does anyone know what the chances are of a new diagnosis in other breast while still on tamox?
i had DCIS lumpectomy and rads in early 2010. been on tamox since then.
found lump in other breast on Wednesday, had emergency mammogram , ultrasound and 3 biopsies . will have results on Tuesday.
i wonder why they didn’t do fna first?
i am over the initial shock and cried loads so now in philosophical mode.
so just wondering what the stats are like for new diagnosis .
sorry for rubbish typos. i am on a kindle and the words keep deleting while i am typing!
thanks
SG
I had mx 20th dec, currently half way through chemo 6 x fec, and booked for rads then tamoxifen 5 years… Asked onco what chance of new cancer in remaining breast, he said 10%… His concern multi focal tumour not picked up at mammogram stage so write to surgeon to see if he would annual mammogram remaining breast…
I hope results come back clear for you, I was lead to believe Tamoxifen was great at keeping hormone lead tumours at bay… I think we will always worry about this awful disease coming back…it’s a new way of life for us now.
Good luck
Maggie x
Thanks Maggie at least that gives me an idea of the chances.
I read something earlier that if you get new diag while on tamox then its usually the opposite type, the one that doesn’t respond to tamox. sorry i can’t think of correct terminology. i don’t know if its correct though, it was in a newspaper article online.
I’ll come back with the results after Tuesday.
good luck with the rest of your chemo !!
SG x
Well here we go again. new cancer on other side, this time grade 3.
i don’t know full type as i live overseas and need full report translating.
saw surgeon and breast nurse Today and got lots of pre-ops nextweek.
have to wait for MRI end March, so guessing op early April.
don’t know yet if need chemo.
i actually feel better now i know, but how rubbish to get a new one while on tamoxifen!
a few glasses of wine are in order I think!
xx
Hi spud girl,
rubbish indeed!
like you I had a second primary on the other side while on tamoxifen. And both were oestrogen positive. I was diagnosed with the second one within six months of finishing the first lot of treatment.
is your new BC er+?
christine
Spudgirl I’m so so sorry to hear your news 
it’s our fear that it’ll come back isn’t it.
Thank goodness you found it.
sending you lots of squishy hugs … we’re all here for you. xx
Lozza xx
spudgirl pants news hunny. i was on tamoxifen for a grade 1 tumour in 2006 but unfortunately got a new cancer in the other side in 2009… surgeon thought it may have been a tamoxifen resistant tumour however it wasnt it was hormone neg and grade 3… had 8 round of epi-cmf chemo wle and rads, but got a recurrence 2 years later and had 6 cycle of carbo and tax… finished treatment almost a year ago and just had a normal mammo last week.
because i had cancer in both breasts i had genetic testing and found to carry a brca2 mutation… bilateral cancer is much more common in people carrying mutations… particularly if you were younger when you got them… i had the right side at 37 and left at 40.
stay in touch xxx
thank you all!
i am still trying to get my head round this. i was obviously very niaive thinking Tamox would keep me safe!
tomorrow i have various tests including a bone scan and abdominal ultrasound, is that anormal precaution ?
When i saw my surgeon last week she said they don’t know yet if i will need chemo. at what point will i find that out? i saw her about 30 minutes after receiving diagnosis so wasn’t thinking about what i needed to ask.
lulu it is really heartening to know you have been through more than me and come out well the other end.
Christine are you still going through treatment? i dont know yet if Er+, at what point will they tell me? i see my Oncologist Thursday so perhaps he will tell me?
i don’t worry about myself, just my 8 year old daughter.
xxxx
Just seen this and wanted to say how sorry I am that you are facing bc again.
I was told by my Breast surgeon that after having bc once, your odds increase from a 1:8 lifetime risk to 1:5. That’s pretty scary isn’t it, and sadly Tamoxifen, indeed any of the drugs used, are not 100% effective in 100% of women.
I would imagine you will get the full report on Thursday, but you’ve done this once, you CAN do this again!
Sue
I first had breastfeeding cancer at 26 and after chemo, radio I was fine for 20 years and had 3 children. Last year age 47 I was diagnosed again in same breastfeeding and has a mastectomy and started taking tomoxifen (apparently a different cancer than when I was younger) I am due to have a mammo on Wednesday and thought I’d check myself and have found another lump in my other breast. I thought if taking tomoxifen it would keep me safe. I will find out on Wednesday but am now worried it could be elsewhere in my body ! Suck of this I don’t know if I can go through this again, my 11 year old was really effected last time I went into hospital and is still self harming
Thankd
Thanks x crossing fingers and toes for Wednesday x
Is tomoxifen more effective for oestrogen cancer, I have had both types but can’t remember what last year’s bcwas. I thought taking tomoxifen would keep me safe but a year later have another lump. I’m hoping for the best at the moment but realistically I think it’s back
I have 3 girls aged 7, 10 and 11 and am worried sick if I’m ill again if they can cope. I has a mastectomy last March but as I’d had radiotherapy before they used skin from my stomach for reconstruction. After being home for a week I remember feeling ill and having a temperature, everything else is a bit of a blur as I was rushed to hospital with an infection and was in isolation fighting for my life. I came out of hospital with a big hole in my stomach wich had foam in the hole and a vacuum bag and drains coming out of it. I was left like this for months as they tried to pull my skin together. My youngest girl was very scared of the vacuum bag as was noisy and the tubes frightened her. She wouldn’t cuddle me and was scared to come close in case she hurt me. Eventually after they closed the hole as much as they could I was left to heal. My stomach is a mess and no face further ops to repair and the girls are worried I will come home with a vacuum bag again. I’m so scared of getting another infection and after finding another lump am thinking another mastectomy is on its way.
Oh ladies - you have been through so much! Huge hugs to you all.
Presumably to have a recurrence it doesn’t have to have been in your lymph nodes? But to metastasise - it does?
It’s a wicked bloody disease isn’t it - like being stalked by a sniper. But it’s is comforting to know about the medical advances - we are all in such good hands.