Am I Out of the Woods

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suebak
suebak Member Posts: 199
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Saw my surgeon today.  Sentinol  biopsy was negative. Clean margins. Stage 1. I will start radiation soon. Does this mean I am out of the woods. I would really like some feedback, honest feedback.  What are my chances of reoccurence, is there a chance the cancer could have spread threw my blood stream? This sentinol biopsy, that node was negative, could the cancer be in other lymphe nodes?

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited May 2011

    suebak - Relax and breath for a few minutes.  The sentinel node is the first one the surgeon goes after to check to make sure the cancer has not spread to the bloodstream or other parts of the body.  If that is negative, then you move to the next phase of treatment which in your case is radiation.  At some point you will most likely be placed on one of the hormonal therapy drugs - Tamoxifen, Arimidex, Femara, depending on your menopausal status.  

    Chances of recurrence?  Who knows for sure.  If you look on some of the other threads and read some of the other stories, you will find ladies that have not had a recurrence, for some this is their second, perhaps third time around.  

    We can only hope that we are all doing everything we can do prevent having to do this again.  The internet is a super good source of information as well as this website.  Look up everything your doctors talk to you about, exams, meds, everything.  Remember, knowledge is power.

    Feel free to PM me anytime. 

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited May 2011
    Suebak - Did your doctor mention anything about doing an Oncotype DX?  I think that would give you some more information about the possibility of recurrence.  I am glad that you had negative node and clear margins, that is very good!  And, yes cancer cells can get out through the blood.  I don't know how often that occurs.  They usually look at something called LVI, lymphovascular invasion. Did they give you that information?  As Jo said we just don't know, we do the best we can and we try to be informed.  (((hugs)))
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  • suebak
    suebak Member Posts: 199
    edited May 2011

    Thank you ladies.  I did not get an oncotype as of yet.  I see my oncologist for the first time next Monday.  The surgeon did say he would do further testing to see just how my cancer is going to behave.  I just hate this.  I guess I was looking for someone to say "yeah you are now cancer free", wishful thinking (lol).  I really have to stop consuming myself with this.  I thought by now, I would be in a better frame of mind. 

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  • Valgirl
    Valgirl Member Posts: 187
    edited May 2011

    Suebak - I can only tell you what I was told first from the radiologist, then surgeon, and oncologist is that with your stats you will most likely live to an old age and die from something else.   No one can guarantee that but you are fortunate.   So try to relax.  It's a new normal for us.

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited May 2011

    I agree, OncoDX is a big help.  My onco won't say I'm "cancer free" at this point at all...he just says "NED" which is no evidence of disease.....I think that is the best I can hope for.

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  • Just_V
    Just_V Member Posts: 841
    edited May 2011

    So I meet with my PS next Monday - but I just got a call back from my BS telling me that she does do skin saving and nipple saving mastectomies... I am wondering how I got to the point that I am (1) asking these types of questions, and (2) excited that the answer was what I got!.... LOL... Well, as my brother in law, who worked at the state mental institution for 30 years, says 'You laugh or you cry...'

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  • VJSL8
    VJSL8 Member Posts: 652
    edited May 2011

    I'm sorry to say that once you've had breast cancer, you are never out of the woods. I had a recurrance after 23 years! BC had faded into the background of my life until it reared it's ugly head again. Someone has a saying in their signature line--having BC is like escaping from the mob, you're alive but always looking over your shoulder. 

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  • pj12
    pj12 Member Posts: 25,402
    edited May 2011

    VJSLB,

    I've been wondering about something and you might have an answer... or an opinion.

    Do you always call a second cancer a recurrence? Is it the old cancer that has come back or can there be a new, not there before cancer? For instance, what if you develop a tumor in the other breast... is that called a recurrence or a new primary? And is one more threatening that the other? 

