I am 58 (well will be on Thursday). I had breast cancer in my right breast (diagnosed in August 2021), Grade 2, IDC, ER8 PR8 Her2 Negative that was found in a routine mammogram. I had a lumectomy, radiotherapy and Tamoxifen. I had to stop the Tamoxifen due to severe side effects but did give it two years - just couldn’t cope with it any longer. All was going well until mid July when I found a lump in my left breast. As I had a my annual mammogram and follow up booked on 2nd August I just waited until that came around.
Lump was viewed under ultrasound and biopsy done. It’s come back indicating at this stage G1, IDC. Receptor tests are not back yet as of today.
My consultant thinks treatment will run the same course as previously but as this is my second diagnosis in under 3 years, there’s a huge part of me that just wants to have a double mastectomy and get rid of the risk of it coming back again and again. It has been mentioned to have the BRCA test, as both my mum and grandmother died of cancer. For both of them it was never diagnosed as breast cancer but my grandmother died when I was young and I don’t think they ever found where the cancer started from. My mother had kidney and pancreatic cancer but again could it have originated from the breast (I don’t think she was ever tested as cancer was found by chance whilst she was being tested for something unrelated). Obviously, I will take this test and if positive, then without doubt will opt for the mastectomy route.
I sailed through the first diagnosis and treatment, thinking it was just one of those things life throws at you and had pretty much forgotten I’d ever had breast cancer. I just don’t know that I can ever take that attitude again and I’ll constantly be worrying whether it’ll happen again and again. I guess this is normal?
Lots of unanswered questions still but just wondered if anyone else has experienced similar?
I am so sorry to hear about what you’re going through at the moment, and that you still have many unanswered questions. Worries about recurrence are something a lot of people here can relate to.
The forum is a very kind place and I hope you find the support you are looking for. Our specialist breast care nurses are also on this forum, so please don’t hesitate to post this on the Ask our Nurses your questions thread as well.
take the brca test or push for it, it gives you options then to take preventative steps if it comes back you do carry the gene I was tnbc so got tested for brca so I’d have options for preventative surgery but my brca test came back negative. I’m sure others will pop on and reach out too Shi xx
Hi ,
First off Breast cancer doesn’t jump from breast to breast, if you do have it in the left breast it’s a new cancer, maybe a different type, I was diagnosed in October of 21,i also couldn’t take the hormone pills, I’m due for a mammogram in December, it’s always a nightmare before.
Try not to worry, leave it up to God, go out and enjoy your Birthday, mine was diagnosed the week of my 77th birthday but I still celebrated. You can’t stop living!
After my similar diagnosis - only 1 breast - and my recent daughters ovarian cancer diagnosis I asked my GP to do the BRCA test. I had a very quick response from them & now a few months down the line it has come back negative… so do ask
I think you need more information before you can make decisions so ask for every test going, every option available to you and recovery times , side effects etc.and then talk to your surgeon and family
Good luck
Dont jump in yet theres still a way to go
I had one type in left breast folled by a recurrence of the same type 5 years later…then 2 years after that had a new primary in other breast …of a different type …just unlucky …but 4 years on now …wishing you well
So sorry to hear this. What a roller coaster you have been on.
Admittedly it is absolutely not the news you wanted but i think you need to give yourself credit for finding the lump early so that treatment can begin.
I think its worth speaking to your team about how youre feeling re. Mastectomy & reoccurrence. They may be able to offer you different surgery or different hormone treatment e.g. zoladex or prostap.
Going for the BRACA testing is a good idea as it may help your case.
Its a horrible journey but youve beaten it once and youre going to do it again.
Try your best to have a good birthday & good luck for your treatment z
Just to comment that Pancreatic Cancer is linked to BRCA too. It’s not just breast and ovarian.
I am BRCA2 with very little relevant family history. I pushed for testing and you’d automatically qualify based on your history. Now I get the extra mastectomy and ovaries out too and drugs that are not available to non-BRCA mutation peeps.
It completely changes the treatment you get. Exponentially. It actually improves your prognosis too to be BRCA mutation positive so don’t be afraid of it if possible! X
take the brca test or push for it, it gives you options then to take preventative steps if it comes back you do carry the gene 
