Recurrence After Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy |
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kirby 
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Joined: Oct 09 2007 Location: bay area,california Status: Offline Points: 1088 |
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 Posted: Oct 21 2008 at 7:24pm |
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I think Nancy has already jumped on this one.
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kirby
dx Feb. 2001. Age 44 Lumpectomy 2cm. no nodes stage 1 grade 3 4 rnds AC, 35 rads |
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lalala1000
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Joined: Sep 27 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 8:28am |
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I was told by my oncologist/srugeon that if the BRCA was present that a double mastectomy was necessary. However, I do not have the gene. How many women answering here, know your status re: the gene and how did that change your decision? Also, how many women without BRCA had a lumpectomy and the cancer still came back?
Thanks, Linda |
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patti
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Joined: Sep 25 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 9:02am |
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I am Braca negative. I first had lumpectomy, came back same side. Then had bilateral mastectomy, just now came back in the skin of the prophyalactic side.
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IDC 12/06, age 42
4AC,4taxotere, lumpectomy, 33 rads 8/07 done 3/08 recurrence, bil mast w/expanders 7/08 exc surgey, recurrence 8/08 removal of implant &breast skin. 25 rad 10/08 rec |
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JustVal
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Joined: Oct 29 2008 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: Nov 07 2008 at 7:51pm |
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Hi Joan,
I was going to take your poll but MY particular scenario is not listed! Heres a new choice for your poll! I had trip neg in one breast, stage 1, not in nodes, 1.5 cm tumor. I had a double mastectomy to get rid of "the cancer beast." It was found out after my surgery in the biopsy that there were abnormal cells in my "healthy" breast that was not diagnosed cancerous. So it would have been a matter of time before I would have heard those words again, "You have cancer." I had no radiation following surgery. With a double mastectomy total of six months of chemo (4 treatments of AC and 12 treatments of Taxol), my cancer came back in only 5 months from finishing chemo on the same breast. It was small, 1.5 cm and had not spread anywhere. I was shocked and in disbelief this could happen so quickly. While my oncologist believes the cancer was left behind during the mastectomy, the surgeon says that maybe the chemo did not work. All I know is I did everything they suggested to the most conservative degree.
I must say that the reconstruction was done beautifully and made me feel feminine and whole again. While the "feeling" will never be the same as real tissue, I look great in tank tops and bras. Having the masectomy is something I do not regret. It is amazing after the tatoos just how real everything looks. When the scars fade it will even look better.
I agree with you that the next round of chemo is basically a "crap shoot" and the thought of being sick and possibly losing my hair again is disheartening to say the least.
Now, it is suggested that I take Carboplatin and Gemzar. Has anybody had that concoction? Also, this time they reccemmend radiation. Now I am concerned about my implant and the effect radiation may have on that. Best wishes to you Joan. Thanks for the poll and sharing your story. I am new to the club and it's nice not to feel so alone with trip neg.
Val
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JustVal
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Joined: Oct 29 2008 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: Nov 07 2008 at 7:54pm |
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Hello,
Did you remove the implant because of the radiation? I had a reoccurance and will have to do radiation after just completing the reconstruction with tatoos and everything!
Thanks.
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Beth Anne
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Joined: Apr 24 2008 Location: Clairnbridge, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Posted: Nov 08 2008 at 6:51am |
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Hi Val...
The key for you if you have to have radiation again is to find a radiation oncologist that is willing to do it with the implants in... I was able to find one that was knowledgeable in doing that. Beth Anne |
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Dx 5/07 DCIS Stage3 gr9 A/C x 6, Abrax x 16 Bi-Mass 2/08
Navelbine x 12, finished radiation end of July 08. DX Brain Met's 2/09StageIV CK3/09.Brain resection4/09 WBR Dreaming of dancing with Ned! |
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Nov 08 2008 at 7:23am |
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Hi Val,
How horrible for you to hear it is back in only 5 months! Bless your heart. Those are hard words to hear and it means back to chemo, again!
 I remember when I was told the second time and I was not only angry and ready to rip heads off because of the radiologist's error but devasted at the same time. What a hurricane of thoughts.
I hope your second round goes smoothly for you so that you can get on with your life. I have not had the chemos you mention, the platins are supposed to be good for us.
Keep us posted on how you are doing and hang in there, you'll get thru this, we just do it cuz we know we need to.
http://www.chemocare.com is a website you can look the chemo's up on and it also has alot of good info about chemo, side effects, etc..
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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Wendy2
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Joined: Apr 10 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 213 |
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Posted: Nov 09 2008 at 3:58am |
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Linda
I had lumpectomy, no nodes, clear margins and mine came back in my lungs within 2 yrs. Go figure. Thought I was clear and good to go. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
Wendy
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dx 3/06 TN, taxotere/cytoxin x4; radiation x 40; mets. to lungs, lymph nodes 3/08 - to begin chemo 4/29/08 Abx/Avas., 9/08 Avastin maintenance, 1/09 - off meds to see if Avastin causing headaches
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lalala1000
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Posted: Nov 09 2008 at 4:07am |
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We need to analyze the data ourselves and try and find a commonality. What keeps some of us cancer-free after treatment and what causes some of us to have a recurrence?
