Cancer has Returned..........

[tdonnelly]

My stereoscopic biopsy showed the cancer has returned in the same breast. I am meeting with the Surgeon to discuss upcoming masectomy. Considering a double masectomy and have to repeat Chemo & Herceptin.

I have been residing at Midway Neurological & Rehabilitation /Bridgeview IL since 6/22/2010 and will continue living there after my surgery. I have made wonderful supportive friends in this group home. \

I dont want any reconstructive surgeries.........

Take Care,
Tami

[AlaskaAngel]

Tamara, I'm sorry that the treatment didn't work and that you have to work on alternatives again. Having a supportive living arrangement is so precious, and I'm glad you feel good about yours. One step at a time....

AlaskaAngel

[michka]

Tamara, this is sad news. I just hate this sickness. I am sending you strength to get back into the ring and fight. Michka

[Jackie07]

Tammy,

It has to be very upsetting. I didn't find my recurrence until 4 years after my lumpectomy. They had misread my mammogram 4 years straight. I was feeling very sick and contacted the surgeon to have a check-up. She was very upset (more than I did :) when the biopsy came back to be cancer and not 'scar tissue' as they previously thought.

Take a deep breath, it's really not that hard the 2nd time around. I was very scared at first because I thought a recurrence is automatically a stage IV. My husband got me another oncologist (my oncologist was out-of-town attending a conference) who explained it to me it's called a 'local-regional' recurrence. It would be treated as if I had it the first time.

I then wiped my tears and wrote a different letter to my family overseas - right there in the waiting room.

I did not have reconstruction either. I'd been so flat-chested my whole life, the mastectomy did not change much of anything.

[MJo]

God bless and wishing all the best for you. I'm sorry you have to go through the treatment again, but trust that you will beat it completely this time.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Tami, I'm surely glad that you have support and love close at hand as you begin this next adventure. I think it's just as important as that awful, but wonderful chemo they pack into us.
Best to you, ma

[Chelee]

Tami, I'm so sorry you have to deal with this again. I know it's not easy...and that is an understatement. I'm so happy to hear you have such great support where your at...that plays such an important part in this battle. But you will beat this again. Sending lots of positive thouhts your way.

Hugs,

Chelee

[flynny]

sending you big hugs and prayers.

[tricia keegan]

Tamara I'm sorry to read this news, but I know you'll find the strength to get through all this once again and hopefully kick this for good! x

[Pam P]

Tami - I'm sending you good thoughts and support as you tackle this next surgery and treatment. I didn't have reconstruction either and am happy with my decision. Keep strong and let us know how you are doing. Pam

[schoolteacher]

Tami,

Thinking of you. Glad you have a support group where you are living.

Amelia

[ElaineM]

I am sorry to hear the cancer is back. Supportive friends are wonderful. Take good care of yourself. Keep putting one foot in front of the other.

[lexigirl]

I am sorry to read your news. You will beat this cancer back. Get rid of it for good!

Hugs,
Lexi

[jml]

Tami~
So sorry you have to climb back in the ring and start swinging again. But you're strong and you can do this. And you can beat this again. As many times as you have to.
We're here to support and encourage you through it.

Keep the Faith~

Jml

[Jean]

Tami,
I think the wise words of Jackie explaining that it is a

'local-regional' recurrence. It would be treated as if I had it the first time. - helps to ease the stress of this news.

I am sorry that you have to go through surgery and treatment again. Sending you warm healing wishes for a speedy recovery.

Jean

[tdonnelly]

Good New, only a right masectomy after I get the all clear on bone scan and CT-Chest,pelvis,abd. scheduled for Wednesday. I am Positive Estrogen and Progestrone-Multiple Microcalcifications.....HER2 pending Surgical findings. Will keep in Touch,Tami

[tricia keegan]

Good luck for a successful surgery and quick recovery Tami! :)

[tdonnelly]

Can someone provide insight for upcoming Mastectomy so I don't get an overload of info from books/internet site.

Went through the initial shock, anger etc. working on Acceptance.........and just need more insight on what to expect. Thanks All.

