Mom of twins, most of us have looked up statistics online through cancermath and other calculators. The calculators are outdated and do not take into account recent treatment practices. My own oncologist declined to state a percentage--"either you recur or you don't."

As breast cancer folks, we follow the treatment recommendations and go through hell with chemo and surgery and radiation and hormonal fol-de-rol. After that...we do our best to live a healthy lifestyle, maintain vigilance for strange pains and coughs and itchy teeth, and get on with life.

There just is nothing to be gained by trying to nail down a number for yourself. Ki-57 score, Luminal A or B, residual cancer, it's all very tempting to try to read these tea leaves but they don't tell you much about what's going to happen for YOU in 3 or 5 or 30 years.

I've stayed pretty current with research and have urged my MO toward Xeloda, Prolia, Metformin, and she has willingly cooperated. But at some point, I've found, you must stay informed but live your life. Try to let the "what if" anxiety trickle out of your heart. You have no expiration date stamped on your forehead.

Stay plugged in, read about current research, but enjoy your days.

Momoftwins, I have known several people who have been diagnosed, one friend in particular was diagnosed stage 3C in 1995, I think she had 10+ positive lymph nodes and er+, she did bmx, diep reconstruction been thru 33 radiations twice, chemo and just finished AI drugs. She is doing fine no recurrence. Two others that were stage 2 doing fine. I had one coworker that was diagnosed within 1 month of me, she had only one ILC tumor, no nodes and an oncodx of 4, she got cancer back in her hip, bone mets within 6 months.

My friend with stage 3c never dreamed she would be fine 20 years later and my coworker was sure she would be fine based on statistics. So don't worry too much, you've done what you can

What is clear to me is the medical community doesn't understand why we get it or why we recur. I read the link you provided, having a large database of survivors is important.

Momdin, the radiation is there to mop up any leftovers from chemo and surgery. Whatever cancer cells might still be lurking about your chest or axilla will be blasted into oblivion. A lot of us had residual cancer after chemo. Please don't lose hope.

I had six affected lymph nodes and many of the same stats as you--ER+, Grade 2. I was diagnosed in 2011 and I'm still NED (no evidence of disease).

Weesa,

Love your approach, must try harder to adopt it! We have a very similar tx. 'tawdry life' ha ha! - I like that and want one of those too!

Best wishes

WS

We all worry about recurring from time to time, the only one I know that doesn't worry about it is my husband's 100 year old aunt. She had BC when she was in her early 60s.

That's so amazing!!!!

It's such a crap shoot. As someone said, you see folks in 'better' situations than you not make it and folks who are end stage III going on for years. That's why there's no cure for cancer, and I don't believe there ever will be. No rhyme or reason. It's so individual. I do have hope that identifying it before it can even get to DCIS will be found like through blood tests. I read somewhere they are working on that.

As for risk.... my onc told me yes by the size of the tumor alone. She's very proactive. I like that. I feel she is very on top of what's going on with me so I take solace in that.

Omg you give me so much hope xo

For me personally, I had terrible prognosticators , and although concerned and fearful, I was determined not to have BC take me too( my mom, grand mom, and only mat aunt died of it)

the dear long timers here gave me so much hope, and I try to provide this to the new ladies going down this road.

It's now almost 12 years and despite the odds given back then I am here , well, living large and grateful every day.

Stay positive, there is so much hope

Stories of hope are such lifelines to those in the early days. I was blessed to have a friend who was an 8-year veteran who met me for breakfast and let me sob into my hash browns, and who served as my beacon of hope and survival.

For those who are struggling with the fear and grief of recent diagnosis, just know that for each of us here who are the "old ones," there are a gazillion more out there who don't post on BCO.

Momoftwins, same as you, having young kids is very hard, I have 3 kids (6,4 and 2 years old). Every time I look at their faces I can't hold my tears. I hope it will get better with time. Dealing with residual disease after chemo is very depressing. I will meet my MO tomorrow to beg for more chemo. I too don't like to know my odds or do cancer math. After all it's in God's hand.

YATCOMW, Ikc and Sbelizabeth thank you so much for giving us so much hope. I search and follow your posts everywhere. Thanks for being here for us.

Goincrzay8, I hope everything turns out to be fine with you.

Momy~ We are thinking of you. Hoping you are wrapped in loads of support and love.

I was told I had a 50 percent chance of the cancer coming back to a distant sight WITHOUT chemo. With Chemo, this went to a 30% percent chance. I am currently in my seventh year of remission.