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Round 3: Getting breast cancer, stage 0, three times
My first diagnosis was in 2003, 2 spots, stage 1, estrogen positive. I had a double lumpectomy, radiation and took tamoxifen. All was good until 2019 when I had another stage 0 diagnosis in my left breast. Then last week I found out I had another spot in the right breast… again. Stage 0, another lumpectomy is now scheduled. I was very grateful they have been small but was angry that this keeps happening and started worrying if it will decide to “pop up” someplace else. I don’t know of many women who have had this happen 3 times. The nurse said she didn’t have many patients this has happened to. I wonder if it may be because I was 43 the first time and am now in my sixties.
I have decided that I cannot waste one more day being angry and worrying about something that is completely out of my control. I want to appreciate every day I have, including the days that things are not so easy. Really, what choice do we have? For me, it has been in my way of processing my emotions differently. I have woken up feeling better, enjoying the blue skies, birds and squirrels in my yard, turning on upbeat music and watching comedy shows. Get togethers and laughter with family and friends has been my favorite.
I’m thankful we have the technology we have today to discover and treat this disease as best as possible. In reading some of the posts, I see that many of you here have much more serious disease and I wasn’t sure I should even post my story, but am hoping in some small way it will help someone else.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
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Hello @coldia Thank you for sharing your story. It is a little unnerving to have it keep coming back, I also was young and it gives us more time to get more cancer.
I also feel sometimes like we are the lucky ones. I never walk through a day oblivious to the beauty around me or the good people in my world. I never take one day for granted. I am blessed beyond belief, no matter how hard today is.
You are an inspiration❣️
Do you have a plan for the latest ride on the merry go round?
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8 ReactionsThank you for your beautiful message. I have a consultation scheduled in 2 weeks and will then find out a surgery date. I don’t believe they can radiate again since it was done before so they may offer other options.
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2 ReactionsThis is my 2nd breast cancer after 15 years. Early stage DCIS with comedonecrosis & which I never heard of has anyone else had this
Yeah, probably no radiation. I hope you will come back and tell me what you decide.
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1 ReactionHello @tammidoran welcome to connect. This term is related to dead cells inside. If you type comedonecrosis into a search engine you will get more information than you probably want or need. 😂
I was never lucky enough to find it this early, but I did have multiple areas of comedo type necrosis and large areas of necrosis, within my original tumor.
I am sorry you are going through a recurrence but I am glad it is an early catch, and not invasive. I think over ten years is just enough time to think you are clear and start thinking you might avoid it, at least that is how I felt, then pow, 😳 I had a gut punch reminder.
How are you doing now? Do you have a plan of action yet?
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2 Reactions@coldia, I'd like to add my welcome. I hope you don't mind that I expanded the title of your discussion. I did this to help other members who may be in a similar situation to find it.
It sounds like each time, the new cancer is a local recurrence without spread to the lymph nodes or beyond. Is that correct?
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2 ReactionsHi @tammidoran, I moved your message about your breast cancer recurrence to this discussion that @coldia started about the same time. It sounds like you are on similar timelines both with having had breast cancer for the first time over 15 years ago, or 20 in the case of @coldia, and now another tumor was found.
Like, @auntieoakley, I'd like to ask if you've received a treatment plan yet.
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2 ReactionsHi Colleen,
Thank you for the welcome message. I don’t mind at all that you expanded the title. It is my first time posting and afterwards, I thought I should have been more detailed.
So far, it has stayed in the duct and not spread to the lymph nodes. I am always hopeful it will not break through between diagnosis and surgery.
I am going to ask my doctor if 6 month mammograms might be option. My understanding is that it can be slow growing, but I do wonder if that will always be the case for me.
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2 ReactionsHave you considered mastectomy instead? Wish you the best and glad it’s been caught early every time.
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2 ReactionsNot yet have first app. Feb 27
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