    Donna
    I wish you all the best and pray that you have a speedy recovery after your surgery. It saddened me to see so many like me that had breast cancer, had it return. I was 23 years clean and POW..it came back this year. I never dreamed that it would come back 3 times, let alone twice until I had this recurrence. You seem to have a positive attitude and a great outlook. I envy you for that! Let us know how you do please!
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #17
    This is my second time too
    This is my second time too with breast cancer. The doctor's say it is a new cancer, not the old one coming back, but, it is still hard to take. It is like you spend the rest of your life just waiting and watching for where and when it will come back. Sad..isn't it?
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #18
    Twice here too :(
    When you first find out that it is back, you feel like you are the only person that this has happened to. It is so devastating. After so many years, you feel like you are "safe". But, you are never safe as I and apparently these other women have found. Always do self exams, get your mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI's, anything that you can to catch it early if it comes back. I just pray that they find a cure for this. With all of the money they get, one would think they would by now.
  • candican
    candican Member Posts: 24
    #19
    Sorry For You
    I am sorry that your cancer has come back. I can't imagine how you are feeling now. Just remember that God Is Able. Keep the faith.

    I have been trying to decided for about a year now whether or not I should go with another mastectomy to my right breast after my tissue explander be removedin April or this year. Now I am 100% sure I will.

    My Oncologist told me that after each year, breast cancer stands a chance of returning back 2% of each year in the other breast after one breast is removed. Each year the percentage is greater.

    I will be praying for you.

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