SURVIVAL ODDS IMPROVED AFTER 2 TO 3 YEARS MARK??? |
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buckeye 
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Joined: Feb 23 2009 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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 Topic: SURVIVAL ODDS IMPROVED AFTER 2 TO 3 YEARS MARK???Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 2:56am |
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I started this on another discussion - sorry new to the forum and don't really know how it all works, but my question to all of those of us blessed with the tnbc - anyone else been told that after we reach the year 2 and 3 marks our odds of survival are the same as all other types of breast cancer. Am I the only one hearing this from my onc and surgeon becaue I really had a very rough time with chemo and 2 surgeries so do they want to placate me - please repsond sometimes I feel like I am going crazy with all the information I hear or the stuff I think I don't hear
thanks Edited by buckeye - Mar 15 2009 at 2:00pm |
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dx 11/05 IIC GRADE 3
4 CM mastectomy 11/05 additonal surgery 11/05 no node involvement 4 rounds ACT |
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Joan2844
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Joined: Jul 03 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 163 |
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 5:15am |
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Hi Buckeye....
Your oncologist has the information correct. It is a "glass half full, half empty" situation, though. Trip-neg cancer has a different pattern of recurrence -- it is a more aggressive cancer that usually comes back within 3 years. After the three years, the pattern of recurrence "rapidly declines" in comparison to other cancers. This was found by one researcher who studied 180/1600 breast cancer patients (180 of the 1600 were trip-neg). Other studies also exist. So... it is good news. That is the "glass half full" part. The "half empty part" is that this is a tough cancer to beat -- it is sneaky and it does NOT play by the rules. It is more likely to come back within those first three years. You cannot turn your back on it, so to speak. Doctors don't know enough about this cancer, but they are studying it more and more. That is good news, and good reason to search for doctors who are up on research in this field of cancer. So.... be vigilant and aggressive with your treatment. Our cancer does respond well to chemotherapy. Some others do not. Good news for us. Get second opinions, decide on a treatment plan, do it to the best of your ability, and eat/exercise well. God willing, we'll be chatting three years from now, cancer free!  Joan |
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9/06 Stage2B. Pos Nodes; Neg BRAC; TAC/Lumpectomy/Rads/Xeloda.
4/08 Local Recurrence; Mast w/ Latissimus Flap;Taxol/Gemzar/Carbo. Zometa. NED since May 2008 :-) www.wow-matt14.blogspot.com |
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Joan2844
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 5:19am |
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Hey! I just took a closer look @ your profile -- you've passed the three year mark!!!!!
You go girl!! |
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9/06 Stage2B. Pos Nodes; Neg BRAC; TAC/Lumpectomy/Rads/Xeloda.
4/08 Local Recurrence; Mast w/ Latissimus Flap;Taxol/Gemzar/Carbo. Zometa. NED since May 2008 :-) www.wow-matt14.blogspot.com |
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buckeye
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 6:55am |
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Joan - yes I have but still see my oncologist every three months and my surgeon every six so the worry is still there, through every mri, every ct scan, plus I developed blood clots in my leg and lung during chemo and was on coumadin for 6 months back in 06 (the year of chemo) and I just had a setback with another blood clot in my leg (same leg) so it seems like it never ends. |
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dx 11/05 IIC GRADE 3
4 CM mastectomy 11/05 additonal surgery 11/05 no node involvement 4 rounds ACT |
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cduvall1
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Joined: Jun 04 2008 Location: Blythe, CA Status: Offline Points: 148 |
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 7:39am |
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Here's something else that may never end. You are a message of hope to those of us who are new to TNBC and hoping we too will pass the 3 year mark. Please continue to post as a survivor. By doing this, others can keep their hopes high.
