scared of recurrance

I was diagnosed with stage IIIA breast cancer in March of 08.  I just finished lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, and ovaries removal.  I am now second guessing my choice of having just a lumpectomay and not a mastectomy.  I am also very scared about recurrance.  I have not found any really good info on specific symptoms of recurrance.  Most sites talk about the factors that influence recurrance and the places that it often reoccurs.  Where can I get good informtion of actual recurrance symptoms?

[SueYoung55]

I understand your need to know and also your fear of recurrence. I don't know the answer for myself, let alone for you.

Let me share something with you that will give you a pause, for thought. I saw a program on TV about the time you were diagnosed with cancer. It was Linda Ellerby... remember her? Famous TV personality. Anyways, Linda was one of the first people I can remember that "came out on TV about her breast cancer" many years ago when most people didn't "talk" about it. Linda pushed her Doctors to tell her the truth. She wanted to know just what her odds were, that she could handle the truth. They didn't ever really answer her directly but patted her hand and told her she would be fine. She went on to say that 10 years after her cancer treatment she ran in to her oncologist. She hugged him and said "can you believe it's been 10 years since my cancer"? And to her shock, he replied " I never thought you would make it past 3 years!" Needless to say, she's glad she didn't know that because she would have made different choices, preparing for death, instead of living life.
Just something to ponder. :) Best of luck to you and to us all!

[japdip]

There are no true symptoms of recurrance ... this would be much the same as your symptoms that lead to the original diagnosis. You should be having regular mammograms and any other testing that was advised by your Oncologist. Now if you are referring to metastises; that's something altogether different. Symptoms of mets would depend on where it occured. BC can metastisize to many areas of the body and each would be accompanied by specific symptoms. I truly believe worrying about this is the wrong thing to do; now or anytime in the future. Our minds can do terrible things to us if we permit it so I would relax and revel in the fact that you have completed your treatment. As far as second guessing the lumpectomy vx. mastectomy goes ... not worth your consideration. Studies reveal that one is no better than the other when it comes to survival. If lumpectomy weren't adequate for your particular situation you would have been advised to have a mastectomy by your Surgeon.  Your treatment is behind you ... try to put the thoughts there also.  Regards ....

[katarina777]

I wanted to tell you that it is normal that you are feeling the way you are feeling now. As everything else, these feelings will change again soon. When you finish treatment, this is a time that is both very stressful and vulnerable both. I went through the same thing, and every symptom I had, I was sure it was mets.
It often was something serious but not reoccurrence, and I had stage 3 as well. So, be patient and kind to yourself and you will get through this stage and it will get better. kat