Local recurrence while on treatment for secondaries

I was diagnosed with a local recurrence last week which came as a bit of a shock as the hormone treatment I was on seemed to be working OK on my bone secondaries. It’s 9 years since my initial surgery. The local recurrence is ER+ and PR+ too, but may also be Her2+ (the results on that test will take a few more days), and that might explain why it has grown while the hormonal treatment still seems to be working elsewhere. Anyway, just wondering if any others in this situation have had the local recurrence removed? I was told they could do surgery but it was not particularly recommended. However I would like surgery and will ask about it again when I go back next week.

I’m bumping this - hopefully someone will be able to answer. I had surgery for a regional recurrence, but did not have secondaries. My recurrence was her2+ while my primary wasn’t, so I would think that if that’s the case for you, then herceptin would seem likely? Hope all goes well, Mo x

Thanks Mo. Found out today after further testing that the local recurrence isn’t Her2 positive after all, so am just changing to another hormonal treatment for now with a review next month. They’ve agreed to do the surgery to remove the local recurrence and I’ll meet the surgeon tomorrow, so am pleased about that.

Hi Tournesol, thanks for letting me know how you got on. I’m glad they’ve agreed to the surgery, and also that it isn’t HER2+. I hope all goes well with the appointment tomorrow. love Mo x

Hi
I had mastectomy january and clean scan early march so shocked to find I have local recurrence. I noticed some small pimples and had scar revision of mastectomy and is recurrence. Day after surgery I have pain in armpit and whole of arm and fingers. Is now a swollen lymph node but not sure if surgery reaction or cancer. I start radiotherapy in 2 weeks. Has anyone else had local recurrence so soon after mastectomy ?
Hope15

Hope15,
Yes. I had mx in December 09, with clear margins and a completely clear sentinal node biopsy. Then few months later found a lump on reconstructed breast that I was told was nothing. By October it had grown and I insisted that I was referred. It was grade 3, stage 2 cancer of 2.3cm, with more in the lymph nodes. Have just finished chemo and am awaiting removal of reconstruction and full node clearance, then rads, tamoxifen and herceptin. It appears that more lymph nodes in my neck are affected, so, like yours, it is all very puzzling that it reappeared so quickly and in a number of places OR it was missed the first time round. There are so many questions, but I guess sometimes there aren’t answers and the only option is to go through the treatment again. You must make sure you get proper advice about the pain in your arm; it’s early days, but exercises are important as soon as you are ready. Good luck.
Annie

Dear Annie
Thank you. I had chemo first so will have the radiotherapy now. Good luck with your chemotherapy.
Thankyou
Hope15

hi i was first diiagnosed in 2005 with breast cancer. had a mastectomy with a reconstruction fec and tamoxifen. then in 2010 i had a local recurrence. my oncologist left the decision to me as to wether to have more chemo. i had five sessions of taxotere had to stop due to neuropathy and then 25 sessions of radiotherapy. on the 31st of march i found another tumour in the same area. i have been for scan today to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else. i go into hospital on the 22nd of april to remove the tumour. exactly a year and a day to my last operation! i asked the surgeon if it had spread how long would i have and he said it would be a matter of months! i am so scared at the minute and am finding it very hard to function. any comments would be so gratefully appreciated. nancyb

Hi NancyB, It is so difficult to get told that type of info from your Doc, you must be in total shock. No one can tell you what you want to hear, but try to stay strong and positive, I swear that must help. My Mum was 1st dx with BC in 1998, 2 days before my wedding, has mastescomy and lymph removed, she was 52, she was given a very bleak outlook (months infact) because her BC was hormone related, however 11 years later, her 2nd BC above her last scar was removed 2 years ago to the week, and a local lump removed 3 weeks ago from her arm. She has been told she has hot spots in her bones and is starting bone strength treatment. She is a strong personality and has swore she is going to keep fighting, I think that is what keeps her positive and gets her up everyday. Wishing you lots of luck and strength for your journey, give your condition a name of someone you would like to hit and beat it up, might make you feel a bit of contentment, love to you and all who are touched xxx