Breast cancer returned in a year

I was diagnosed with grade 1 breast cancer in December 2107, had a lumpectomy then radiotherapy and taking Tamoxifen. At my one year check up, they found another small lump in the opposite breast. The consultant seems to think it’s a different type of cancer, waiting on biopsy and a full body scan results. Just don’t seem to be able to find much information about treatment, not too sure if it’s treated any differently from the first cancer. Know I will find out in a weeks time but wondered if anyone else had this experience. 

 

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    Hi Jo,

    Great to hear from you again.

    I was lucky when I retured to get the stitches removed from my face. The nurse who took them out assisted the surgeon when he carried out my biopsies. When she heard how long I had to wait for my results, she said that the plastic surgeon was in the unit that day. She went and got him and, he phoned his secretary and discovered that the results were already back, as he had sent them to pathology as an emergency.

    Fortunately, neither lesion was cancerous, so I have been walking on cloud nine for weeks now. The only down side was that the stitches in my leg became infected and I am still on antibiotics to get this healed up two months later.

    I am glad to hear that your surgery went well and , that you are back at work. How many sessions of radiotherapy do you have to have? It sounds as if you have caught it early again, if only one lymph node was involved.

    If possible, try to make sure that you are tested again in 6-12 months. If there is any further re-growth, you might need to stop taking Tamoxifen and try another medication.

    Having said this, I sincerely hope that your surgeon is right and that you won't have any further re-growth.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine, 

    Really pleased to hear your results came back clear!! That must have been such a relief to have good news. Hopefully the infection will quickly clear up. 

    I am being taken off Tamoxifen and and given Aromatase inhibitor instead which is why I am being put into the menopause. I already have a check up date for next year, I cannot fault the treatment I have been given. The NHS always gets bad press but my experience has been outstanding with amazing staff. 

    Lovely to hear from you again 

    Jo x x 

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    Hi Jo,

    I am glad to hear that you are being put on to an Aromatase Inhibitor. It's not good news that you will experience an early menopause, but if I were you, I'd feel happier with a different type of treatment when the cancer returned with Tamoxifen.

    I certainly felt much better when I changed over. I agree, we are so fortunate in the UK to have the NHS to turn to with problems like this. When I think of all the surgery, treatment and aftercare I've had in the past 9 years, private treatment wouldn't have been any better.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on with your Aromatase Inhibitor. Always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx