BC in other breast within a year of 1st diagnosis

Diagnosed with breast cancer Local recurrence or new primary diagnosis
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Last week I was diagnosed with a new cancer in my left breast, in Sept 16 I started treatment for Triple negative cancer in my right breast, and had FEC T chemo, lumpectomy, breast reduction in both breasts and finally radiotherapy and treatment finished in May 17.

 

I was just finally getting over the tiredness, my hair has come back in nicely and my nails have stopped peeling and now this.  I find out next week exactly what treatment I am getting this time, but wondered if anyone else has had to go through treatment so close together, is chemo worse the 2nd time round?  I wasn’t too bad last time, apart from constant infections that put me in hospital, I didn’t suffer any sickness etc.  I want to try and work more this time round too as I am still trying to catch up financially.  Just dreading it being worse this time.  I am 43 with 2 kids who still need their mum to run about after them.

 

Susan

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Hi Susan,

Sorry to hear you’re going through this again. I have not had your experience, but just wanted to acknowledge your post. There are certainly other ladies who have had a second primary & hopefully will be along to share experiences. 

Sending hugs

ann x

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Hi, I replied to your post on a different TNBC thread but I just wanted to reassure you. Sounds like we finished treatments around the same time. Although my recurrence was in the same breast, I’ve had 2 further operation, including a mastectomy. I am on my second cycle on chemo & the oncologist was concerned my bone may would struggle as I’d not long completed chemo. I have 10 days of the filgrastim injections with this round of chemo. I was so sick with last years chemo that I take the akynseo (don’t know how to spell it!) an hour before. The tiredness & side effects don’t seem any worse doing it the second time. As you say, it’s the financial implications too, the fear because it’s back, the anger that life had just got back to normal. I honestly didn’t think my legs would carry me at my oncologist appointment, it doesn’t help that the clinics are always about 1.5hrs behind. I’m trying the cold cap this time. Because it’s a different chemo I’m frustrated that I knew in the last one, after day 5 is gradually start to feel better. On this one the side effects, although milder, they linger for longer. I had cycle 2 last Thursday, I was still feeling awful Wednesday & feeling really sorry for myself but by the afternoon I did start to feel more of a human again. Big hugs to you xx

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Sending you hugs , love and strength ladies .Ive had cancer twice in last 2 years (one not BC ) but totally understand your feelings - you are just coming out into the light ,into the non cancer world and you are thrown back into the **** again - very tough on you and your families .Jill xx

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Hi Susan

My experience was primary found R/boob 2006 - options were lumpectomy with rads or mast with full ANC (prior to SNB being introduced). Opted for mast. Then I found another lump L/boob just before my yearly check for the R. Automatically opted for mast and again ANC. No node involvement found in either case, so missed out on rads and chemo with both. But, I have to say, losing my 2nd boob smashed me to bits mentally, and I was single (at 47)! not as you, with kids. Makes a huge difference still having one boob, so is why I’m responding. I hope you don’t have to go through the same as you did before, but if you do, that it isn’t as bad. Do let us know how you go on results, treatment wise, will yer please.

Fingers crossed for you

Delly xxxxxxx 

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Hi Susan, it’s strange how the different trusts work so differently. I was just told I needed a mastectomy this time. To be honest I just wanted rid of it after cancer coming back. I can’t have reconstruction until later this year due to having rads last April. I’m 42 & I thought I’d be really bothered by it but with the prosthetic boob in the bra, under a jumper you wouldn’t notice. I can only wear a higher neck top as the scar is quite high up for me. It wasn’t a painful op, that numb feeling under the arm again.
The cold cap isn’t pleasant!!! I knew it would be cold & expected the brain freeze but it’s also heavy & makes me feel really lightheaded. That said, I hated the summer last year having such short hair, plus mine came back very curly! I’ve shed some hair but once I’ve faffed with it you wouldn’t notice. It’s the white roots which bother me & not being able to wash it, but I bought some L’Oréal root spray!
I know what you mean about the lashes, some of my bottom ones are missing & it makes me look even more washed out!
Good luck with the oncologist, it’s soul destroying being back in the life of the never ending hospital appointments ? I’m on docetaxol & carboplatin this time. It takes a good 10/12 days to start feeling normal again. It really makes my head fuzzy.
Hope you feel better once you’ve a plan in place xx

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Delly, am sorry to read you’ve been through a mastectomy twice. Did you have a reconstruction? Xx

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You’ve been through a lot Delly ? It certainly does take a knock at your self confidence. I can’t wear a lot of my clothes until I get my reconstruction. I hope you are pleased with the final result & get you back to dating! I didn’t realise there was so much to it ? I’ve been saying to my husband for years I’d like new perky boobs, obviously prior to all of this. They say be careful what you wish for don’t they!!

