I am 3.5years out from diagnosis, Triple Negative, no nodes. Had a routine Breast MRI on Tues and was called back for an ultrasound on Thurs. They have taken a biopsy and I will get the results in one week. From the way they were talking and all the sympathetic looks, they are fairly sure its a new tumour, right beside the same place as I had my lumpectomy. Its only 1cm, which I hope means its hasnt popped up anywhere else in my body…
I’m really shocked, just wasnt expecting it.
In particular it means neither the chemo nor the radiotherapy worked.
I know a mastectomy will be the treatment and thats fine, but dont know what else, presumably more chemo if its hormone negative and they’ve already told me I cant have any more radiotherapy to that area.
Can anyone tell me what treatment they have had in this situation?
Thanks !!
PS Posted this on the ‘Recurrence’ forum too.
Hi just wanted to reply let u know my story sorry to hear after a long way off Im tn to had fec/tax 09 then mx oct 09 rads fin 10 but in march was dx with sec to lungs so more chemo which is all they can offer us tn ladies yes I gather more chemo for u after op my nodes where clear was a shock it returned it was found by accident by gp on x ray kp us posted gd luck with results tc Laura
Hi katie
sorry to hear about your recurrence. Sadly it is all too comon with tnbc 
I was dx in jan 10 had mx, chemo but had local recurrence straight away within a few weeks of last chemo. The cancer recurred in my skin + chest wall (skin mets- very nasty). I had a big op then intensive rads (finished nov) which thankfully got it under control. Sadly my next scan in jan showed progression to nodes at collarbone so I’ve just finished 6 cycles of carboplatin which has worked very well. Not sure what is next I see my onc on 22nd…
Here’s hoping they’ve caught it early + your scans are clear. Could it be a new primary? Fingers crossed this time treatment with get rid of it for good 
all the best
tina x
ps we have a thread on the ‘living with secondary bc’ section called 'triple neg secondaries + recurrences feel free to join us x
Hi Laura and Gingerbud- thanks for getting back to me.
The wait till next Friday for the results is torture! Even though I’m pretty certain that it is a recurrence I have decided to fix on the mantra “it could be nothing” and to visualise them smiling and telling me its benign scar tissue or something… It’s the only way I can stop my head exploding. I’m in Ireland and my only child is in the middle of our equivalent of A levels, so that is my main focus and a good distraction.
I will keep in touch!
Katie x
Hi Katie, Sorry to hear your news. I am a primary person so have no experience or your particular situation but I just wanted to say, from talking to other people and specialists, that if this is a recurrence it may not necessarily be TN just because your other one was. I am sure they will do this if need be, but they do change so its worth testing in case there is a hormone or herceptin treatment that might help you x
Hi katie-may I ask what chemo you had?it really is rotten luck if it is a recurrence after so long.I do hope it will be simply dealt with.
Valx
Thank you for your comments. I know that if it is another tumour it could be a different type but its right beside the original site so I imagine it will be the same - all will be revealed in time!
Horace, to answer your question I originally had 4 x Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide. The onc usually gives 6 if you have node involvment but I didnt. I had 5 weeks of radiation too.
I’m off to get some beta blockers in the morning as I really need to calm my nerves, still have 5 more days to go…
Love
Katie
Wishing you all the best Katie
Hugs
Mekala x
Hi
Just a little update . I’m in hospital having had the mx and ld recon a week ago. The tumour was TN and grade 3 again but v small at .77cm and no spread. So it’s good news considering, but I’m still worried that some cells survived surgery chemo and radiotherapy, as that breast had the works thrown at it!!
has anyone had a similar experience?
Katie x x
Katie61 glad op is over done all I can tell u is I had mx chemo rads 09/10 I’m also tn and it returned in march in both lungs so like u worried cancer cells were left behind but they are now saying nodes were clear and it went through blood stream it’s all worrying try recover and hope the rest of your treatment goes well tc Laura