recurrent diagnosis: just 3 weeks ago

Calaudian
Calaudian Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I was just diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer in my right breast. I had a lumpectomy and radiation 6 years ago. It is now an infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

I am scheduled for a mastectomy and reconstruction (with the DIEP procedure) on Sep 24. There is no metastatis as seen on a Petscan.

I will be getting chemo and Herceptin.

Is there any advice anyone can give me? How are you doing now? How about wigs? Pain?

Thank you so much in advance for taking the time to read this message!

In Peace,
Christine
«1

Comments

  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #2
    I am not sure how much help
    I am not sure how much help I can be but I wanted to welcome you and tell you someone will be able to give you answers. I did not have a mastectomy, I had lumpectomy followed by 4 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxin I am in week 5 of rads so nearly done with them. I just started taking tamoxifen. I did well through chemo, mainly just tired no sickness. The American Cancer Society has wigs they will give you. I also ordered one from tlc.com. I have not really worn mine much. I am in Texas and it has been so hot here I stick mainly with bandanas. Sorry I cannot be of more help but I know someone will. God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #3
    Boppy_of_6 said:

    I am not sure how much help
    I am not sure how much help I can be but I wanted to welcome you and tell you someone will be able to give you answers. I did not have a mastectomy, I had lumpectomy followed by 4 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxin I am in week 5 of rads so nearly done with them. I just started taking tamoxifen. I did well through chemo, mainly just tired no sickness. The American Cancer Society has wigs they will give you. I also ordered one from tlc.com. I have not really worn mine much. I am in Texas and it has been so hot here I stick mainly with bandanas. Sorry I cannot be of more help but I know someone will. God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice

    I am so sorry Christine that
    I am so sorry Christine that you had a recurrence. I want to welcome you also and I hope you will find lots of support, faith and encouragement from all of us.

    If you have questions, just ask and many will respond to you.


    Wishing you luck with your surgery and sending prayers to you.


    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #4
    susie09 said:

    I am so sorry Christine that
    I am so sorry Christine that you had a recurrence. I want to welcome you also and I hope you will find lots of support, faith and encouragement from all of us.

    If you have questions, just ask and many will respond to you.


    Wishing you luck with your surgery and sending prayers to you.


    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣

    Hi Christine! I also am
    Hi Christine! I also am very sorry that your bc came back. I had a lumpectomy followed by rads last year and I am doing very well.

    You might check out the post in capital letters titled HELPFUL WEB SITES on here. There are a lot of good sites offering free stuff for chemo patients.

    Sending hugs,

    Jan
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #5
    survivorbc09 said:

    Hi Christine! I also am
    Hi Christine! I also am very sorry that your bc came back. I had a lumpectomy followed by rads last year and I am doing very well.

    You might check out the post in capital letters titled HELPFUL WEB SITES on here. There are a lot of good sites offering free stuff for chemo patients.

    Sending hugs,

    Jan

    I want to say hello and
    I want to say hello and welcome you to the best site there is Christine, though sorry that you are here because of a recurrence.

    There are several on here now with recurrences and it is always so sad to read about them, but, we all know it is a possibility.

    I will pray for you and hope you keep updating us.


    Hugs, Megan
  • 2Floridiansisters
    2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
    #6
    HI Christine
    I am sorry to read you are experiencing a reccurrance, I will keep you in my prayers. I just finished my chemo treatments today, it wasn't bad at all, at least not for me, I am now moving on to getting a lumpectomy and then radiation after that will follow. I can't offer you any advice for the mastectomy, other then I wish you well. I do not wear a wig, it's too hot for one, I wear bandanas wherever I go. I buy them at Walmart for $1.00 each.
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #7
    Christine I'm so sorry
    you've had a recurrence. You have definitely come to the right place as there are several ladies who have had recurrences. I had bilateral mastectomy and I'm in treatment with Taxotere/Cytoxan 4-6 rounds. I've had 1 and the 2nd is next Tuesday. My hair fell out today and tomorrow will have my hairdresser shave my head. I no longer work and don't like wigs. I bought several cotton knit hats.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #8
    2Floridiansisters said:

    HI Christine
    I am sorry to read you are experiencing a reccurrance, I will keep you in my prayers. I just finished my chemo treatments today, it wasn't bad at all, at least not for me, I am now moving on to getting a lumpectomy and then radiation after that will follow. I can't offer you any advice for the mastectomy, other then I wish you well. I do not wear a wig, it's too hot for one, I wear bandanas wherever I go. I buy them at Walmart for $1.00 each.

    I feel bad that this has
    I feel bad that this has happened to you. Welcome to the site and please know that we all are here for you, 24/7. Someone is always on.

