@aubreybill thank you for sharing this & sorry for what you're going through. I am recently diagnosed stage 1 ILC. Also 72. Lumpectomy & undergoing 5 days of radiation. Bear with me if this is a ridiculous question, but is there any chance your more recent cancer is unrelated to the first? Or is it definitely a recurrance? I'm still learning all the ends & outs. Fingers crossed that you stay cancer-free from now on! Hang in there & best wishes to you!
@jmab I also had lumpectomy and 5 days of radiation.
Twice. First on left breast and four years later the right breast. Like you, I wonder if the second was unrelated to the first. And this after colon cancer four years before the first breast cancer. Lucky that all were small and treatable but I worry about another one. Every four years is so odd - so another three years will be four years since the last. I am now 87 and learned that I have a
hereditary pathogenic cancer gene. I am urging my daughter and siblings to get tested. My mom had two cancers. I am otherwise healthy and grateful for my days.
@jmab I also had lumpectomy and 5 days of radiation.
Twice. First on left breast and four years later the right breast. Like you, I wonder if the second was unrelated to the first. And this after colon cancer four years before the first breast cancer. Lucky that all were small and treatable but I worry about another one. Every four years is so odd - so another three years will be four years since the last. I am now 87 and learned that I have a
hereditary pathogenic cancer gene. I am urging my daughter and siblings to get tested. My mom had two cancers. I am otherwise healthy and grateful for my days.
@lynnn So sorry you've gone through all this! But hopefully the cycle is now broken & you'll have no more recurrances! As they say, bad things come in 3's! I'm curious whether you took endocrine therapy (A.I. drugs or tamoxifen)? I will be starting on a low-dose (10 mg) of tamoxifen soon. Thanks for sharing your story, I appreciate it!
2003: Right breast IDC and ILC with positive nodes. I did lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, Aromasin for 5 years. ER+ Her2 - postmenopausal (52 yo)
2025: Left breast LCIS, DCIS, and a hyperplasia duct. Lumpectomy and now Aromasin again.
What I have learned is that the two are not related. My left breast (2025) is a new deal and I have an issue with Estrogen & Progesterone .
This Mayo blog is so helpful and a round of hugs to all of us dealing with breast cancer.
@lynnn So sorry you've gone through all this! But hopefully the cycle is now broken & you'll have no more recurrances! As they say, bad things come in 3's! I'm curious whether you took endocrine therapy (A.I. drugs or tamoxifen)? I will be starting on a low-dose (10 mg) of tamoxifen soon. Thanks for sharing your story, I appreciate it!
@jmab Thank you for your good wishes. Worrisome as daughter and my siblings have 50% risk of this gene. And if they have it, 90% chance of cancer (70% for men).
I got a letter from the geneticist to give them. A list of
yearly tests is advised. I will be having a full body MRI, including brain. I did take Tamoxifen for two years and then my dr. switched me to Anastrozole which he suggested for a few additional years. I don’t know why the switch and forgot. to ask. I got the second breast cancer anyway. I read that neither med is 100% preventive. Good that you will be on Tamoxifen as it does offer some protection.
Ive had to different types of breast cancer the first time I was 45 yrs of age and was diagnosed with triple E breast cancer I received chemo and radiation treatments
The second time , I had hormone related breast cancer and I received chemotherapy and take a pill every day for the rest of my life. I am now 71 yrs of age
I was diagnosed with DCIS in 01-2002, had two lumpectomies, 30 fractions of radiation. All mammograms clear ever since…until 10-2024 when the nipple of that breast inverted. In 01-2025 ILC was diagnosed which was surprised me! At almost 79, the surgeon advised a mastectomy AND RECONSTRUCTION. I certainly don’t need another boob!
I’m refusing all further treatments. The surgeon said anastrozole is contraindicated b/c I was diagnosed with osteoporosis decades ago; but so is tamoxifen b/c my mother had uterine cancer and I take anti-depressants. Oh yes, and my husband of 57 years has filed for divorce, my adult kids side with him, I’m being kept from my 9 grandkids…even those in their 20s.
But life is still better for me than it is for millions of people living in other war ravaged countries around the world. And breast cancer has to find somebody so why not me??
@mimi09 Hi Mimi,
Thanks for your bravery & information. You see the less fortunate even though you deserve more kindness support from those you have cherished and cared for for sure. You are not unlike many of us who suffer with these family dysfunction challenges and suffer in so much silence. Enjoy your life! You definitely earn every day.
