How Common is Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Opposite Breast?

I had the same problem, ductal carcinoma in situs and invasive ductal carcinoma left breast and all of the sudden the doctor saw something right breast. I was devastated. A guided MRI was conducted with a biopsy and everything was ok!! Good luck!!!

After all that, did you continue to be happy with your decision to keep the breast? I had a single mastectomy and am facing recon surgery to complete my recon. But previously i have been happy with my choice to keep my other native breast as the thought of extra surgery and removal of body parts unnecessarily didn’t feel good to me. Now I’m questioning this choice and wondering if it’s time to just take the other one off as well. So far no doctor has even offered that. I was gearing up for this next surgery and now I’m facing this. I go back for more imaging on Friday, I’m totally loosing it. 😭

I can’t do an MRI as it stands currently because I have a TE in. This all feels very out of control now, it’s so challenging too because none of the doctors talk to one another so I don’t even know how I’m supposed to explain this to my plastic surgeon, i have a pre op with her tomorrow but the imaging isn’t until Friday 😩

No regrets so far to keep my right breast! Beside my oncologist surgeon told me that it will be healthier if I kept one. My surgery was in October 2024. I didn’t have radiation or chemo. I am taking my medication every day it has been a month already. I don’t have any side effects. I exercise everyday by jogging, try to eat healthy, but I not doing any type of special diet. I am trying to eat the same things I used to eat, which in a way it has always been healthy. Mentally I am doing much better. I decided to stop any other breast group that I used to belong. It was just too much for me! I do pray for all of us enduring this and I also pray for a cure.

Question for those of you that had DCIS and then was diagnosed with IDC. were you on Tamoxifen or AI’s during the time they found the new cancer or after you stopped? IDC is usually hormone positive so just interested

I was diagnosed with both at the same time (DCIS) and (IDC). My sentenial lymph were clear (thank God). My oncotype was 10, no radiation or chemo for me (thank God). I am ER/PR +. I am 64 years old and doing my treatment, unfortunately for 5 long years! I just started with Exesmetane a month ago. So far no side effects (thank God).

Thanks for the reply. I was diagnosed w IDC and LCIS so opposite, at the same time. They were in the same breast and right next to each other. My oncotype was 16. I’ve been on tamoxifen for 6 months now but I just wondering on some of these forums you read someone has one type then another so knowing the HR+ cancer are often treated the same I was wondering if one showed up while on the AI or Tam. This all just stinks

You are so right. Cancer stinks. I had HP and HER2 in my left breast. Partial mastectomy, radiation and Letrozole for five years. It has been a year now and I got a clean bill of health at my one year check-up last week. I have always said I would remove both breasts if I ever had breast cancer. But - when faced with that decision for real I didn’t follow through. I am on a couple of these support groups and I think it is more confusing than anything. Women post the things their Doctors tell them and they are all so different. It is scary.

I had reconstruction after my double mastectomy and I regret it greatly. It has been quite uncomfortable and I’m pretty sure that’s what started my cancer again.

My cousin had the reconstruction and also had reoccurrence. That’s one thing that changed my mind about removing my right breast.

I asked my surgeon why she didn't do the oncotype test,she said there was enough of the tumor left because they biopsies so much of it out. I don't believe her....can't they also use the tissue that was orinally taken out via biopsy

I really need to see another surgeon but the thought of finding one haunts me....I need someone to manage my imaging and stuff because I just can't go back to her. She has traumatized me with the lack of care.

She still tried to tell me I only need 1 mammogram once a year. I was already doing a yearly mri then 6 months later a mammogram 3d. That's why we caught my idc so early. I have dense breast and huge family history but amazingly genetic test negative

Cat, my surgeon also only recommends a yearly diagnostic mammogram. I just had my first year mammogram and exam which luckily were clean. What he does recommend is to be seen by Onchology six months after for a breast exam, so that way one is seen at 6 month intervals. I also had 25 radiation treatments after my two surgeries a year ago. The radiation tx were done at another breast center and they recommend a 6 month breast exam but my surgeon told me that I don’t need to do that as there not doing any treatments. He told me to cancel the appointment which was a bit puzzling. I canceled the appointment but now rethinking that whole thing. Is anyone else being seen by radiation oncology as a follow up from radiation?

Hello Bonnie, I see my radiation oncologist every six months, my surgeon every six months and my oncologist once a month

This callback for additional imaging can feel overwhelming, especially when facing the possibility of cancer in the opposite breast. Research shows that the risk of developing breast cancer in the opposite breast (called contralateral breast cancer) varies but is generally considered higher for those who have already had breast cancer, with factors like genetics, age at first diagnosis, and tumor characteristics playing a role. Remember that a BI-RADS 0 simply means more imaging is needed for a complete assessment, and many callbacks result in benign findings. The waiting period is incredibly difficult, but having clear CT scans is encouraging, and the medical team will provide thorough evaluation to determine next steps.