Length of time between treatment for stage II bc and metastasis

nita1027

Does anybody know a good source of information about how long it generally takes for mets to show up after initial treatment for early stage breast cancer?

Thanks for your help,

Nita

barbe1958

Nita, there are no rules or equations when it comes to mets. Some people never get mets, some have mets at diagnosis.

I understand your fear completely, but you will drive yourself crazy if you try to figure it all out.

Gentle hugs.

nita1027

Thanks for your quick reply.  I have had so many "wacky" things going on with my body since I've finished treatment that every oddity has become suspect.  Allergies when I never had any before (to who knows what--I've thought tamoxifen, estrogen, you name it...I've finally come to the conclusion that I've just developed a food allergy.  Hopefully this will be sorted out near the end of this month).  I've got a pain and swelling in my knee that's been bugging me for weeks...that's the next thing on the agenda to get checked out when I go in for my next onc visit in mid-February.  Back pains that could be related to a disc problem that was discovered before I started chemo last spring. Then there is the paratracheal lymph node that showed up on a scan last summer (new after chemo started) but that is getting smaller, that my onc is telling me could be cancer responding to Tamoxifen.  I'm just a little stressed just now!

nita1027

Thanks for your quick reply.  I have had so many "wacky" things going on with my body since I've finished treatment that every oddity has become suspect.  Allergies when I never had any before (to who knows what--I've thought tamoxifen, estrogen, you name it...I've finally come to the conclusion that I've just developed a food allergy.  Hopefully this will be sorted out near the end of this month).  I've got a pain and swelling in my knee that's been bugging me for weeks...that's the next thing on the agenda to get checked out when I go in for my next onc visit in mid-February.  Back pains that could be related to a disc problem that was discovered before I started chemo last spring. Then there is the paratracheal lymph node that showed up on a scan last summer (new after chemo started) but that is getting smaller, that my onc is telling me could be cancer responding to Tamoxifen.  I'm just a little stressed just now!

TriciaK

Nita,

My friend has never had a recurrance/mets and she was diagnosed 23 years ago with an aggressive cancer and 22 posiitve lymph nodes:)

This gives me hope, and it seems all any of us can do is stay alert to any body changes/symptoms and have them checked out.:)

Tricia x

Leah_S

Another word of hope - I went to an engagement party last night. The groom-to-be's mother was diagnosed with BC when he was 3 months old, had a mast but I think that was the only treatment. He'll be 32 this spring, and his mother was there, looking proud and having a great time. As were the two brothers who were born after him.

Leah

ElaineD

As Barbe says-there is NO way of knowing. Don't focus on statistics and figures-your case is unique.

Try too not to focus on tales of good/bad scenarios-they're only examples of the same statistics given a more palatable face! It doesn't matter who recurrs after months or years-it doesn't matter who survives many years against all the odds.These scenarios may have no relevance whatsoever to your situation. All you can do is live your life as best you can, be alert to your health, without focusing excessivley on possible problems in the future. If you do the latter, then you are letting the cancer truly win-by allowing it to dominate you thoughts, and from stopping you from moving on.