Ive had to different types of breast cancer the first time I was 45 yrs of age and was diagnosed with triple E breast cancer I received chemo and radiation treatments
The second time , I had hormone related breast cancer and I received chemotherapy and take a pill every day for the rest of my life. I am now 71 yrs of age
I had a mastectomy, right breast plus chemo 19 years ago. Thought I was done with breast cancer. August of this year went for yearly mammogram. They found something suspicious....did a surgical biopsy. Ended up having a mastectomy, am now on chemo. On the plus side, I never have to wear a bra again. (I'm old and wearing a bra is just a nuisance, not a thrill like when I got one as a teenager.) Please ladies, get a mammogram when you are whatever age it is recommended to do so and even when you're in your late 70s or if you discover a lump during a self exam....and please do a self exam when you are of an age when it's recommended. Getting chemo when you are in your late 70s seems a lot harder to tolerate than when you're younger but don't let that stop you from trying to catch it in early stages.
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@jmab I also had lumpectomy and 5 days of radiation.
Twice. First on left breast and four years later the right breast. Like you, I wonder if the second was unrelated to the first. And this after colon cancer four years before the first breast cancer. Lucky that all were small and treatable but I worry about another one. Every four years is so odd - so another three years will be four years since the last. I am now 87 and learned that I have a
hereditary pathogenic cancer gene. I am urging my daughter and siblings to get tested. My mom had two cancers. I am otherwise healthy and grateful for my days.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
8 Reactions@lynnn So sorry you've gone through all this! But hopefully the cycle is now broken & you'll have no more recurrances! As they say, bad things come in 3's! I'm curious whether you took endocrine therapy (A.I. drugs or tamoxifen)? I will be starting on a low-dose (10 mg) of tamoxifen soon. Thanks for sharing your story, I appreciate it!
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions2003: Right breast IDC and ILC with positive nodes. I did lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, Aromasin for 5 years. ER+ Her2 - postmenopausal (52 yo)
2025: Left breast LCIS, DCIS, and a hyperplasia duct. Lumpectomy and now Aromasin again.
What I have learned is that the two are not related. My left breast (2025) is a new deal and I have an issue with Estrogen & Progesterone .
This Mayo blog is so helpful and a round of hugs to all of us dealing with breast cancer.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@jmab Thank you for your good wishes. Worrisome as daughter and my siblings have 50% risk of this gene. And if they have it, 90% chance of cancer (70% for men).
I got a letter from the geneticist to give them. A list of
yearly tests is advised. I will be having a full body MRI, including brain. I did take Tamoxifen for two years and then my dr. switched me to Anastrozole which he suggested for a few additional years. I don’t know why the switch and forgot. to ask. I got the second breast cancer anyway. I read that neither med is 100% preventive. Good that you will be on Tamoxifen as it does offer some protection.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@zebra26
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1 ReactionIve had to different types of breast cancer the first time I was 45 yrs of age and was diagnosed with triple E breast cancer I received chemo and radiation treatments
The second time , I had hormone related breast cancer and I received chemotherapy and take a pill every day for the rest of my life. I am now 71 yrs of age
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@mimi09 Hi Mimi,
Thanks for your bravery & information. You see the less fortunate even though you deserve more kindness support from those you have cherished and cared for for sure. You are not unlike many of us who suffer with these family dysfunction challenges and suffer in so much silence. Enjoy your life! You definitely earn every day.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI had a lumpectomy almost 20byrs ago and a mastectomy on the other breast a little over 1nyrs ago. So far so good. Regular mammograms.
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3 Reactions@leh1954 IO am glad you seemed to be cured or in a long term remission, I hope you never have to encounter cancer again.
I had a mastectomy, right breast plus chemo 19 years ago. Thought I was done with breast cancer. August of this year went for yearly mammogram. They found something suspicious....did a surgical biopsy. Ended up having a mastectomy, am now on chemo. On the plus side, I never have to wear a bra again. (I'm old and wearing a bra is just a nuisance, not a thrill like when I got one as a teenager.) Please ladies, get a mammogram when you are whatever age it is recommended to do so and even when you're in your late 70s or if you discover a lump during a self exam....and please do a self exam when you are of an age when it's recommended. Getting chemo when you are in your late 70s seems a lot harder to tolerate than when you're younger but don't let that stop you from trying to catch it in early stages.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
7 Reactions