Stage 1-recurrance percentage % risk?

I was oncotype 15 in the worst of the two tumors, for a score of 10% recurrence rate in 10 years, after 5 years of tamoxifen, (but I think now my MO will be doing 10 years?)  I asked the MO what my risk would have been without the tamoxifen, and he said 20%. I also opted not to do chemo, because it would have only helped my chances by 2% or so, and the risks outweighed the benefits for me. Another interesting thing, I asked the NP if rads reduced the recurrence rate even more, but she said it was already figured into the oncotype score, it was assumed that if you had lumpectomy, you also had rads. 

Also, I sometimes worry if the rate of recurrence is actually higher, because I had micromets in one node, and the oncotype is for node negative if premenopausal. Also, because I had synchronous bilateral BC, I worry about that, too. But my MO said they just go by the worse of the two sides, and that is your prognosis. Anyway, I also exercise a lot and eat healthy, and have lost weight, just as extra assurance! I can't wait for a time when the worry gets less. It has been just over a year.

Nichole,

I am going to give you my best advice (not said in A snotty way) believe in the 5% and try you best not to think about cancer if you can. Realize there is nothing beside exercising and eating right after your treatment is over. I spent so much time looking at stats and numbers after round 1 that I regret that time. I wasted it. I don't regret my time at BC.org just that I wouldn't look up stats. I am one of the unlucky who after 5 years my stage 1 came back in a piece of leftover breast tissue after a double. The odds of that happening are SOOOO LOW.

So I often tell people do the treatment know that you did the best that you could and once you are done go live life . I come here learn about new drugs and make friends that get it.

((Hugs)).

Mine is stage 1 with an oncotype Dx score of 23 (intermediate). My lymph nodes were negative, and there is a chance of 12 - 15% recurrence with hormone therapy alone. I am concerned about two things. One is that I've had a mastectomy September 23rd, and I am wondering how many days are allowed to go by without having treatment of some sort. Today makes 50 days without treatment since my surgery, but I need some time  to find the best treatment possible.  I don't know if chemo AND hormone therapy is a good way to go in that I've read that adding chemo to hormone therapy will only make a difference by 1 - 2 percent, but my doctor recommends it because of my age (53 is described as young today). If that's the case, it's really not worth it to go through the side effects. I'd rather try hormone therapy, and good old-fashion diet and exercise. So at this point I'm wavering between hormone therapy alone or chemo AND hormone therapy. Quite frankly I'm afraid of the side effects in that I would like to keep working through the treatments. I work with students (Teacher Assistant - 7th graders), and I would like to avoid infections. Any suggestions or personal experiences?

Holly - that really sucks. So sorry.

I was just diagnosed with ILC, 1.3 cm, stage 1c, grade 2, ER+
PR+, HER negative, BC. I was supposed to have my surgery on October 21^st,
but my surgeon canceled it because I have a condition that causes nerve tumors
to come on my skin and if I was to receive radiation, there is a high possibly
that they could cancerous. I met with
the Radiation Oncologist to discuss this issues and she told me she would never
due radiation on my unless I had a lift threatening condition. I finally was
able to have my surgery three weeks ago, a lumpectomy per surgeon's recommendation.
I saw my Oncologist yesterday and she told me I had an 8% chance of reoccurrence
with chemo and HRT, a 10% with just HRT, or 20% with doing nothing. I
have decided not to do the chemo because it scares me too much. I decided I didn't want to do the OncoType test because I was told that if it came back where it indicated that chemo would help, I would have to do it. There is only a
2% difference and it's not worth it to me. I hope I have made the right decision with not being able to do radiation.

I have decided to do the OncoType test becuase I'm to scared that my cancer could come back.

Roberta, good for you! More knowledge is better and I hope for a low score. Ki

waitingtoex: Your profile states HER2+ but it was my impression that oncotype dx is only given

for her2 negative. Usually those of us who are HER2+ have herceptin. Just want to make sure

you are getting what you need.

I got my Oncotype score back yesterday.  It was 17.  MO said no Chemo.  Started Tamoxifen yesterday too.Will know more about the percentages next Tuesday when I meet with my MO.

I didn't pay enough attention to the recurrence rate numbers. I think the doc said something like 4 percent cut to 2 percent if I do the tamox which I am. My oncotype score was 5 so my little tumor was a real sweetie in many ways. But I don't miss him!

Hi Sharon, My tumor was 5 mm. So a little bigger than yours!

Funthing42, I have a condition that is called Neurofibromatosis.  I've had it since birth.  The tumors didn't start showing up until I was a teenager.

LittleMelon,

For anyone looking to statistics re: BC recurrence, this may interest you: http://cancerguide.org/median_not_msg.html

I had almost the same exact DX as you, Mine: IDC, <2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-. I had a BM, started Tamoxifen, then reconstruction and a total hysterectomy. My Oncologist didn't do the Oconotype test and didn't give me a % of recurrence. She also has never suggested anything with regard to lifestyle to prevent the BC from coming back.

At first I was a little put off by this, however, after researching women with BC, I think she was wise. She doesn't know exactly what causes BC or how to prevent its return and to suggest she does and to tell me so, would make her a liar. Lifestyle changes are good, don't get me wrong but it can't be food, exercise, etc., everything that is buzzing around. Too many women die of BC that eat healthy diets, are thin or healthy weight, overweight, exercise, never eaten meat, etc. I believe its something in our environment that causes cell mutations and stress levels.

I also thought once I hit the 5 year mark, my chances of recurrence would go down but my Oncologist said that is true for women with other types of BC, example, triple negative BC is more likely to come back in the first 5 years. Hormone receptive BC is more likely to come back after the 5 years or later.

I don't put much stock into the Oconotype tests, one just never knows if their cancer will come back or not. I have seen women with good chances for survival, pass on and women who surpassed statistics.

Blessings!

Hello everyone. I had the Oncotype score of 5, with a tumor sized 1.5. The MO told me my chance of recurrence was 5% with 5 years of Tamoxifen and 6 weeks of RT. It is nerve racking, as I can't have a mammo until Sept. Due to radiation

scvmom65 --- no one can go down to 0% risk~~~!!!! We are human after all. eVeryone, including the most healthy, least susceptible (whatever that is) has SOME risk.

I once asked my onc "when does…when does…when does…" and given the context of the conversation at the time, my MO completed my thought: "When does the risk go down to that of a normal, never-had breast cancer woman? After 20 years." said MO.