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I origianlly had DCIS no lymph nodes involved, had a mastectomy but 4 years later I now have invasive cancer (outside breast) even when they knew where the cancer was - over the sternum between the breasts - (a surgery to try and remove this new recurrence showed up the cancer) - no other test showed these microcalcifications/cancer! no mammo, no sonogram, no Petscan and an MRI showed inflammation but they felt it was inconclusive. I think the cancer has to be 2mm to show up!! so even though it's wide spread if the specks themselves aren't big enough, they don't see them! I went on Taxol and Herceptin, new surgery in same area - no sign of cancer this time and then radiation and I'm now continuing Herceptin for year 2.
So damn well (excuse my French but then I am in France) demand a biosopy of the area (no needle aspration) - that's the surest way. If it's not operable (but if it's in the breast - it is)- insist on an MRI and Petscan and have radiation.
If you're HER2 positive, definitely you should get Herceptin for a certain amount of time.
Unfortunately most cancer starts as DCIS and it is only in the last few years it's been treated more aggressively.
I can't understand not having blood tests - personally I think we should all have period blood tests to check if anything is changing. I get one every 3 months - unfortunately here it's only CA 15,3 not the CA27,29 but still it's something.
good luck.
sarah
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