Lump found in breast after chemo

[dlr2007]

Hi Everyone,
My best friend, age 36, was dx'ed with breast cancer last summer- 2007. She had two small tumors in her right breast. She had them removed and they found cancer in 2 out of 20 (or 28- not sure) lymph nodes. I'm not sure if the cancer was Stage II or III, but I'm assuming it was Stage II because they weren't suree at first if she would even need chemo. I don't know much else except that the cancer if "hormone fed" and she is on tomoxaphin (spelling?). I apoligise for my lack of knowledge.
  Anyway, she was done with chemo and doing great. She had reconstruction surgery done on the breast that had the lumps removed, and did wondewrfully aside from having to keep the drain in  for quite a while.  She was scheduled to have surgery on the left breast next Friday, to make it's size equal to the right. She went for her pre-op mammography yesterday and they found a new lump in her left breast- the one that didn't have the cancer. All we know right now is that the doctor said "it didn't look good" and that he wanted to do a surgical biopsy, not a needle biopsy. I want to be as much of a comfort to my friend as possible, but I also would like to be knowledgable so I'm not just giving empty words of comfort.
  My main questions are:

Is it possible that this lump could be benign? How can the doctors tell just from te mammogram and ultrasound that they shouldn't do a needle biopsy?

If it is malignant, could this be considered either a recurring local or regional (?) cancer, or possibly a primary if it's a different kind of tumour? Or could it be a leftover from the chemo that was never detected? My friend says that if this lump is malignant, it means that the cancer has metastized (spelling again) and that she will never be "cured" because it could pop up again anywhere on her body. I thought this was only the case if the cancer spread to distant areas of the body.
  
Thank you for any advice- I truly appreciate it. You are all in my prayers.
-Dee

  

    

[dlr2007]

Thank you so much for your reply. I feel encouraged by the information you gave me, and it means a lot to me to be knowledgable about this. My prayers and hope are unwavering, but I like any encouragment that I give my friend beyond that to be based on fact. I've been through a frightening medical diagnosis and vague promises of "it'll be fine" made me crazy. I don't want to do the same to my friend. She is amazing- always has a smile on her face and such a great attitude. I know that is very important.
  There certainly have been incredible advances in breat cancer research- I feel that there will be more breakthroughs soon. There are so many great minds committed to finding a cure- it will happen.
  Thanks again for your thoughtful reply. I hope all is going well for you.
  Prayers and best wishes,
Dee

[japdip]

The lump could very well be benign. If it is a malignancy it could be either a recurrance or another primary cancer. If any nodes are found to be positive Chemo is usually recommended; I believe you said she had two positive nodes. If the tumor is a recurrance that doesn't mean metastatic ... as it's still in the breast tissue. Metastatic would be if the cancer were found in another part of the body or another organ (lungs, bone, brain, etc). We are never "cured" per se as we are always subject to a recurrance. A recurrance certainly isn't a death sentence these days with advances in treatment being discovered frequently. A surgical or excisional biopsy can sample a larger portion of the tumor and I feel is superior if the tumor is easily located. I'm sure it's very discouraging to your friend after what she has already been thru and I hope you can change her thinking over to the positive side ... Good Luck