 Carol from sunny Palm Desert, CA. I'm not actually from Palm Desert...only here for 5 weeks of radiation. My home is in sunny Blythe, CA.Edited by cduvall1 - Feb 26 2009 at 2:43am |
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Carol
dx 3/08 age 63, invasive metaplastic carcinoma, 2cm, node neg, grade 3, stage I, lumpectomy 5/08,AC 4x, Taxol 12x weekly, radiation 5wk, NED 4/29/09 |
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Nancy
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Joined: Jul 23 2007 Location: Altoona, PA Status: Offline Points: 3814 |
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 8:04am |
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Joan,
Is that a link to an article or just a quote from it? Nothing comes up, and if you can get the link in a post, then I will post it in the news forum where it won't get "lost".
Thanks,
Nancy
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Nancy
DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
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Joan2844
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 9:51am |
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Here is a better link to the article I described.... it is from the cancerblog, and is written in "English." The first link was written for doctors!
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9/06 Stage2B. Pos Nodes; Neg BRAC; TAC/Lumpectomy/Rads/Xeloda.
4/08 Local Recurrence; Mast w/ Latissimus Flap;Taxol/Gemzar/Carbo. Zometa. NED since May 2008 :-) www.wow-matt14.blogspot.com |
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Nancy
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 10:38am |
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Joan,
I just posted the link in the news forum, and that way it will not get "lost". Thank you very much.
Hugs,
Nancy
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Nancy
DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
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Bagle
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Posted: Feb 25 2009 at 11:13am |
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Carol from sunny Palm Desert, I too have invasive metaplastic, with probable lung mets. We are waiting for results from biopsy done yesterday. Metaplastic is such a rare dx so I was tickled to read your note(not that you have ca of course, but MC). Trip neg is also rare but I am trying to educate my docs. They just look at me with 'that look' and say 'I know about that' and all the time they don't really know, Rae from the snowy San Bernardino mts |
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Tripneg RBC Metaplastic
2/08 R Mast.2/08 reconst. 4/08 6wks rad.12/08 CT/PET lung lesions.Waiting.. |
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walk4cure
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Posted: Feb 26 2009 at 6:15pm |
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Buckeye,
I am a 6 year tnbc survivor. (March 2003). I go through my phases of worry, but try to stay on the positive side and keep living...  |
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Mary-CA
TNBC 3/2003, Rt Mast,16node-neg,Stage I,Grade III, BRCA-I&II neg,Chemo ACTx16,Taxol 6 txs,No rads, Reconstruct5/07, Latissimus Muscle. 12/2010-Lt Mast. ER/PR+ HER2-GradeI,Stage? Path-pending |
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Nancy
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Posted: Feb 26 2009 at 6:52pm |
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Dear Mary,
We are so glad that you have joined!!
 Please tell us more Six years is just absolutely wonderful!! You say that you had 16 chemo treatments. Was that 16 weeks? It is my daughter Lori who was dx with TNBC June, 2007. She will be 47 in April. Where did you receive your treatments? Lori had surgery at Magee Women's in Pittsburgh and her chemo and rads here in Altoona, Pa.
Hugs,
Nancy
Edited by Nancy - Feb 27 2009 at 7:04am |
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Nancy
DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
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Suzanne
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Posted: Feb 26 2009 at 8:03pm |
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Since the posted article states, "...risk of distant recurrence peaked at 3 years then rapidly declined", this sounds to me as though we need to be extra vigilant and wary at the three-year mark. After that, we can start to breathe a little easier. And here I was glad to reach the two-year mark in January! I guess I should put off my happiness until I'm well past three years.
Suzanne
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1/2/07 IDC, stage 1 (T1c), 1.56cm, lumpectomy 1/8/07, triple neg., grade 3, sentinel lymph node biopsy negative, BRCA 1/2 negative; 4 AC/4 Taxol dose dense, 30 rads 2/07-7/07
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CarynRose
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Joined: Aug 04 2007 Location: Robbinsville, NJ, USA Status: Offline Points: 960 |
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Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 2:06am |
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Breathe easier at 4.... my mets were found then.
