New and freaked out for my mom (double cancer)

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RobSilvansson
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Facebook Username: hrodbjartr.silvansson
Location: Rome, Italy

Re: New and freaked out for my mom (double cancer)

Postby RobSilvansson » Sat May 06, 2017 5:18 pm

Hi there, just a quick update: after a looong (and stressful!) period of additional testings the diagnosis of second primary cancer is confirmed. It's an occult breast carcinoma (meaning it has metastasized to the axillary lymph nodes but is not visible in the breast by any scan... very rare but happens). Next will come the surgery: they will remove the lymph nodes and then the breast will be treated with a course of radiotherapy. This is the standard in these cases because the cure rate is the same as or even slightly better than breast removal. After having examined the lymph nodes they will decide whether she will need additional therapies (hormonal therapy for sure, anti-her2 targeted therapy probable, chemo only if many nodes are affected).
Mum dx 05/14 stage IIa colon cancer (screen detected) at age 68
06/14 splenic flexure colectomy
No chemo needed (low risk); supplements (curcumin, polydatin, lactoferrin, etc.)
NED at follow-ups
02/17 lump in armpit biopsy
03/17 dx occult breast cancer (er+, pr+, her2+)
05/17 surgery (axillary lymph node dissection: four nodes affected)

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ANDRETEXAS
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas (University of Tennessee alumnus)

Re: New and freaked out for my mom (double cancer)

Postby ANDRETEXAS » Sun May 07, 2017 12:26 am

Thanks for the update. My best to you and your Mother. Keep up the fighting spirit, stay positive....and remember, one day at a time! Andre
2/10/14 - Colon resect
2/13 - DX- Stage IIIb
6 of 18 lymph nodes cancerous
3/7 - Port placed
3/11 - FOLFOX (12 rds w/full oxi)
8/14 - Chemo finish
8/25 - CT- Inc
9/5 - clean PET
12/10- clean CT

3/2/15 - Clean colonoscopy & port removed
3/4 - clean CT
9/21- clean CT

3/23/16 - clean CT

2/22/17- clean CT

3/21/18 - clean CT
4/1 - clean colonoscopy

3/11/19 - clean CT
9/23 - Five-year release - Annual visits now !

4/13/23 - clean colonoscopy

ONE DAY AT A TIME !

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: New and freaked out for my mom (double cancer)

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Sun May 07, 2017 2:27 pm

Thank you for the update!*hugs* I hope your mother's surgery and radiation go well!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

mymom
Posts: 1299
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:07 pm
Location: Connecticut

Re: New and freaked out for my mom (double cancer)

Postby mymom » Mon May 08, 2017 7:10 pm

Hi. My mom was diagnosed in may 2011 with stage 4 colon cancer and in may 2012 stage 1 breast cancer. She is NED with breast and over 16 months remission/NED with colon cancer. It's stressful but it happens and it could very well be fine. My mom turned 70 this pst September and did a fashion show. Stay positive!
Stage 4 CC DX 5/11
colon/livr rsct 5/11(1 met)
Folfox July-11/11
NED to 5/12
New Primry BC-4/12,Stage 1
2 livermet 5/2012
Liver rsct,HAI 6/12,Folfiri
NED to 10/13,1 liver met,ablation, Folfiri
NED to 12/14, another spot
3/15 NED
Ablation 1 liver met 10/15
1/16-current NED
6/22- small spot liver again, ablation oct 2023

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RobSilvansson
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:34 pm
Facebook Username: hrodbjartr.silvansson
Location: Rome, Italy

Re: New and freaked out for my mom (double cancer)

Postby RobSilvansson » Sun May 28, 2017 11:29 am

Thanks for your support, such an inspirational story!
Surgery will be in two days (Tuesday), I'm trying to hope for the best.
Hugs to your super strong mom.

mymom wrote:Hi. My mom was diagnosed in may 2011 with stage 4 colon cancer and in may 2012 stage 1 breast cancer. She is NED with breast and over 16 months remission/NED with colon cancer. It's stressful but it happens and it could very well be fine. My mom turned 70 this pst September and did a fashion show. Stay positive!
Mum dx 05/14 stage IIa colon cancer (screen detected) at age 68
06/14 splenic flexure colectomy
No chemo needed (low risk); supplements (curcumin, polydatin, lactoferrin, etc.)
NED at follow-ups
02/17 lump in armpit biopsy
03/17 dx occult breast cancer (er+, pr+, her2+)
05/17 surgery (axillary lymph node dissection: four nodes affected)

User avatar
RobSilvansson
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:34 pm
Facebook Username: hrodbjartr.silvansson
Location: Rome, Italy

Re: New and freaked out for my mom (double cancer)

Postby RobSilvansson » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:34 am

Hi there. Just an update: after the surgery (axillary lymph node dissection), a rougher recovery than expected (because of an infection) and further testing (since the beginning she had two mammographs, three ultrasounds, one mri, one CT scan and one PET scan...) the diagnosis of occult breast carcinoma is confirmed. Four armpit nodes were affected but there's no sign of cancer in the breast or anywhere else in her body. Now she will need 8 rounds of adjuvant chemotherapy (lower dosage because of her age), one year of targeted therapy (herceptin) because of the positive her2 status, and I think at least five years of anti-hormonal therapy. The breast will be treated with radiotherapy (a less invasive and more effective alternative to mastectomy in these rare cases). Tomorrow she will have her PICC implanted. Of course we are tired and scared, but knowing that it is still curable is something to be grateful for.
Mum dx 05/14 stage IIa colon cancer (screen detected) at age 68
06/14 splenic flexure colectomy
No chemo needed (low risk); supplements (curcumin, polydatin, lactoferrin, etc.)
NED at follow-ups
02/17 lump in armpit biopsy
03/17 dx occult breast cancer (er+, pr+, her2+)
05/17 surgery (axillary lymph node dissection: four nodes affected)


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