SURVIVAL ODDS IMPROVED AFTER 2 TO 3 YEARS MARK???

Chaya,

Edited by Nancy - Mar 17 2009 at 1:33pm

I too have been trying to find answers to this question.

Oh gosh, yes!  I have been reading research on the spread of cancer for TN when a bilateral mastectomy is done....I actually read one dr. response that said no woman has ever died from breast cancer in the breast...it's only if it goes outside somewhere in the body...

Suzie,

I've always thought that survival rates are better with bi lateral because it almost completely eliminates the risk of a second primary .  Some women are advised that a bilateral is not necessary (less aggressive cancers, ER+, or single tumor) but it depends on the status.  I was multi-focal in the right breast, lumpy but benign on the left.  Surgeon, plastic surgeon and oncologist all agreed that bilateral was the way to go for me.  I have to say, it gives me comfort to know I don't have to worry fighting a second primary.  I figure, if it grew in one breast, clearly I'm susceptible and I'm not going to leave any nesting place for something else to go awry and start growing.

Cathy

It is in the body of Q and A under metaplastic/triple negative answered by nationwide experts from some of the centers we know treat and research breast cancer.  I was concerned that he would make the comment about distant/mat being the villian not being in context with the wisdom of a woman deciding on removing as much breast tissue as she thinks with her team is prudent for her recovery. It is similiar to my conversation with my doc on the decision for my bilateral.  He defined another primary and reoccurance, not the root of the problem-the cancer showing up in breast tissue and reducing my risk as much as possible.

excuse

Edited by trip2 - Mar 19 2009 at 10:06am

Hi All,

don't no whats going on here...2--3 year mark?  whats a mark?  Are things to improve after 2-3 years?  lol  I'm one that is skeptical about that one. 

I'm goin back n2 chemo..Doxil AGAIN...this thing just does NOT want to gtf out of my body!  My left breast is totally embedded with the bad fungus and it seems to want to poke itself out of the last surgical site!  a bit ouchy...Oh joy.  I'm trying not to take it on (inside me) however, the whole thing is annoying 2 me N would like 2 have it all gone.

Doc's want 2 shrink it with chemo first...um, is that a CURE or a Shrinkage drug????  So toxic.  I'm not sure I want to do that.  What alternatives do I have since there isn't a doctor who will operate. 

I do no that RAW FOOD diet works somewhat but it is not the immediate answer.  I'm so perplexed and stressed over this that I'm not certain what is the answer...ANYONE?

Hugs of Love,

Tia

Tia,

Edited by Nancy - Mar 19 2009 at 1:36pm

Hi There!!!

Hi all--I'm chipping in on the pollyanna side "time to cure" question. Yes, I know we are never "cured", but there is a point at which the odds of its coming back/metastasizing dwindle to the insignificant. And, yes, I get that a tiny statistical chance is totally significant if you fall into that category. That said, my onc, whom I called Dr. Depresso in the beginning, tells me, and has been telling me from the beginning, that she has never seen a tn come back more than 4 yrs after dx. She's been in practice 25yrs +. Now you might say, how many tns has she seen? They weren't even calling it that until about 3 yrs ago. Well, one of the things that impressed me about her when I was choosing an onc 4 yrs ago was that she called the hormone status from the mammograms and scans, before the pathology report came in. The docs at UM were sitting around proposing a clinical trial, assuming I was hormone positive, since I was 60. She called me and said, "you cannot fool around with this. It is a bad, aggressive cancer. Looking at your scans I am almost positive it is est. and prog. neg and probably her neu pos." Well she got 2 out 3 right, and even though they weren't using the TN label then, she could spot the beast for what it was.

So that's my two cents. I didn't worry daily about getting breast cancer before I got it, when my chances were much higher of a primary they are now of a recurrence. Don't get me wrong, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it. I have total sympathy about recurrence anxiety and still have my share of it, but I do believe the odds are very much on my side now. And I think that with the broader recognition of TN's deadly threat that's occurring now, thanks to this forum and the work of many dedicated researchers, and the resulting recognition of the need for aggressive treatment of TN, at whatever stage it first presents, the odds are much better for all of you that are starting out. It's a lousy dx, but hit hard at the beginning it can be survived.

keep fighting, never surrender!

hugs,

Sharon