Breast Cancer returns 31 years later

Hi

When I was 32 I had a stage 1 grade 3 5cm non hormonal tumour removed from my left breast with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I was kept under the clinic for 18 years. There is a very strong family link to breast cancer. So I decided when my fifth grandchild was going to be a girl to get gene testing and also to get a prosthesis as I only had half a boob left and the other one had gone south...

I then found a lump and was fast tracked to my local breast clinic,the lump turned out to be calcification. On having a mammogram two small tumours were found ... They have turned out to be cancerous and hormone positive.

It turns out that the original cancer could well have returned but evolved to be hormone positive. The Consultant tells me that this is quite rare but can happen.. I await a CT scan before a Mastectomy and possibly chemotherapy. No radiotherapy as you can only have this once in your life. I have booked to go to Melbourne in October to see my grandchildren. My grandaughter Layla is now 2 weeks old, how can I tell them without spoiling their joy... 

 

  • Hi Sissjg,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    I am so sorry to hear that your breast cancer seems to have returned. This must be devastating for you. I have had 2 bouts of BC too, but mine reappeared after only a year. I had a double mastectomy after the second bout and took Letrozole for 6 and a half years. That was all 13 years ago and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

     Have you been told when you wull get your CT and mastectomy? I hope that they come through soon and you can start wuth treatment again.. 

    Congratulations on the birth of your new granddaughter. This will give you something to look forward to, as you go through the drudhery of treatment again. I am sure that you are desperate to see her in person.

    It is always difficult to break such news to loved ones, but is especially so when there is such a distance between you geographically. I can appreciate that you don't want to put a dampner on ther joy, but I'm sure that they would rather know. I have found that the more positive I can appear about the outcome, when I tell them, the better they take the news. I am sure that they will want to see for themselves that you look ok, so why don't you give them a What's App or a Facebook video call? That way you can possibly see your new granddaughter at the same time.

    I sincerely hope that all goes well with your scans. Please kep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx