What is my prognonis?

I recently had a bilaterial mastectomy.  I had a right lumpectomy in Jan of 2000, axillary disection 3 postive of 11, chemo, radiation.  In Jan 2002 I had two nodes removed from other side.  both were positive.  After mastectomy they found 8cm tumor (which did not show up on any test but I knew was there), on lumpectomy side.  Also they found sm tumor in other breast and 10 positive out of 12 nodes.  My doctor said since it has reoccured so quickly he does not know what to do.  The 8cm tumor was hormone receptor positive all other cells have been negative.  I start another round of chemo Monday.  He said he may shut down ovaries since the one tumor was hormone receptor positive.  What are the chances of me developing cancer somewhere else?  Where?  When?  What are the symptoms?  What is a realistic prognonis?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear CherylAnn8:  Actually you have 2 primary breast cancers.  A recurrence on the right and a new primary breast cancer on the left.  This left breast cancer is stage lllA.  Stage lllA breast cancer has a five year survival rate of approximately 50%-56%.  Is either tumor HER2/neu receptor positive?  Sometimes this receptor is associated with more aggressive disease and would possibly make you eligible to receive Herceptin as part of the treatment plan.  Usual treatment would include chemotherapy (drugs would depend on what you have already had), possible radiation on the left, and hormone therapy (probably tamoxifen if you are premenopausal).  There is a possibility that this could spread (to any place at any time - we simply don't know).  This is the reason for the chemo and hormone therapy - to try to eliminate any cancer cells that may have escaped through the lymph system.  If you develop symptoms, such as a cough, shortness of breath, or pain, that do not resolve, you should alert your doctor to examine further.