Am I cancer Free?

ccdh

I had a lumpectomy on Dec.1st and my Dr. said the surgery went great. He had removed all of the cancer and nothing had spread to my nodes.

I am still waiting for my oncotype results to come back to find out if I should have Chemo or not.

I understand why I have to have radiation,chemo,temoxifin but since my Dr. said he got all the cancer, what exactly does this mean....I no longer have breast cancer, I am in remission?

I ask this because my sister, whom I do not talk to, said to another family member that its not a big deal. The lump is gone, the cancer is gone why is anyone worrying over me, I am only 30 the odds are with me. This is not an issue because the cancer was caught early and removed.

My sister is not a nice person and not at all supportive of anyone but I guess she gets under my skin and makes me think. Then I think maybe she is right. Is she?

Anonymous

Interesting question!  I like to think I am cancer free, however I know I have a long road ahead of me.  I just got my oncotype results and meet with the Oncologist on the 7th to find out about chemo.

It's too bad your sister can't celebrate how lucky you are to have found this early so that it hasn't spread.  It is still a very big deal, and so unusual for a 30 year old to get BC in the first place. So, maybe I would expect a pat on the back for the early detection, not a flip of the hair as it is no big deal.  

So, I like to think that you (and I!) are cancer free at the moment, but we have some serious housekeeping to do (chemo, radiation, hormone therapy) to keep ourselves cancer free.

I have found at the wise old age of 44, I want to be with positive people who "get it".  I don't want a ton of sympathy, and I don't want a flip attitude either.  Don't worry about your sister- sounds like she has other issues.  Focus on the great news that you have, with the understanding that you have more to do.  Let's say a prayer, or send a message thru the universe to your sister that she take care of herself with more understanding then she is sending your way!

Take care of yourself and good luck with the rest of the information and treatment you receive!  Hey - my lumpectomy was on 12/1 too so we have that in common!

Susan

 

Sassa

My oncologist explained it to me this way:

After my mastectomy, I was grossly free of cancer.

 After chemotherapy, I was microscopically free of cancer.

Herceptin (I am HER2+) was my warranty to stay NED.

Beesie

Breast cancer is a tricky little beast.  Although most of us are "cured" after our surgery and/or other treatments, it's impossible to actually know who is and who isn't cured.  This is why most doctors say that breast cancer can't be cured, even though most of us will never have a recurrence and never get BC again.  Until you pass away peacefully in your bed at the age of 96, you (or your doctors) can't say with 100% certainty that you've been cured. 

The reason for this is because even though your doctor may be very certain that he removed all of the cancer, it's always possible that a few microscopic cancer cells were left behind in the breast tissue or possibly ever sneaked out of the breast undetected, through either the lymph nodes or vascular system.  These cells may sit dormant for some time or die on their own, or they may start to grow & multiply.  And that becomes a recurrence.  It's because of this risk of recurrence that radiation, chemo and Tamoxifen are prescribed - all 3 can be effective at killing off any of these stray cancer cells that might remain after surgery.  By having these treatments, you can reduce your recurrence risk significantly.  But some risk always remains.  

So, are you cancer free?  Quite probably but unfortunately there is no way to know for sure.  My approach - and I think the approach of most women who've been diagnosed with BC - is to believe that I am cancer free or NED (no evidence of disease) until someone proves otherwise.  And hopefully I will live the rest of my life without anyone ever proving otherwise!

Annabella58

To Sassa

Hi there, I was just hopping on to see if I could spread a little sunshine and what you wrote is so eloquent it brought tears to my eyes.  AMEN.

Loved it so much, I am printing it out and putting on my BR mirror.  I've had this stuff twice, and this time it's going down.  I think attitude has alot to do with it.

The trick here is to do a balancing act and live your life with joy unless there's a bump in the road.  Don't look for the bumps, just do your best to steer around them .

What Beesie says is true, also.  There are no guarantees; you could be declared 10000 % cancer free, walk out of your front door and get hit by a bus.  So you can only do what you think is best for you, live your life, do no harm, and have faith.

Sounds like you will be free!

Anonymous

When he says he got all the cancer, he means he got everything he could see. He can't see individual cells. He can't see areas where he isn't operating.