Cancer again

[1962jns]

Has anyone gotten a secondary cancer while on W & W ? I had breast cancer two years ago and had a lumpectomy with no chemo or radiation. My cancer is now back in same breast. Thinking of a mastectomy this time but still concerned that the CLL might be an underlying cause. Any comments would be very appreciated as I really don’t know where to start with this new diagnosis.

[Lisa-1959]

I have also had breast cancer (December 2020) since being diagnosed with CLL (April 1997). Mine was invasive lobular carcinoma and was caught early enough to only need a lumpectomy...and 33 radiation treatments. I too thought it might be a case of a "secondary primary cancer", but my oncologist at MD Anderson doesn't think it is. One in 8 women develop breast cancer, so his opinion is that I was just an unfortunate 1 out of 8 in developing a fairly common cancer for women. So sorry you are dealing with a recurrence...know that is difficult to process.

[Juliemediastream in reply to Lisa-1959]

I was diagnosed with CLL in 2015. Had a course of FCR any everything was fine until 2020, when it returned. Have been on Ibrutinib for 18 months with only minor problems. I have recently been diagnosed with vaginal cancer and although I’m in early stages of treatment I feel that this may have been brought on by Ibrutinib (not confirmed). Anyone else had similar experience?

[aloneifly in reply to Juliemediastream]

There are some of us whose CLL has led to squamous cell carcinoma.Wishing you well with your latest set back

[Lisa-1959 in reply to Juliemediastream]

I have not heard any reports of Ibrutinib causing other cancers, but I had lots of side effects while on Ibrutinib. Wound up changing to Venclexta which I tolerated much better. What does your oncologist think about any possible connection?

[Juliemediastream in reply to Lisa-1959]

No comment from oncologist at this early stage. After removal of vaginal mass I now have a mass in anal passage.Having exploratory surgery tomorrow and hoping to get some answers before treatment of combination radiotherapy/chemotherapy. Never thought I would be in this position but still hoping for positive news re outcome.

[Lisa-1959 in reply to Juliemediastream]

Wow...so sorry you are dealing with all of this on top of the CLL! Please let us know what you find out, and I am certainly praying for a good report!

[NoClew]

Had a 2nd BC, totally different from 1st, during W&W. No comment from CLL team if it was secondary. Multiple squamous cell skin cancers both before and after treatment with Acalabrutinib. Probably secondary.

[1962jns in reply to NoClew]

Did you have a lumpectomy with radiation on first diagnosis? I only had lumpectomy with no radiation. Radiologist said I didn’t need any radiation. Guess she was wrong.

[NoClew in reply to 1962jns]

First case in 1995 - lumpectomy, 7 weeks radiation (surgeon did not get clean margins), 6 cycles chemo (that I probably did not need by current standards, and now have been told quite possibly caused the CLL) then 5 years of Tamoxifen. 18 years later and 5 years after CLL dx, 2nd BC when I had a lumpectomy and another 7 weeks of radiation. No more chemo. Whew! Your BC has not returned? You may not have needed radiation. Wish you all the best with your current treatments.

[Teddo]

1962-

Sorry for your latest medical problem. I have read and was told by my CLL specialist that having any type of cancer increases the risk of developing a second cancer. As if we don't already have enough to concern us with CLL. And , has been reported and discussed many times on this forum having CLL increases the risk of having a secondary skin cancer by 8-10 times. I myself have had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my scalp, and was told by the dermatologist and MOHS surgeon who removed it to anticipate more, either basal cell or squamous cell cancers.

[Allidstaken]

Sorry for recurrent breast cancer. Two years ago I had lumpectomy and radiation. I had clear margins, but the tumor was very close to chest bone. It was how I was diagnosed with cll/sll. My oncologist told me the lumpectemy with radiation was same as mastectomy in preventing recurrence. I hope things go well for you!

[teddy777]

Hi I am new on here I had Breast Cancer 5 yrs ago . I had a Mastectomy, No other treatment at all. as I am highly alergic to lots of thing drugs dust some foods etc. I decided my body could not take any of the treatments. my theory was if the surgeon did the job properly I will be ok. I am 5 yrs clear have not seen or spoken to anyone about it. so I don't know if this will help you in not having had the usual treatments. Neither did I have breast reconstruction as she said I was too small not enough to work with. and I felt I was not physically well enough to overcome that either. I suffer other illnesses Hope this helps.