I was diagnosed with grade 3 oestrogen receptive 2.2cm tumour in my right breast in April 09. Had WLE and SNB (nodes clear), followed by 6 cycles of FEC and 25 rads. Towards the end of chemo I had problems with pains in my hip/leg, so my oncologist referred me for an MRI, which picked up a problem in my right kidney. I had a CT which confirmed a 7cm malignant kidney tumour. I had to finish the remaining 2 weeks of rads before they could operate to remove the whole kidney. I had that done last week and am making a slow recovery (not an easy op, feel like I’ve been put in front of a firing squad)! The medical team think the kidney tumour is unrelated to the breast cancer, although we’re waiting for histology to come back to confirm this.
Just wondering if anyone else out there has had an unrelated primary diagnosed during breast cancer treatment?
Next battle… Tamoxifen! Seeing onc next week to discuss that! I have a brilliant medical team dealing with both cancers but wonder if a month will ever go by now when I don’t have a hospital appointment!
Oh Ellie, what a time you are having! I’m not in a similar position to you but I wanted to offer any support I can.
I hope the histology results are helpful to your situation and that you are soon feeling a lot better. I’m sure someone will come along soon, who is more useful to you that I’ve been, but wanted to send love to you
monica xx
Thanks! Am on a bit of a downer at the moment. Think I’ve exhausted sympathy from family now… one comment over the weekend, “you’re just painting a black cloud to get sympathy, you need to stop being a baby and grow up”! I thought this “journey” had showed the grue grit and determination I had to fight it, I tried to work most of the way through but struggled to juggle everything towards the end of rads and took some time out at the end of October. People seem to think “you’ve had your lump taken away, so it’s gone”, “you’ve had your kidney removed, so it’s gone”, “you’ve had chemo and rads so it can’t come back”. I don’t want to wallow in self-pity, the best Christmas present I could have would be to be free of anymore scans or check-ups. Sorry to be miserable, I just need to vent my frustration. This keyboard is taking a hammering!!!
Hi ellie
Read your post with great interest. I had breast cancer in 2005, grade 2, stage 1. Did not have chemo, just radiotherapy and still on tamoxifen. In 2oo8, after complaining of back pain, i had a bone scan. This showed up something on my kidney and a hot spot in my liver! The latter turned out to be a haemangioma on my liver but further tests, including a biopsy of the tumour on my kidney, showed a grade 2 renal cell carcinoma. On 8/8/08(lucky in the chinese calendar lol) i had a total nephrectomy. I had a great surgeon whom i see 6 monthly, and so far so good. To be honest i still see the oncologist yearly but no real interest has been shown in the renal cancer. I have a quick check up and out the door.
I just wanted to wish you the best of luck, share my story, and say it can be done. Difficult time for you, i know, but looking back i think maybe it was a stroke of luck having the bone scan or the tumour would have been growing away silently and unseen.
All the best ellie
Annie x
Ellie,of course how you feel is completely understandable.I can’t comment on new and different cancers.But I had 2 orthopaedic ops,2006 and 2007 and was only just back to work full time when I was diagnosed with BC in July 2008.I underwent a mastectomy.Then in July 2009 another lump was found so I had WLE and rads.It seems everytime I get myself back on my feet something comes along and knocks me down!
Some people have been a bit dismissive with my second BC op.“Oh well at least its not as bad as the last time” oh yeah you try it then!
Ignore the comments you have had,you are not a baby,you are a brave strong woman who has had a hell of a time.You are entitled to feel miserable.Take it easy on yourself.
I had planned to return to work this week but now have a stinker of a cold so Occ Health have said to wait till January.
You must feel that the light at the end of the tunnel keeps moving away.
I hope your appts reduce soon and that you have a happy healthy new year.
Love n hugs
Dot
xxx