Cancer Reoccurrence

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chonkala
chonkala Member Posts: 22
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer


I'm just trying to get an idea of how many women had the traditional cancer treatments & have also had a reoccurence?? I've seen different posts, but it seems like an over whelming number has had a repeat. Just interesting to know.. :)


*Please list your stats also :)


*If this is posted somewhere else please let me know*

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  • Annie54
    Annie54 Member Posts: 247
    edited November 2013


    chonkala,


    Keep in mind that the percentage of posts here that show a reoccurrence is skewed - as many of the people who have no further problems leave the boards to live their lives. So what may seem like a large number of re-occurrences doesn't really show the even larger number of people who do not re-occur. I've seen the stats of 30% of all early breast cancer patients will re-occur at some point, but this 30% includes all stages (I-III), tumor and treatment types so this large percentage may not apply to your specific dx. Also be careful when googling bc statistics as most of the information on line is very dated research which doesn't take into consideration the new drugs and treatments available.


    There are several threads that discuss bc statistics - not sure where to direct you at the moment....but look around. Beesie, SpecialK and Sciencegal are women that have been on the boards awhile and give very good, clear information on the numbers and technical side of things. If you search their names you will probably find what you're looking for. Good luck!


    Annie

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited November 2013


    chonkala,


    I totally agree with the previous post. BCO has been a lifeline for me in my bc journey, but, it is a very skewed picture of what's going on. Those who have no recurrences and no further issues connected to bc, tx or recon simply stop posting. Please bear in mind that everything posted here is purely anecdotal , save for links to actual research, studies or trials.

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  • lovetodance1
    lovetodance1 Member Posts: 62
    edited November 2013


    I know 2 who went the natural way and are now dead.I did TCH 3 yrs ago and doing great now. I know relapse can happen to anyone despite treatment but herceptin is a great drug all studies clearly shoe a huge advantage when the full treatment is done. you have very early BC possibly node negative. with treatment you have a very high chance for a cure..yes cure. unfortunatley with this dammed disease you cannot second guess because it does not give second chances

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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited November 2013


    Herceptin is not guaranteed to keep a bc woman from a recurrance. I know of someone who has been on it for awhile and had a recurrence; mets. I had several treatments of Herceptin and it almost did my heart in. I did not complete the full treatment, only about 4 months and I'm doing fine; chemo, or tamoxifen. There are those who do and don't do treatment and make it.

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  • chonkala
    chonkala Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2013


    Yes herceptin is been tagged at the miracle drug right now. As also chemo was labeled when it was first introduced. Many people would argue of what miracles chemo has offered them.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited November 2013


    chonkala,


    Both chemo and Herceptin have been game changers for HER2+ women. They are not, however, guarantees of a "cure". Some will have recurrence even with Herceptin and some will have bad se's. Overall, it's been a boon but not perfect. I posted earlier and hope you understand that bco is great but hardly the place to get a balanced poll since most women who are doing well stop posting.

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  • chonkala
    chonkala Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2013


    Hi exbrnxgrl!! Yes, I understand it's difficult to actually track the reoccurrence rates. I just wanted to hear from the women who are currently here and hear their stories :) mainly to know that if I do have a reoccurrence -there is hope.

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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited November 2013


    I had triple positive in '07 and was just Dx'd with TN which suggests that my year of Herceptin and 5 Years of tamoxifen worked (not that that makes me feel any better about a reoccurrence of a TN cancer lol)

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  • chonkala
    chonkala Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2013


    hi Virginia!! What's TN?

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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited November 2013


    triple negative cancer --- I am currently doing TC chemo and then will be done as hormone therapies won't help TN ;)

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  • chonkala
    chonkala Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2013


    aaaahhh.. I see, thank you :))

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  • Her2husband
    Her2husband Member Posts: 19
    edited November 2013


    Hi Chonkala,


    do you know what they call alternative medicine that has been studied and found to have benefit and work.........they call it medicine.


    Please consider the studies that do show overwhelming benefit from chemo, herceptin etc. 15 years ago HER2+ had a really bad prognosis. Herceptin has levelled the playing field somewhat and chemo does kill cancer.


    my wife is currently undergoing treatment for stage 3 cancer 11/24 nodes positive. Bilateral Mastectomy, dose dense chemo AC,taxol, radiation therapy and herceptin. It is a huge burden.....but having spoken with countless medical professionals it is the ONLY path to take if she is to optimise her chances of getting rid of this wretched thing.


    Good luck with what you decide to do but please make youself as best informed as you can.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited November 2013

    Chonkala - Herceptin has been shown to work better with chemo

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited November 2013

    wishing your wife the best, her2husband, and you too, VirginiaNJ.

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  • nellysca2013
    nellysca2013 Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2013


    Hi chonkala, I have same dx as you. Just had my left mastectomy surgery at Memorial Sloan last Weds. Right now recuperating at home..,still not able to get drains removed. Tissue expander and tubes SO uncomfortable. Waiting anxiously to meet with ca surgeon and then see an onco for first time, though surgeon (dr Heerdt) already mentioned will need about yr of chemo and Herceptin but no details till my pathology rep comes back. It did go into nodes. All very scary....so much brain can't elp wondering about...hard to take it 1 day at time, esp since I ave 3 lil ones counting on me for many yrs to come.


    Thanks for ur post as well as all the others! Great info!


    Nelly,


    Dx 09/13, ER-/PR-, HER2+, left mastectomy 11/20/13

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  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited November 2013


    TY Racy!


    Best wishes to you Nelly - I too went to Sloan....I had my surgery 6 weeks ago with Drs. Van Zee and Cordeiro. My drains were out at 1 week (they took them out at the post surgery visit). It gets better....just keep doing the stretching exercises, they really help!!! :)

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  • chonkala
    chonkala Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2013


    nelly.. Oh momma. Three little ones. You are busy I'm sure, plus this on top of it really put you into a tailspin. What are your next steps?

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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Member Posts: 99
    edited December 2013


    There are online calculators that show probability of surviving 5 and 10 years based on large data sets of woman with different bc diagnoses - see for example http://www.predict.nhs.uk/.


    These are far more reliable than trying to estimate probabilities based on numbers on recurrences on forums (which as others have said don't include the large number of people who leave forums and get on with their lives).

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