Recurrence Question

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Tabatha00
Tabatha00 Member Posts: 133
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

If you have had breast cancer, received treatment, and then had the breast cancer return somewhere else do you have to have chemo for the rest of your life?  I've seen examples of people who have had a recurrence but are (for example) living 4 years NED. 

I guess what I'm wondering is if you have had breast cancer, received treatment and had the cancer return is it possible to go back into remission and NOT require chemo for the rest of your life? 

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  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited December 2010

    Hi Tabatha,

     If it's a distant recurrance in bones or a major organ and you have a great response it's possible to be NED again and have a chemo holiday along with scans to watch and wait in case it shows up again.

    Stage iv usually go from chemo holidays to chemo again, but it varies depending on if the cancer progress's or not.

    With a local recurrance you may need chemo again but hopefully can then put it behind you and never hear the word cancer again!!:)

    Tricia x

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  • MJLToday
    MJLToday Member Posts: 2,068
    edited December 2010

    Most people with a distant recurrence (bones, lung, liver, etc.) are on some sort of treatment for the rest of their life, whether they are NED or not. Some do very well for years on just an anti-hormonal treatment, such as Arimidex or Tamoxifen.  Others can take chemo & herceptin, then stop the chemo and just continue the herceptin. 

    Most people, however, eventually have to go on chemo at some point in their lives. Sometimes the dosage is adjusted for the prospect of being on the chemo for weeks and months, without "curative intent."  As the PP said, some get to take a chemo holiday either for social reasons (family or personal plans) or because they are stable or NED and just want to feel well for a while.  With mets, it's about both the quality AND quantity of life. 

    Each case is different, and it can sometimes be very confusing.  

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  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited December 2010

    MJL covered your questions very well. 

    Depending on your pathology and severity of the BC (number of lesions, organ involvement) there is the possibility of being on chemo for a long time or indefinitely (i.e., me).  Not counting my initial treatment, I've been on chemo for about 3 years with one disasterous short break giving antihormonals a try.  It sounds awful but it isn't always -- many chemos are quite gentle.  You have to make adjustments in your life with lots of ups and downs, but it's doable.

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  • redhead54
    redhead54 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2010

    I've had breast cancer three times in the same breast and have never had chemo.  The last time was four years ago.  So far so good. 

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