My Grandmother...

gramsasurvivor · New User Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I would like some help understanding a couple of things.
1. My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago.
2. Underwent a radical mastectomy
3. Treated with Tamoxifen for the following treatment period.
4. She has had no problems for the past 15 years, now she is 91 years
old, and has been in very good health, despite her advanced age.
5. She has been complaining about pain at the site of the mastectomy
for the past couple of months.
6. Just underwent a biopsy of the site last week, and recieved her
results today and the Doctor told her that she has lobular carcinoma
7. Not sure of the stage yet, she is going for a CT scan later in the week
and then meeting with MD next week.
Now the question:
With all of the information that I have read, the one thing that is fuzzy
is, can it be possible to be diagnosed with Lobular carcinoma on the
same side where she had the radical mastectomy? Wasnt all of the
breast tissue taken? and Could it be possible to have a recurrance after
15 years of survival (on the same side) or could this be totally unrelated?
Any help or information that anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
T.S. Question

brainman · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:46 am Post subject: Re: My Grandmother...

Hi TS,

The obvious answer not being always the correct answer, here it is. One would assume that ALL breast tissue would be removed in a radical mastectomy. However, this is not necessarily the case. In 15 years, one left cancerous cell could grow into a detectable mass. Others might have more, personal, information for you. I am sorry that your grandmother at her advanced age has is having to face cancer all over again. She will be in my thoughts and my prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Muttsmom · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: My Grandmother...

Hi T.S.

Unfortunately, until they find a cure, the beast can come back anytime and anywhere, however it's not common to see it return after 15 years. They will be able to tell through pathology if it's a recurrence of the original BC or if it's a new primary. Was her dx 15 years ago Invasive Lobular? Did the doctor this time say it was Invasive or Lobular In Situ?

Jim is right, they take the tissue and substance of the breast with a mastectomy, but they can't get it all. Where we have stitches from a mastectomy is tissue on the cancer side. From what I understand, many times if it returns to a mastectomy side, it's on the scar line and if caught early, it hasn't gone anywhere else and considered a local recurrence. It can also come back to the chest wall.

Please let us know the stage etc. with you get the pathology report back.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

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