Hope your oncology appointment goes well today Susan.

Big hugs to you all xx

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Ps, I couldn’t think of a username Delly! My 10 year old daughter is unicorn mad so that’s where it came from! Xx

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Unicornmummy - Sooo, where are you up to with everything??

xxxxx

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Hi Delly, how are you? I just came on here to see how everyone is doing? Suzysnoz, Walker lass?
I had cycle 3 last Thursday. My mouth has been very sore & blimming constipation is as usual an issue! ?? Other than that, feeling okish!! Made myself go for walks & do a few chores which I think has helped. Certainly takes my mind off of feeling ill for a short while.

Hope everyone is doing ok ? xx

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I’m having 6 Delly. Sorry, I forgot you didn’t have chemo. Toilet issues are just too much information for someone you’ve not met ?? How are you doing Delly? Xx

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Hi girls, sorry I have not been back to update, been feeling a bit sorry for myself, and trying to get the kids and house organised before I start treatment.  Hope everyone is well.  I start chemo tomorrow, I’m getting 6 cycles of docetaxal and carboplatin.  I had 3 cycles of docetaxel last time and it hit me hard, so not looking forward to 6 of them.  I had bad bone pain last time and lost sensation in my fingers, so might not make work as much as I would like to.  Then after surgery I get a year of Herceptin, yay 3 weekly treks to the hospital for a whole year after!

 

And who wants chemo on a Friday?  That’s wine day!  I was ok about it until I realised my last chemo is the day my daughter comes home from school camp in May, and I won’t be able to meet her off the bus.  That set me off with my 1st proper cry after my diagnosis.  It’s the small things that do it.

 

So anyhoo, have appt with surgeon on 15th so have until then to decide about mastectomy.  I’ve discussed it with my bf who says he’s ok with it, but it’s me who is stalling.  We have only been together 5 years so nipples still play a big part in our relationship, which is the reason I didn’t want to discuss it with my mum, shes gets all flustered :smileylol:.  I just wish I’d been given more info on mastectomies, but I guess I will have time to do some research while I’m off next week, have taken a few days off to see how treatment goes.

 

How’s everyone else doing? I’ve decided not to cold cap so chose a new wig this week, gone for a nice blonde highlight job, completely different for me, and much cheaper than the real thing would be in the hairdressers :smileyvery-happy:

 

Big hugs to you all

 

Susan xx

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Hello,
Delly, why just ok? You always post during the night, do you work nights or can’t sleep? Your diagnosis was a while ago then? Have you done any more about your expanders? Hope that’s not too nosey, you seem to be giving hugs to everyone else & it sounds like you need one ?

Suzysnooz, sorry you’re feeling sorry for yourself but you’re absolutely entitled to!! It really is the small things, my 4th & 6th cycles fall in half term & the day before good Friday which means I’ll be ill when my 10 year old is off of school & it really bothers me. I hate the way it takes over your life & manages to chip at the small things.

Best of luck tomorrow. Hope you get to a decision about surgery etc. Big hugs to you all ? xxx

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Hi girls, well yesterday was a pretty epic day. Got to hospital just after 8am, left Just after 6pm! I totally misunderstood my oncologist as Herceptin started yesterday too, and carries on until Jan, but after chemo finishes in May I get it via injection instead of thru drip, but they’ve given me Sat appts. Will have to try change that as the trek into hospital is bad enough during the week, would really like the weekends off.

Anyhoo my veins are rubbish, and I have a real fear of needles so it didn’t start off fun. The first attempt to get cannula in failed, so I ended up with it in the inside of my wrist which wasn’t comfy. They’re suggesting I get a PICC line put in to save me future pain (I cried for 1st time during chemo, never did it last time round, think it all hit me very publicly and very snottily). Have you girls any experience? I hate the sound of it but I know it makes sense.

So I had my Herceptin, then flush, then steroids, flush, Piriton due to having a bad reaction to doxetaxal last year, flush, then they finally started the chemo around 2pm for them to take it off again and give me a hydracortisone drip, flush, again with doxetaxal very slowly, sped up after an hour, then another hour of that, flush, carbo and final flush. My bum was numb, my arm was numb and I was scared to snooze cos I snore. But anyhoo I was done and happy to leave when they hit me with the next bit of bad news. Instead of getting 1 shot of filgrasim (not sure how you spell it, I just call it the bone jag cos it hurts my bones), I’ve to get 10 days of it after each treatment. Think they changed it as I ended up with so many infections last time. They were expecting me to do these myself but after seeing my reaction to the needle earlier they arranged for district nurses today and tomo and I’ve got appt for my docs on Mon. I saw the needle today, I tried to watch her do it but just can’t. Am I being a wimp, have you girls had to do it, It’s just so inconvenient but I just know I won’t be able to do it.

Anyway I’m feeling fine today, apart from the steroid munchies, heartburn has started already and niggling joint aches. Dreading the mouth problems starting the most, my bf is taking me out for early Valentines meal tomo so I can enjoy it. Also not looking forward to whatever delights my stomach wants to do, I was badly constipated with the FEC last time, but had the opposite with the Tax, so who knows.

It’s made me realise that a mastectomy is the best option, sitting there in that ward again made me realise that I feel I haven’t been away since Jan last year, I need to get rid of it once and for all and cut my chances of this coming back. I don’t think I even care about nipples anymore, as long as they give me cleavage.

Sorry for rambling but I can’t sleep and have only had kids for company today. Unicorngirlmummy I actually find it easier being at my worst when kids are off, as at least I don’t have to get up and get them organised for school, but my kids are a wee bit older, nearly 12 and 16, so I can be lying about and they just get on with it. My youngest has been a star today making me cups of tea and getting my drugs and water ready. She even made her own tea.

Have the given you anything for your mouth ?girlmummy? Is it ulcers, or gum pain, or both? I had terrible problems last time which was the root of my infections so I asked for a mouthwash right from the get go this time, none of this bicarb nonsense? It makes my tongue numb but really helped last time, hope it helps prevent it completely this time.

How are you doing Delly, one thing I wanted to ask you both and hope you don’t mind, but why did you not get your recons right away, is that because of the type of op you got, or a NHS trust issue? Just being curious, hope it’s not too nosey.

Well I’m going to try and sleep now. My bf is a taxi driver and will be in about 5am and he likes a blether when he comes in, better try and get a head start.

Love and hugs to you both. Susan xx

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Hi Susan, well done getting the first one done ? What an awful long day ? I was crying as I walked along to my unit for the first one. It’s overwhelming to have to do it all again.

I’ve got a picc as my veins are rubbish. If you don’t like needles it’s great as bloods will be easy. It’s the local anaesthetic which is the worst part. You’ll be all covered up so you won’t see the needle. It’s a pain having to go back every week for a flush & dressing change though. They’ll give a prescription for a limbo which is a rubber sleeve to wear whilst showering. If you’re having six cycles it’s worth considering & it saves a little bit of time as the access is there already.

I read that the docetaxol caused diarrhoea so I didn’t take any laxatives the first time. It was quite the opposite ? Ive needed 3 sachets of movicol a day all week to get going! Just for the week after chemo though. My mouth isn’t right, I’ve got difflam mouthwash, nystatin & a gel type wash. It then gets the dry bit where you wake up like you’ve had 2 bottles of wine & a family bag of crisps!! I also have 10 days of injections. I find if I forget & do it later the side effects are worse. About 8-8.30 is the best time for me. The sister in the ward advised that too. Also to take it out 30 minutes before so that it stings less.

Why don’t you join the January or February thread, some of the ladies have mentioned just one injection, if you found out the name you could ask your oncologist? Going to the surgery every day you can do without that!

I couldn’t have my reconstruction straight away because I only finished radiotherapy in April & you need to wait 18 months. Also became recurrence happened so quickly they wouldn’t do it until oncology are happy. Well done making your desicion.

Hope you have a lovely early valentine meal today.

Ps, the comment about not wanting to fall asleep made me laugh! ? Lots if love & I hope you’re feeling ok xxx

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Hi girls, I’m sitting writing this on the loo, chemo constipation is a biatch! Had a bad week, but managed to avoid any major mouth problems so far, difflam is amazing, and constant teeth brush after meals has helped. The benefit of 2nd time, you know what to look out for. And I’ve lost 9lbs in a week. 9 fecking lbs. don’t worry it’s not as if I don’t need to lose it, I’ve just found I’m not hungry, and taste buds have started to go. Our valentines meal was lovely, I was craving fish for some reason. And sticky toffee pudding. My mans away in Benidorm now. Rather him than me. My daughter cooked her 1st proper meal tonight and it was lovely, going to teach her how to make beef stew tomorrow while she’s keen.

I have my appt with surgeon on Thurs, but I also have one with the plastic surgeon in March so I don’t think I need to make any final decisions just yet. My chemo doesn’t finish till end of May so I’m thinking and hoping July for surgery, after our hol to Fuerteventura which I really hope we don’t have to cancel. My oncologist said the from my previous history with tax that the it should kill the cancer completely, so I’m hoping I can have a bigger gap between chemo and surgery this time. My son has his exams in May/June so really want to be here to support him, and be fit. Will see what they say.

I’m hoping this is me on the up again before 2nd chemo, going to go back to work on Wed, someone is ill at work and not staying off so I ain’t going near for now.

Delly thanks for the advice, have arranged to see my BCN after seeing my surgeon to go over everything. I’m definitely getting them both done, he said I could get 1 done now and the other at a future date but I just want it out the way.

How you doing Unicorngirl? How many chemos is that now. How’s the mouth? It’s horrible that it’s the way in and the way out that suffers most. I have to say apart from the inconvenience of the jags I think in hindsight they are better than the 1 jag, as the bone pain isn’t nearly as bad so far. Last one was today. I had one temp spike on sat night, I had terrible belly cramps and temp was 39.4, but was middle of the night so rode it out and temp went back down in morning. I know if I’d phoned they would have whipped me in to hosp which always makes me worse.

I have a question, is it cheeky to do the Look Good Feel Better thing again? I loved my last session but it was only last year. As this is a separate cancer I thought I would do it again. What do you think? Am I being greedy? And if you haven’t done one you should, lots of lovely free make up.

Big hugs to you girls, keep strong. Susan ?

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Hi Girls

Oh Unicorngirl - How are you getting on? I didn’t thank you for your hug and concern. I’m so sorry and thank you for it flower. Am a bit better last few days. Been getting out and about a bit more (escaped). Had a meal out and lovely evening with my Bezzie last night. Hadn’t seen for a year due to me being mentally out of commission, so had a lot to gas about.

Your poor bums !! Is that TMI?

Snoozy - Glad you got things a bit more sorted appointment wise, plus that you aren’t feeling so pressured. I’m sure your surgeon will fill you in on some of it, before your plastic surgeon appointment. What did your daughter cook last night. Awwww, what a flower. Why don’t you contact whoever organises the Look Good Feel Better course and ask them if it would be okay, rather than feel you might be pushing someone nose out?

Am off for a very early night - no sleep last night and my eyes are going already.

Keep kicking you girls. Gently, until you get your strength back.

Lots of love, Delly xxxxxxx

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Hiya,

Ah Delly, that must’ve been lovely catching up with your bestie. Good to hear you’ve had a good few days. Sorry you can’t sleep though. You’ve lots going on ?

Susan, well done getting through cycle 1! I can sympathise with the toilet issues ? How lovely of your daughter making dinner ? Hope you managed to get back to work.

I’m ok, chemo number 4 tomorrow. Have done some nice things with my daughter the last 3 days, all germ infested places though ?

How is walkerlass getting on?

Big hugs to you all ? xxx

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Hiya,
Chemo number 4 done :white_check_mark: It should have been yesterday but after waiting 2 hours they sent me home because the cold cap machine was in use. Can’t be helped I know but after my usual pre chemo mad house clean/beds stripped/washing all done & ironed, not to mention the psyching myself up it was quite annoying! Never mind, it’s done now.

We’ve been to an outdoor play area Delly on Monday, skateworld on Tuesday, just a dog walk Wednesday then she went to a friends & then when I came home yesterday we made rocky roads & scones!

The sunset sounds gorgeous! And that’s a lovely saying ?

Hope your appointment with the surgeon went how you wanted it to go snoozysuz.

Have a good weekend lovelies ? xxx