I was wondering

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Pure
Pure Member Posts: 1,796
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

when do you start your stats for a reoccurence. I know they say the first 3 years are highest-so would I start that April 1 when I found the cancer or in September when my doctor finally listened to me and realized it was cancer and I have it removed.

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited November 2009

    Most of the stats that are out there count from the day of diagnosis.

    Most woman, including myself, choose that day as well.

     Some docs say diagnosis date.... some say surgery when the cancer was removed. It really is up to you though. Sounds like September, when the docs discovered your tumor would be a good date.

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited November 2009

    We had a discussion about this subject earlier this year. There seems to be a lot of opinions out there as to when your "cancerversary" should be. I was diagnosed in early February 2008. My axillary disection was around March 11, and my mastectomy was March 25 of that year. I asked my onc what I should consider my cancerversary, and she said "sometime around the end of February or early March." I decided to consider March 25 my anniversary, since that's when the bulk (and hopefully all) of my tumors left my body.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited November 2009

    It also depends on what day has significance for you. I was a basket case around my Diagnosis anniversary. But, my Surgery date is approaching and I (so far) have no emotion attached to that at all. So, I will probably "commemorate" my day of diagnosis, as it has the most emotional impact for me.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited November 2009

    I think so too-what a day that was.... I don't think a moment can be as painful unless it had to do with a family member dying.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    I don't remember the dx date, but do remember the day I had the mammogram 06/12 and surgery 06/25 - I will more than likely go with the mammogram date since that is what sticks in my mind more than anything else.  

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited December 2009

    i remember the day the mammogram nurse scolded me and said.. take off your ipod, - you have cancer...

    of course, I already knew so it wasn't a shock.

    what an idiot she was.  i just put my earbuds back in my ear and waited for the doctor.

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited December 2009

    I remember it all. 

    May 31st standing in the shower and feeling a lump that wasnt there the day before, yelling for my husband (scaring my kids), knowing right away. 

    June 5th finding out it was cancer. 

    July 10th bilateral mastectomy - praying for negative nodes, when I went into surgery I gave my husband my rosary and begged him to pray for negative nodes while I was under (they werent negative - I guess I knew that too). 

    August 13th my first chemo

    November 19th my last chemo (God willing)

    Dec 9th hyst, port out, implants

    Dec 30th 1st radiation

    Feb 6th last radiation (God willing)

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited December 2009

    What i don't like is that some of my dates have "attachments" to other dates -

    diagnosed 3 days before Halloween (Oct 28)

    Surgery 2 days before my daughters birthday (Dec 11)

    start chemo day after our wedding anniversary (Jan 16)....

    I can't think of the "happy" date without the "unhappy" correlation.

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited December 2009

    My triplet neices were born (very premature) May 31st 2003 - I found my lump on their 5th bday - every time I think of them and how well they are doing I think of my diagnosis and wonder how many bday of theirs I will see.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited December 2009

    I have chosen to not have a date-just the month.

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  • silvergrl
    silvergrl Member Posts: 13
    edited December 2009

    PureE, Here's my thought.  Stats are lying with numbers - how do you compare with a Stage IIIb patient who was diagnosed in 1995?  Numbers are old, protocols are different, the docs know so much more, so how do those numbers apply?  The only survival stats that matter are your own!  Forge on my friend, and enjoy every day.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    I think I saw a post from Lilley S. from John Hopkins 'ask and expert' that said you count from end of active treatment which I guess would be rads for most people here.

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