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Orig dx 6/03 - St.2a, IDC
gr.3,0 nodes, TNBC/BRCA1+ 7/07 St 4 mets to nodes/lungs. PACA/Rads NED 11/07-10/08 Lepto mets 10/08 Rads for 4 brain tumors 4/10. Leptomets return 6/10 |
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Joan2844
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Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 10:34am |
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Ladies,
I'll be darned if I'm going to wait until the "three year mark" to start "enjoying" my life! I have had trip-neg two times within the last three years.... but I make a point to FIND ways to BE HAPPY! I don't want to eventually reach my deathbed (which all of us will do, cancer or not) and realize that I did great job of worrying and being bitter. I want to look back and remember happy times. So, in spite of this disease hitting me twice, I still make an EFFORT to look for something good in every day. I hope that each of you will be able to, also.... whether at the 2 year "mark," or beyond. We are each blessed. Aspects of our lives may really stink, but we are alive and life is grand! At least, when compared to the alternative.... Joan |
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9/06 Stage2B. Pos Nodes; Neg BRAC; TAC/Lumpectomy/Rads/Xeloda.
4/08 Local Recurrence; Mast w/ Latissimus Flap;Taxol/Gemzar/Carbo. Zometa. NED since May 2008 :-) www.wow-matt14.blogspot.com |
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Bagle
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Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 10:59am |
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YEahhh!! Joan, I agree 100%. Not always easy, but what the heck. You sound wonderful. Blessings Rae |
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Tripneg RBC Metaplastic
2/08 R Mast.2/08 reconst. 4/08 6wks rad.12/08 CT/PET lung lesions.Waiting.. |
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trip2
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Posted: Mar 11 2009 at 4:19pm |
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Hi Rae and welcome.
You know mine came back at 4 1/2 yrs.
They used to say 5 years, now they say the peak is 3 then levels out a bit and starts to decrease but from the charts I have seen it is a slow descent so I wouldn't let me guard down for awhile that is for sure.
Of course we don't want to focus on this issue all of the time but we do need to know where we stand to remain vigilant.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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cduvall1
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Posted: Mar 11 2009 at 6:23pm |
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I have a question. From what date do we count the years of survival? Is it the date of diagnosis, the date of surgery, the date chemo and radiation are finished?
Let's enjoy life while remaining vigilant.
Carol
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Carol
dx 3/08 age 63, invasive metaplastic carcinoma, 2cm, node neg, grade 3, stage I, lumpectomy 5/08,AC 4x, Taxol 12x weekly, radiation 5wk, NED 4/29/09 |
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trip2
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Posted: Mar 12 2009 at 3:15am |
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Carol,
That is a good question. Some count from the day of diagnosis. Some count from the last day of treatment, surgery removal. I am not aware if there is a correct time really, just when we feel like we can start counting.
My last Onc went by the diagnosis date.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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majjers
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Posted: Mar 12 2009 at 8:19am |
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I count from diagnosis because that's when I went into "fighter/survivor" mode. I can see the light of the 2 year mark coming in May and I will have my first grandchild (a girl) to celebrate with! I am also happy to report that I found out today I am BRCA- so that's helped me breathe another little sigh of relief. Girls, life has handed us a lapful of lemons, what are we going to do with them? I say make margaritas and smile!
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dx 5/25/07, Stage 2A,TNGr3
DD 4 AC,4 Taxol 32 rads BRCA 1&2 (-) 7/11 mets to lung; Too many lines of chemo to list! The saga continues but only GOD numbers my days! |
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cduvall1
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Posted: Mar 12 2009 at 9:44am |
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March 28, 2008 was the date of my diagnosis, so I've got a one year anniversary coming up! I'll count from that date until I learn differently. |
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Carol
dx 3/08 age 63, invasive metaplastic carcinoma, 2cm, node neg, grade 3, stage I, lumpectomy 5/08,AC 4x, Taxol 12x weekly, radiation 5wk, NED 4/29/09 |
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