_________________________________________________________Dx 9/17/08, IDC, Sage IIb, 2.1 cm in breast, 4.1 cm in one node on PET, BRCA neg, receiving ACT X 6. |
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chaya
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Posted: Nov 09 2008 at 8:31am |
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Clearly it's not as simple as mastectomy vs. lumpectomy. What are the other variables - size of tumor? BRCA? Adjuvant treatment? Other genetic markers? Life style? I don't know if there is some complex poll out there already.
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ladyklj
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Posted: Nov 09 2008 at 8:59am |
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Hello,
I am new to this site. I was diag 6/08 with grade 3, stage IIB(not in node) triple negative breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy in July, when my breast surgeon went in she found out my tumor was bigger than she thought - size 4.1cm - and she also found another small tumor - size .4 cm - near the larger one. She said my cancer is aggresive and I am considered high risk. I am currently in chemo - just did 4 treatments of AC and now am doing 12 weekly treatments of Taxol. I have been discussing with my breast surgeon getting a double masectomy done because I am 36 and have a fear that I will have a reaccurance. I have been reasearching about this tnbc and it seems that it is a more aggressive form of cancer. I have taken the genetic test and it came back negative but of course my oncolologist and breast surgeon told me that I am still high risk b/c of my age and I am african american and the grade and stage of my cancer.
Do you think I am correct in making the decision to have a double masectomy done once I am done with my chemo treatments? I feel in my heart it is the best decision for me.
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ladyklj
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Posted: Nov 09 2008 at 9:02am |
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lrderedita
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Joined: Nov 15 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: Nov 15 2008 at 3:58pm |
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Sounds like mine - lumpectomy, no nodes, chemo (because of the tripneg status) and radiation, came back 2 years later same side on the incision site, bilateral mast (one prophylactically) and different chemo drugs this year, now it's back again but same side. Noticed it being two small skin spots. I'm starting radiation on Monday. What's your plan? I've been reading about people taking Avastin or Xeloda with a recurrence...do you have any info on that?
I'm also Braca negative, no family history at all. Lynne |
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Age 46-5/06 lump ACT, Rads; 5/08 Rec bi-mast,Etopiside/ Cisplatin; 11/08 Rec Rads/ Gemzar(rad dose); 7/09 supraclav nodes Avastin/ Abraxane Sept09-current
Joyful in Christ through all circumstances! |
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lrderedita
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Joined: Nov 15 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: Nov 15 2008 at 4:04pm |
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Oops, I forgot to mention my previous post was in response to Patti's.
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Age 46-5/06 lump ACT, Rads; 5/08 Rec bi-mast,Etopiside/ Cisplatin; 11/08 Rec Rads/ Gemzar(rad dose); 7/09 supraclav nodes Avastin/ Abraxane Sept09-current
Joyful in Christ through all circumstances! |
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Laura
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Posted: Jun 18 2009 at 4:20am |
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I had a mastecomy and the cancer came back under my arm of the same breast.
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JustVal
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Joined: Oct 29 2008 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: Jun 18 2009 at 6:19pm |
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I too had a double mastectomy, 4 treatmenst of AC, 12 weeks on Taxol. No nodes first diagnosis. Five months after finishing chemo, I found a small bump. Breast cancer in the original breast. I did not understand, and still don't, why the chemo did not get this! BUT, I then did radiation, and had a choice to do chemo. I opted for the chemo and am currently on Carboplatin (?) and Gemzar. Much easier than the first time. IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN THE FIRST TIME, I would have had the mastecomy, radiation, and chemo. Also, radiation first, then chemo which is not what they normally reccemend. i belive that if I would have done the radiation the first time I would not have gotten it the second time.....maybe :)
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Val
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Joan2844
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Joined: Jul 03 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 163 |
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Posted: Jun 19 2009 at 5:33am |
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Val,
You say that you think if you had had the radiation then the cancer would not have come back, but... I had the radiation in my original treatment, and wondered if I had had the mastectomy if the cancer would not have come back? In the end, I've decided there is no magic formula. We do what we think is best at the time, and then we have to move on. It is in God's hands. Recent articles have talked about the benefits of carbo (a platinum drug) against trip-neg --- you are very lucky to be able to take this drug. I pray it works for you. I did Taxol & Gemzar the second time, and tried carbo, but by then my body was too saturated with drugs to tolerate the carbo. I had 1.5 doses of the 4 my doc wanted to give me. He smiles and says I had "enough." I hope and pray that for myself, as well. Joan Edited by Joan2844 - Jun 19 2009 at 5:37am |
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9/06 Stage2B. Pos Nodes; Neg BRAC; TAC/Lumpectomy/Rads/Xeloda.
4/08 Local Recurrence; Mast w/ Latissimus Flap;Taxol/Gemzar/Carbo. Zometa. NED since May 2008 :-) www.wow-matt14.blogspot.com |
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Jun 19 2009 at 6:12pm |
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Hi Val,
I am so sorry the breast cancer came back.
I think what you should do is not be so hard on yourself about
how you did your first treatments. You did the best that you could at
the time.
I believe many of us who have had it come back can look back and wonder if but it won't change a thing. My first time I had the chemo/rads and it came back although I did have a lumpectomy.
It is crazy the way this disease works and appears darn hard to stay ahead of the game. Joan is right, the Carboplatin is supposed to be a good one for tri negs.
I hope you will keep us posted on how you are doing and best wishes.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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