    Good luck!
  • Marsha Mulvey
    Marsha Mulvey Member Posts: 597 Member
    #9
    cahjah75 said:

    Christine I'm so sorry
    you've had a recurrence. You have definitely come to the right place as there are several ladies who have had recurrences. I had bilateral mastectomy and I'm in treatment with Taxotere/Cytoxan 4-6 rounds. I've had 1 and the 2nd is next Tuesday. My hair fell out today and tomorrow will have my hairdresser shave my head. I no longer work and don't like wigs. I bought several cotton knit hats.
    {{hugs}} Char

    Prayers
    Christine, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you prepare to do battle again. Thank heaven there's no metastasis detected! May I ask, is your cancer HER2+ ? If so, was it also diagnosed as such 6 years ago? Did you have Herceptin at that time?

    God bless, MM
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #10
    Hope this helps!
    I am so sorry that you are going through this. I am glad there is no distant metastasis. Someone said that a friend gave them a stuffed lion to give them courage. I am sending a cyber lion ;-) Hang in there and don't look for adverse effects--just take it a day at a time.

    I had a tram in 1987 on the cancerous breast and then had a SGAP (used part of my butt because the abdomen was used up) preventively (2 sisters then had the same cancer) in 1993.
    The SGAP (and I presume the DIEP because it is a free flap) was so much easier to recover from than the tram. I recovered slowly (about 6 weeks) but had MUCH less pain than the tram.

    Chemo was manageable with antiemetics (nausea meds), but I didn't have herceptin so I can't hep there.

    I did have a wig made prior to losing my hair. My insurance ending up reimbursing the full amount. I cried like a baby when I lost my hair. Some wear scarves. Some show us their brave and beautiful bald heads. It is what you are comfortable with--there is no right or wrong.
  • Miss Murphy
    Miss Murphy Member Posts: 302
    #11
    CypressCynthia said:

    Hope this helps!
    I am so sorry that you are going through this. I am glad there is no distant metastasis. Someone said that a friend gave them a stuffed lion to give them courage. I am sending a cyber lion ;-) Hang in there and don't look for adverse effects--just take it a day at a time.

    I had a tram in 1987 on the cancerous breast and then had a SGAP (used part of my butt because the abdomen was used up) preventively (2 sisters then had the same cancer) in 1993.
    The SGAP (and I presume the DIEP because it is a free flap) was so much easier to recover from than the tram. I recovered slowly (about 6 weeks) but had MUCH less pain than the tram.

    Chemo was manageable with antiemetics (nausea meds), but I didn't have herceptin so I can't hep there.

    I did have a wig made prior to losing my hair. My insurance ending up reimbursing the full amount. I cried like a baby when I lost my hair. Some wear scarves. Some show us their brave and beautiful bald heads. It is what you are comfortable with--there is no right or wrong.

    Positive thoughts
    I'm sending positive thoughts your way. I'm sorry for your having to fight the good fight yet again. This is a great board and everyone is a cheerleader for each other. I had a masectomy but opted out of reconstruction so can't help you with that - there are lots who will help you with reconstruction issues. The worst thing for me with the masectomy was the darn drain - it was a royal pain and I did the happy dance the day it came out!

    We're here for you. Hugs, Sally
  • SDickerson
    SDickerson Member Posts: 44
    #12
    Praying for you
    Sorry to hear your news....Please know that God offers peace and comfort...I live in Indiana and it has been very hot, to hot to wear wigs. I wear scarfs. I had surgery in June and then radiation. Will be starting PARP trail study of chem.

    Praying for you,
    Shannon
  • SDickerson
    SDickerson Member Posts: 44
    #13
    Praying for you
    Sorry to hear your news....Please know that God offers peace and comfort...I live in Indiana and it has been very hot, to hot to wear wigs. I wear scarfs. I had surgery in June and then radiation. Will be starting PARP trail study of chem.

    Praying for you,
    Shannon
  • SDickerson
    SDickerson Member Posts: 44
    #14
    Praying for you
    Sorry to hear your news....Please know that God offers peace and comfort...I live in Indiana and it has been very hot, to hot to wear wigs. I wear scarfs. I had surgery in June and then radiation. Will be starting PARP trail study of chem.

    Praying for you,
    Shannon
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #15
    CypressCynthia said:

    Hope this helps!
    I am so sorry that you are going through this. I am glad there is no distant metastasis. Someone said that a friend gave them a stuffed lion to give them courage. I am sending a cyber lion ;-) Hang in there and don't look for adverse effects--just take it a day at a time.

    I had a tram in 1987 on the cancerous breast and then had a SGAP (used part of my butt because the abdomen was used up) preventively (2 sisters then had the same cancer) in 1993.
    The SGAP (and I presume the DIEP because it is a free flap) was so much easier to recover from than the tram. I recovered slowly (about 6 weeks) but had MUCH less pain than the tram.

    Chemo was manageable with antiemetics (nausea meds), but I didn't have herceptin so I can't hep there.

    I did have a wig made prior to losing my hair. My insurance ending up reimbursing the full amount. I cried like a baby when I lost my hair. Some wear scarves. Some show us their brave and beautiful bald heads. It is what you are comfortable with--there is no right or wrong.

    I am sorry Christine. I
    I am sorry Christine. I wish I could say more than that if it would help you.

    I wish you well and will pray for you.

