Hi,
I have looked at the posts and checked out this site multiple but never joined the forum. After my new diagnosis I felt it would be good to connect and see how other survivors deal with this double diagnosis.
I was diagnosed with Stage III, IDC, triple-negative, 4.6 cm tumor with 1 positive internal mammary node in 03/09 at the age of 51(post-menopausal) I had 6 rounds of TAC, followed by a lumpectomy, 35 rounds of radiation with Xeloda, and then 4 months of daily Xeloda every other week. My PET scans were clear but in May 2011 I was hospitalized for 15 days with cellulitis in the affected breast. Had mastectomy with flap reconstruction 9/11. Just passed my 4 year "all clear" anniversary went for routine mammogram for other breast in April. Found small 9mm tumor and a 2.7cm positive axillary lymh node. IDC, Stage II, triple neg, grade 3--Lumpectomy and axillary nodes removal in 05/13. Completed four rounds of CMF and need four more followed up by 35 rounds of radiation. Because I had the legal limit of Adriamycin I couldn't receive TAC again. Originally my oncologist was going to give me TC but after an oncology convention he felt that the CMF would be better tolerated and work as well. I of course don't really care about side effects--hit me with your best shot! I feel I would have reacted better to a recurrence than a new cancer. It just means my body is a cancer producer--I went 4 years so they feel my original cancer was successfully treated and yet here I am again. I am grateful--this was a routine mammo--if it was a couple of months later it could have been a worse diagnosis--just never worried about other breast as I was BRCA1 negative. Anyway -just reaching out (venting, maybe) hoping there are others in similar circumstances to give me a new dose of hope!