    Opinions welcome :) 

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited May 2011

    To add to Cindy's answer, a 2nd cancer in the same breast could be either a recurrence or a new primary. If the cancer is in the same area as the original cancer, if it's the same type of cancer and if it's within a few years of the original diagnosis, then it's probably more likely to be a recurrence.  On the other hand, if the cancer is in a different part of the breast or if it's a different type of cancer, or if it's been many years, then it's probably more likely to be a new primary. However, as Cindy indicated, often a very detailed pathological analysis must be done to determine whether the 2nd cancer is a recurrence or a new primary.  

    If the cancer is in the contralateral breast, then for those who had invasive cancer (but not those who had DCIS), it is possible that this could be a recurrence.  However what I've read, having a cancer recur in the other breast is pretty unusual - once cancer cells from one breast enter the nodes or the bloodstream, they rarely travel over to the other breast and settle into the breast tissue there. So the assumption is often made that a contralateral cancer is a new primary.   

    While most of us worry about having a recurrence, after treatment many of us have a very low recurrence risk. The risk of a new primary is often greater than the recurrence risk.  And that makes sense, when you consider that the average woman walking on the street has a 12.5% risk of developing BC.  Once we've been diagnosed with BC one time, our risk to be diagnosed again is at least that high, if not higher. But most of us have a recurrence risk that is lower than that. 

    As for which is more threatening, I think as a general rule a recurrence is more threatening because it means that cells from the original cancer have been hanging around in your body for all this time - and therefore they've had an opportunity to spread and move beyond the breast.  But if a recurrence is local only (i.e. confined to the breast) then I don't believe that the risk would be any greater than the risk of a new primary that is confined to the breast.  I'd be interested if anyone knows anymore about this.  

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited May 2011

    I agree with the comments that we never know our odds, but everything I've heard is that early detection (small size) is generally very good news.  Statistically, 1 cm is better than 2 cm, and 0.5 cm is better still. If you want some positive stories, I know one woman was diagnosed at age 31 and has gone 30 years so far w/o recurrence (she had MX and nothing else, cuz that's all they offered then). I know a couple other 15 yr (and counting) survivors w/ no recurrence. Your doc can give the best info for you. You never know but there are encouraging signs. Good luck. Personally, I find this whole "what if?" part the most difficult, emotionally.

    (re: the sentinel nodes: your surgeon removed the ones that the ducts first drain to. If those are clear, the others should be too. Your question is valid, so I'd ask your doc or nurse advocate/educator)

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  • meJoy
    meJoy Member Posts: 60
    edited May 2011

    Suebak...I want to thank you for bringing this out, because it has been on my mind as well. And thank you ALL  for your imput, as you've helped me a lot. My family thinks I'm cancer free after my uni MX  and  I dont want to tell them there may be a recurrance.  I dont want them to live in my fears, 

    I guess if they say...after 5 yrs your cancer free...isnt really the case. 

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited May 2011

    I was told by the nurses in my Rad Onc office that typically, not always of course, that if you make it 5 years it is a pretty good sign. I know that is what they told my mother years ago as well and she lived 20 more years and died but not from breast cancer. The nurse also said it is 11 years for people who have melonoma...we will always be looking over our shoulder unfortunately.

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  • Cydz
    Cydz Member Posts: 157
    edited May 2011

    I have had melanoma and was told 5 years, just like the bc.

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  • Cydz
    Cydz Member Posts: 157
    edited May 2011

    Maybe it depends on your stage and dx, etc.

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  • sara1970
    sara1970 Member Posts: 127
    edited June 2011

    I too would love to get more input on these issues....

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited June 2011

    Have to disagree Clyn...the 5-7 year prediction is what they told my mother as well when she was diagnosed in the late 80s. This nurse told me they set 11 years as the so called out of the woods time frame for melanoma. My brother was diagnosed with melanoma 14 years ago and while he still gets anxious when he sees the dr he at least statistically, has passed the usual time for recurrence. Of course there arent any guarantees and women on this forum can refute their stats pro and con but they do have a better idea today about recurrences and survival than they ever did. We will always worry but we can also be optimistic and comforted by the fact they have come a long way in the treatment and survival rates for breast cancer. Obviously the stats can be skewed but there is a reason why we are graded and staged. diane

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