Can’t find an answer elsewhere so asking it on a new thread. DX Dec 08 and my annual mammo at the beginning of Feb picked up what turns out to be a new primary - thankfully! Had the body scans and they’re clear, so it’s not secondaries.
Had the WLE last week, and results next week. Fairly sure I’ll be doing chemo again. Can we get the same chemo as the first time, or do we switch? I was on E-CMF last year.
Also, anybody else been dx’d for the second time this quickly? I’ve elected for a bi-lateral mx this time. Immediate recon. And an oopherectomy. I do NOT want to be doing this every year. I know there’s still a recurrence risk in the scar tissue, but what the heck, I’ll throw it all at it this time and keep my fingers crossed. To be frank, I asked for a bi-lateral and ooph last year, but they convinced me to do it their way. Can I just say… you know what’s coming… TOLD YOU SO! I have a brilliant med team, but really they should have listened to me last year.
Some of you will know me from the Storm Riders thread. Hi! Anybody who doesn’t know me - quick update. Very p@@d off at this second dx but what’s the song… “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never going to keep me down…”.
Hi Carol
I have not started chemo yet am by no means an expert but I have chatted to my bcn about diff types of chemo and can tell you what she said. She said try to fit it as closely as possible to your results and your health. They don’t want to hit you with the strongest. Chemo if they think you don’t need it and would make you more ill than you can tolerate but there are also cases where there is a high chance of reoccrance and in those cases they like to keep something in reserve to hit it harder. From that I gathered you don’t get the same chemo twice but I could be wrong ( I’m sure someone will be along to correct me any minute). Good luck . Dx
Hi Carole,
Sorry to hear you have been hit twice in such a short time, but you did it once and you’ll do it again. See my profile, it’s my 2nd time too, but different treatment this time. I wanted double mx last time too and they convinced me it was not necessary.
All the very best
Maria
I think they may well look at taxotere this time Carole-maybe with something else.My friend had E-CMF for her first dx then FEC/Tax when she developed a new primary quite quickly.
Love to you
Valxxx
Thanks Val. I was thinking fec-tax too. Hug City. Speak soon.
Maria, thanks for that. Looks like we’re on the same programme, ie training the med teams to listen to us! Keep in touch. Love to see how you’re doing.
you may find that you still get the same chemo or similar type again as they will plan your treatment based on your path results… the cancer you had before has gone so it doesnt come into the equation… if you have a grade 1 stage 1 tumour you may just have surgery and hormones… it really is down to the path results.
if you have a strongly ER pos tumour then chemo is not very effective so might not be chemo at all.
i had 2 primaries but was 3 years apart first was grade 1 ER positive 7/8, second was grade 3 TNBC with LVI in the opposite breast.
when i got diagnosed again last year i also asked for a bilat Mx but was advised to go for WLE… now have to get bilat Mx after all as since found i have brca 2 gene, but WLE surgery is gonna make it quite a difficult procedure.
I found another lump after my 3rd FEC and was changed to 4 tax and then mx. Not sure if it grew from un-cleared margins (was close to scar) or was completely new.
I had wanted a mx right from the start, but then I guess I am lucky that I didn’t otherwise I would not have discovered that FEC did not work for me, and would have had 6 FEC that would have not worked at all on killing off stray cancer trying to set up secondaries. (I found tax a bit easier too).
I feel very lucky that I found the lump during chemo, the thought of getting back on the chemo roller-coaster again anytime soon is horrendous. You sound like a tough lady and am sure you will be fine.
Hello, I am 41 and have had 2 Primary diagnosis in 3 yrs. Yes, you can still have E -CMF, but there is a limit to how much “E” - Epirubicin - you can have cos it damage your heart - I had heart tests before my second round and if I ever got BC again ( fingers crossed I don’t)- I am now at my “E” limit and can nrver have it again. But there is loads of other chemo
Not sure how much Epi I have left. I took the full dose last year. I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see what they suggest once the pathology is in.
Hi Carole
got nothing sensible to add to the posts thus far, but wanted to send love - what a bu**er that it’s happened again so quickly, but thank god its a new primary - tho’ I would never have dreamed that I would have said that to anyone, ever.
I’m thinking of you and sending much love - you have a great spirit mrs, and while I’m sure that will help you, you are allowed to kick off, gnash your teeth, howl at the moon, weep buckets, whatever gets you through this…
love, monica xxx
Hi Carole , me too, nothing major to offer as I am only on first round of chemo but I am aware there is a lifetime limit on certain chemo drugs due to their toxicity. Anyway just to say so sorry to hear you have to go through it all again, I can fully understand your plan now for all the major surgery to move things on and really just sending you a big virtual hug and wishing you all the best for the journey ahead. You sound like a wonderful positive woman, hang in there and dont be afraid to have your angry - lock yourself away - days, but I hope you will continue to have some good times too.
Keep in touch. Love to see how you’re doing.