Tami

[Jackie07]

Tami,

There's really not much difference except that when you wake up you'll see a thin tape under the dressing covering the scar on your chest. I had a 'drain' bottle under each arm because I 'd chosen to have double mastectomy.

One inexperienced staff had attempted to put the blood pressure cuff on my 'bad' arm where many lymph nodes had been taken (2+9 = 11) It was late at night and I just yelled at her. Several hours later I mentioned it to another staff who seemed to know what she's doing when taking my blood pressure. She explained to me that from the dressing across my chest she could tell that I'd had double mastectomy.

I remember feeling like a 6-legged spider when I was discharged from the hospital - 2 (arms) + 2(legs) + 2(long tubes with a drain bottle on each side of my underarm :)

We were given clear written instruction on how to care for the drain tube. The bottle had to be emptied and the volume recorded (?) I think after several days (one week? two week?) after the fluid in the bottle reduced to a certain point, the bottle was removed during a return visit with the surgeon.

Because I had experienced lymphedema (swollen breast - quite painful) after my lympectomy, the recovery of mastectomy seemed to be more pleasant... (though much longer.)

Let's see - my 2nd Sister came from overseas to take care of me and ended up having a big fight with hubby. Hubby ended up staying most of the time at my In-law's place (Mother-in-law had had a 'scare' in the nursing home at the exact time when I was having surgery - so everyone's stressed out.)

I think the main thing is to make sure you have good nutrition during recovery and follow the instruction given by the discharge nurse. Keep yourself in good mood and stay active. Protect your arm from heat and injury...

Hard to believe it's been three years. My most recent memory about surgery is my hysterectomy in January...

Take care now and 'take it easy'. I'm sending good vibes...

[DancerDonna]

Tami,
I'm sorry to read that you have cancer again in the same breast too. But glad to hear you have such support.

I think most of our cancer's characteristics are the same: I was diagnosed in May 2005, had a lumpectomy, the same chemo, same radiation, but I took herceptin for one year. Have been on arimadex since finishing radiation. That cancer was strongly positive for HER2, estrogen, and progesterone. Also, 2 or 3 lymph nodes positive, the first 1.5 cm and broken out of the encapsulation.

On 6/24/10, a month ago, I had a biopsy and got a diagnosis of a new cancer in the same breast. Positive for HER2 again, but only 5% + for estrogen and negative for progesterone. Of course, I'll also be having a mastectomy but plan to have reconstruction the same day. I plan to have a SIEA or DIEP procedure for reconstruction if the hospital gets considered in-network by insurance. I'll have to travel from Nashville to Memphis for surgery.

In your first posting, were you just assuming you'd do chemo and herceptin again? Or do you have a size estimate from the biopsy that would mean planning on chemo and herceptin?

My oncologist's recommendation is a three-month round of taxetere and more herceptin if it's 5 mm or I have a + lymph node again. I would like to take more herceptin no matter what size or node status.

I am worrying now about lymph nodes. I saw the Memphis breast surgeon who the DIEP specialist usually works with. She plans to try redoing sentinel node biopsy, but if she can't find the sentinel node, remove all of the rest of the level 1 lymph nodes. She said the number could vary between 5 and 15 for individuals. I lost 3 with the surgery five years ago.

I need to read up again on lymph nodes. I think I remember reading that most of them are in the first level. My fear is because I already have severe lymphedema. I wear a compression sleeve on both my arm and my hand.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

[DancerDonna]

Jackie,

In your posting, you wrote:

One inexperienced staff had attempted to put the blood pressure cuff on my 'bad' arm where many lymph nodes had been taken (2+9 = 11)

What did you mean by "2 + 9 = 11?" Did you have lymph nodes removed twice? If so, by any chance, was 11 the total number of the nodes in the first layer?

Do you have lymphedema in your arm? Was the swelling, lymphedema, you spoke only in your breast and temporary?

It scares me that I have not been able to find any doctors or patients who have experienced removing more lymph nodes when there is already lymphedema. The doctors seem very proud of themselves when they have been able to find a sentinel node a second time.

Thanks for the info.