I was just told I have breast cancer recurrance in the left lung...very close to the originial site...I had breast cancer 18 years ago...I was so comfortable thinking I was a suvivor that the thought of a recurrance was not in my thoughts at all...now I had my first PET scan...a gentic work up ...and markers being taken...I see the dr. Friday for the treatment plan...worried...yes I am...not sure what to expect...he did mention a pill femara I think that is the spelling...but needed to know if estrogen is involved...I had a hysterectomy in 94...where would the estrogen come from...?Teacher55 

so sorry to hear of your recurrance.  Keep a positive attitde.  you beat this once you can do it again.  About the estrogen, when you had your hysterectomy were both overies removed.  They are not always.  Also, estrogen is produce in fat cells.  Even men can have high levels of estrogen if they are overweight.  I am at risk becouse I a very overweight.  That is why my Dr and I have created a plan to bring my BMI down in the next 8 months.

Hope things go well for you.

 I thought I was home free also, Modified Radical mastectomy in 2000, and no recurrence for 8 years. Then it came back in my spine. I had 33 rounds of radiation to the spine (L5 process) and was on Zometa for a year (monthly infusions) and taking femara. But the cancer returned with a vengance. It is now in my spine everywhere from my neck to my tail bone and also in my hip. One thing that Doctors do not tell you is that breast cancer seldom returns to the original site (the breast) but comes back in other places that only a PET scan or MRI can detect. A yearly Mammogram on the remaining breast does not do squat.

I thought that I was the only one that the doctor "FORGOT" to mention that BC can come back in other places.  Mine just happen to be in the brain.  I am worried about the reoccurance in other places now.  I am worried about how fast it might occur again.  I am already getting my "life in order".  This is such a scary time.