Recurrence rate with triple negs

I agree with you shellie, I live in MI as well, was 62 degrees, and the storm straight from heck blew thru here last light, a I am still stunned at Tornados?!?!?! in January?!?!?? at least I am south of there.

Hi Carmen and a warm welcome to you.

Dear Ginny and all, I have driven myself crazy reading about statistics, and I have come to the conclusion that they are just statistics and don't always mean the same thing for each of us.  Many of the statistics are based on studies done five years or more ago and since that time, alot of new treatment options have become available.  Also, I have heard time and time again of people told they have a certain amount of time left and they are still going strong.  My advice to you is to try not to read too much into the statistics.  For me, they really wore me down and I honestly don't think that is what you need right now.  I cannot tell you how many times I read that I had two years left and spent so much time crying about it.  It's just not fair - we are all so different.  I pray that you are filled with strength through everything you are facing. 

 

That is VERY true, and altho I originally had thought I wanted to know what the stats were, as well as the 'norm' on mets for T-negs......I have come to this decision for myself, and anyone can feel free to adopt my thoughts, and way of explaining what I think and feel now, instead of back then,or just ignore my rants and raves  because some days,  I feel like I have completely lost my mind. But I refuse to be one of the ones who have made the “statistic” list for a long as  I can defy the odds..

No two women are the same, react to the chemo's the same, are in various degrees of over all health, so basing your own outcome on statistics, or any other womans treatment, is defeating, and a disservice to yourself. Mental attitude is a huge part of this battle, stress plays a large part as well. And to be totally honest about it, I don't think they know that much about T-negs yet to say much, either way. By the time they call it a stat, its so old and outdated, it isn't really much to worry about.  I have looked at whats behind the other womens names on here, there tag (battle badges might be a better choice) about what they have been thru, and it seems to me, that based on the tags, everyone has been thru something different. It also seems that what type of treatment you go thru, is different by region, and even country, as well a based on personal choices and oncologists opinoins from that region. But ultimately, your treatment is YOUR decision. What your treatment entails, should be a choice made mainly on your own decisions, after your oncologist has armed you with as much info as they have, and options. Don't base it on what one doctor tells you, unless you are seeing a breast cancer specialist, and if something doesn't feel right, go see another one first, before making any decisions. I found out later that my 1^st oncologist didn't know much about T-neg, but declined to tell me that. Get diff opinions, it will make you feel ALOT better, I strongly urge ALL women to ask for at least a consult to a breast cancer specialist, even if there isn't one in your immediate area, they can work with the oncologist you have. Since there are SO MANY TYPES of cancer, I would guess that it is hard for any  general oncologist to keep up with all the latest treatment and info on every type and location. Not giving up, or giving in, is a big part of the fight, cancer isn't the death sentence it used to be. You sit 6 diff oncologists in a room with one patient, an all 6 will have a diff plan of attack.  With all the diff personal opinions on how to treat you, each womans over all health, what type of lifestyle, jobs she may have held, contributing factors, not to mention, how many people hide stuff from there personal lives from there docs.... statistics? heh, are crap in my opinion. I don't believe them. They aren't worth your time or stress, spend that time learning AS MUCH AS YOU CAN your specifics, about how you are going to survive, not how long a bunch of numbers say you might have left, and ask questions, and keep asking. The only stupid questions, are the ones that never get asked. Being informed, and on top of your treatment, understanding what you have, and whats on the agenda of your plan, makes me feel much better. I don't expect to be treated like the kid in the corner of the principals office with big words flying around I have never heard before, and the adults are planning my future and punishment, I am not a kid anymore, and since this is MY LIFE were talking about here, I want to be part of those decisions and choices. I look at it like this..... I am the Prez of is HUGE corporation.(Me & my life) All the people on my treatment team are my employees. We all of course, want to obtain long lasting wealth and success, I am paying them to do the very BEST possible job. Everyone has a job to do, including me. I can not be out golfing, partying, and doing bad things for my health, while there all back at the office working hard, to make my company a success, I cant blow the profits of my future success, before the $$ has even been made. I need to be in up to my elbows in work, by doing what I can, eat right, get enough rest, give up my bad habits, sugar, alcohol smoking, etc. and learning everything I can about my disease, since what most of us are truly afraid of, is the unknown.   If I want to be a success and have a long prosperous life for my Corporation (ME!) I have to be on top of my game, as well as my employees, to make sure I have the best possible employees to help me run my corporation. If I don't...I will be out of business....for real. I miss my daughters wedding, my potential grand kids, altho she swears she wont ever have kids, I will be grandma to little pups. Either way, I wanna be around to see ALL of it for as long as I possibly can.....so I am going to run MY corporation, to make sure that I am around to see it all!!!!!!!!!! 

I don't stay home because I am afraid every time I get in a car, I might be killed in a car accident. I don't sleep with a fire alarm glued to the top of my head, because I am afraid of dying in a house fire. There are a million ways to die, every hour, of every day. Cancer is only one of the millions of ways, during every second, of every day. I don't sit and dwell on all the other ways, so I refuse to sit around and worry about dying of cancer. New things are found and invented every day. Cancer treatment is like cars..... Look at the cars of 50 yrs ago, compared to all the improvements to comfort, and safety, luxuries. I am a rolls royce, and will be sure, my treatment team are all rolls royce mechanics too. I wouldn't want a Yugo mechanic working on me...... and neither should you. Hugs Ladies....!!!!!!.  Keep on fighting!!!!!!!

I agree with you 100%!!  You cannot look at stats - we are all different with as many different CA's!  Do what is best - eat healthy - pleanty of rest - and lots of fresh air and some exercise incorporated into daily activity!  Also it is imperative to seek counsel with a breast medical oncologist even if you have to travel an hr or so.  I went directly to a breast oncology surgeon and referred to a breast medical oncologist post-op.  Have to travel 1hr 10 min to their office/clinic, but so well worth the time!  They are UP-To-DATE on all new therapies and associated with a CCC.  Was even in a couple trial studies with my surgeon in which  he presented the results to the San Diago Breast Cancer Symposium in 2006.  My medical oncologist is considered one of the top two in the nation.   I was in a trial study for my chemo also.  So, I am a firm believer in going to only the best - those who are breast CA specialists!  Good luck to you in your upcoming trials - we'll all be praying for you to stay tough!  We gals are tough you know!!!

Hello,

I had recurrence/mets diagnosed 4 months after completing treatment. Maybe I  never was NED in the first place, and there were those few tiny cells that got away.

Ferne, bless your heart, what a blow to have a recurrence so soon after treatment, I cannot even imagine.

Pam,  Sounds like you also have been thru the fight!  Hang in there and give it your best - we'll all be praying for you too.  Mine was Stage 1  High Grade .  Had quadrantectomy with 44 ax. nodes removed.  All neg for CA but looked suspicious.  Had Taxol X4 tx's in 8 wks. and Rad X45 tx's.   Was tough but managed.  Now I "fret" before every recheck - but don't we all become a little anxious?  Was dx'd 5/05 and surg 6/05.  Coming up on 3 yrs survivorship!  This journey is not fun, but does make us strong.  BLess you!  Carmen

YOU my dear, give me more hope & inspiration, than any thing else I have come across anywhere. I think its completely awesome that you are able to still work thru all of this. I am not sure I could, your an incredible awesome woman.....I can hear you roar from here!!!!!!!!!

Ferne,

Edited by trip2 - Jan 18 2008 at 5:48am