I'm confused what results mean

Lillp07

Nancy that's great that you are doing so well with Chemo. I'm wondering whether I am going to be able to work through the chemo? I am a rep and just go to stores to check on products. No lifting.

Nancy2581

it will depend on how you do with the chemo. When I was on AC there were a couple of days I felt flu like (no nausea) but after that I could have done it. I could have worked through taxol too. What chemo are you getting? Sorry if you already mentioned it.

Nancy

Lillp07

I will find out on Tuesday what I am having and how long treatment will be for. I am guessing I need to buy a wig but will wait until I see oncologist before I spend that money. They are super expensive.

Lillp07

I have now had a lumpectomy and many scans and got results back to give to the oncologist for my Chemo sessions to start. I have had bone scans and full body Ct of brain, stomach, liver, everywhere and they all came back clear. I am having chemo and then a double masectomy. I thought that after all that I would be pretty much guaranteed for it not to come back but I have read the following news story about a lady and wondered how this occurred? Any info would be great. I am 42.

This lady first learned she had breast cancer in 1997 at the age of 31. Following a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she was deemed cancer-free by June 1998. Despite fears that cancer treatment may have left her sterile, she later gave birth to two children who were both breast-fed. In 2003, she was diagnosed with metastatic disease in her bones.

In early 2006, brain metastasis was detected and by May, she was undergoing radiation treatment at three-week intervals. The tumour was found and successfully removed. At the time, she lost her hair but again went into remission. She became severely ill in mid-June 2008 and died in June at 42.

Gully

Lillp,

First of all, congrats on the clear scans! I see you are lymph node neg, hormone positive, and are stage 1. Did you have the oncotype dx test done to determine the need for chemo? This test result may help you and your MO to determine the benefit of chemo for you. A score of 0-18 means that chemo will most likely not be of great benefit to you. A score greater than 30 gets you chemco for sure. A score between 19-30 leaves you a choice to make whether or not to do the chemo. They are just not sure of the benefit for ladies in this range. I was one of these. I was diagnosed with  bilateral bc, surprise after "prophylactic mastectomy" on the right,  as you can see from my signature. I had two oncotypes done. My grade 1 side came back a 5... no chemo, then a few weeks later my left came back with a score of 19! This score means I have a 12% chance of distant recurrence in the next 10 years while taking hormone therapy without chemo. This percentage would be higher if not for the hormone therapy.

Lastly, I hate breaking the ugly truth, but no one has a guarantee that this ugly disease will not recur in the future. Once diagnosed with invasive BC you always have the risk it will return at a distant site. Having a mastectomy versus lumpectomy, according to literature, does not affect outcomes. "The horses have already left the barn" so to speak by the time the cancer is discovered. But the good news is there are many treatments available for  treating hormone pos bc and the prognosis for stage I is good. I was 45 when diagnosed, many years ahead to fight the fight, my MO and I decided to be aggressive with my treatment and go the the chemo since I had LVI. Its been almost two year since dx for me, and I am doing very well, in fact feel better than I have in years! Take it one day at a time, you can do this!

S

 

Lillp07

Hi Gully,

Thank you for your reponse. I haven't had the oncotype dx as yet. That will be Tuesday. My understanding is am needing the chemo due to the vascular invasion but will find out more when I see the oncologist.

I thought having the masextomy and ovaries out would pretty much guarantee good health I'm not sure of these surgeries now I'll ask more questions for sure

That's great news you are feeling better than ever at 2 years.

Lil