    HUGS!
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #16
    Christine im so sorry to
    Christine im so sorry to hear about your reaccurrance. I also had IDC and a bilaterial mastectomy with reconstruction but i had implants...so i cant help you with the DIEP part. I just wanted to tell ya welcome to the board.
    Everyones experience is different on this board so we can only go by what we have experienced...but there is a lot of helpful information on here.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #17
    Hi Christine
    I had a lumpectomy, but I did Chemo and herceptin. I did 4 rounds of AC, then 16 rounds Taxol with herceptin ( herceptin will be given for 1 year ) rads 34 treatment. 5 years of tamoxifen. Sept 8 I will have my last herceptin. The first 4 rounds of chemo were tuff on me. I did get very good anti nausea drugs. One drug was called Emend and I never really got sick. Kinda felt like the flu around day 3 after chemo. This would last for 3 days or so then I would be feeling better. Taxol was not as bad for me, and I had no side affects with herceptin. However I did have to have an echo every 2 months because it can cause your heart to have some problems. If that were to happen I was told they just stop treatment until things got back to normal. Rads was not to bad for me, really everything is doable, not fun,but you can do it. Wigs scarfs ect, I found that the web site www.headcovers.com was a good site for me for scarfs and wigs to. I have to tell you I wore my hats and scarfs more then the wig. The wig was so very hot. I wish you the very best and welcome to the boards.
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #18
    Christine,
    I am so sorry you have to put on your warrior gear once more.

    I was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, november
    of 2009. First I had a Lumpectomy, recommended to me by my doctor.
    Then I started chemo 6 rounds of Taxotere, Herceptin and Carbo. I was ok through
    the first 3 treatments, just flu like symptoms. I lost my hair after the second treatment.
    I am glad that I cut it short prior, it lessened the shock effect.

    I am too fidgety for wigs, once I ran around with the bangs on the side of
    my head, people must have thought I am some sort of a nut. I did the scarf
    thing but as soon as I had even the trace of hair, I went NEKKID.

    After that it got a little harder. The fatigue was hard to take. I will always
    remember how it took me one whole day to clean my livingroom, dusting,
    vacuuming and mopping the floor - one whole day. I was so frustrated.
    You have to learn to nurture yourself and be patient with yourself. You
    will get pain killers, nausea medication and sleeping pills - take them,
    they are tools to get you through this rough patch. I resisted at first,
    not used to take pills but I learned.

    Also look out for constipation with chemo, drink a lot of water the day prior,
    the day of chemo and the day after. Take stool softeners and eat fiber
    rich foods. I repeated this many times but coconut water is great during
    chemo. It natutrally hydrates you and has so many benefits that help you
    during chemo. You can get it at whole foods or any other store.

    Then I decided on a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I was
    down for about 3 weeks. The expanders that they put in really hurt you
    when they rub up against your wound. But as long as I took my pain killers
    and was on top of the pain, I was really ok. The inactivity is what drove me
    bonkers.

    Now I am almost done and will have my exchange surgery end of september.
    Can't wait, it's hard to sleep in these expanders.

    I had my first Herceptin only treatment and it barely effected me.

    This site was my best resource, keep posting any questions you have.

    Wish you the best with your treatment!!!

    Hugs,
    Ayse
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #19
    SDickerson said:

    Praying for you
    Sorry to hear your news....Please know that God offers peace and comfort...I live in Indiana and it has been very hot, to hot to wear wigs. I wear scarfs. I had surgery in June and then radiation. Will be starting PARP trail study of chem.

    Praying for you,
    Shannon

    Hi Christine,
    it's so nice to meet you but unfortunate it has to be under this circumstance. I pray that your treatment is a success at beating this thing for good!

    I had the DIEP reconstruction and it went very well.


    Keeping you in prayer,
    Sylvia
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #20
    jo jo said:

    Christine im so sorry to
    Christine im so sorry to hear about your reaccurrance. I also had IDC and a bilaterial mastectomy with reconstruction but i had implants...so i cant help you with the DIEP part. I just wanted to tell ya welcome to the board.
    Everyones experience is different on this board so we can only go by what we have experienced...but there is a lot of helpful information on here.

    Hi!
    I know you will find so much information on this great board. And, don't be afraid to ask anything. Wishing you good luck with your surgery!
  • upnorthlive57
    upnorthlive57 Member Posts: 41
    #21
    Herceptin
    Hi I have only replied before one time in the past, but I read everyday what is posted. Boy I have learned an amazing amount of information!! My question is did you do Herceptin before?? I am in the middle of a 12 month treatment and had several side effects, now debating wether or not to continue... my last rad treatment is in 7 days. I just uncovered my hair here at work it is about 1/2 inch long seriously grey/blk streaks, it is something to get used to but my co-workers like it better than my scarfs. eye lashes are just starting, as well as legs, nose hair. I feel low some days and thats when I read the board I feel so much better. The strength you show the rest of us that are struggling is up lifting and keeps us keepin on!!! My heart reaches out to you all with Love p.s. I too am saying a prayer for Laura.

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