New Breast Cancer After a Bilateral Mastectomy

Hello, my name is Laura.

On September 11, 2014, I was told I had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma breast cancer that was Estrogen positive. My oncologist said it was small enough that I could do a lumpectomy and radiation, but after an additional full chest MRI, I elected to do a bilateral mastectomy. I was then put on the estrogen blocker Tamoxifen for five years. At the five-year mark, I was recommended to stay on Tamoxifen for another five years as it would increase my life expectancy by 3%. I chose to do so since I had already done the most aggressive treatments possible, so I might as well follow through.

On September 15, 2022, I was told I have Invasive Lobular Carcinoma breast cancer, estrogen positive. It is 7 x 6.6 x 4.3 cm and extends from the skin under my arm to my chest wall; it is too large to remove surgically right now.

The kicker is that the medicine they usually give for this new cancer is Tamoxifen.

I cannot adequately tell you how shocking it is to have done the most aggressive treatment possible for my first breast cancer, only to end up with a completely different second breast cancer eight years later. One that grew despite me being on the very medicine for all these years that is supposed to prevent the new one.

My current treatment plan is to have 12 chemo treatments with Taxol (my third treatment is tomorrow) and then a combo called "AC" every other week, four times. Hopefully, the cancer will shrink to an operable size by the end of all those treatments.

While my husband and I both work full-time, we're thankful to be able to take care of our day-to-day expenses. That said, cancer goes beyond our financial means. It's incredible how costly cancer is! Our income level is just high enough to disqualify us from help from any foundations I've applied to. We are blessed to be in the middle-class bracket, but it's a double-edged sword; we don't qualify for most financial programs. If you feel compelled to help, please know that any funds received will only be directed to paying for deductibles and things not covered by insurance. For example, my biopsy was sent to a genome company, and my portion of that cost was $1600. I'm told that the further I get into my treatment, the more these expenses are to come.

Thank you for reading my story. Please feel free to share this with your family, friends, and coworkers.

May God Richly Bless You.

Laura