Cancermath

Faithhope35
Faithhope35 Member Posts: 12
edited January 2017 in Stage III Breast Cancer

after reading one of the posts I tried out cancer math. As a stage 3er I've always gone on I have about a 30 % chance of recurrence. This is unsettling & im trying to find some peace with it. However, I went on cancer math & plunked in my numbers 5cm, 4 nodes & it said a 42% chance of recurrence. I'm just sick about it! Anyone know anything about this tool

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Comments

  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited January 2017

    One thing I have learned over the last 5 years since my Stage 3a one node shy of 3c diagnosis, is I pay NO ATTENTION to statistics.  It never makes me feel better only worse.  As a result of my breast cancer blog, I've talked with thousands of breast cancer survivors--.  Stage 1 that go to Stage 4, Stage 3c that are alive 20 years, you can never rationally figure it out. 

    My best advice is live each day to the fullest and stay away from stats.  It is hard enough learning to live with the fear of recurrence.  Do everything you can possibly do to beat your cancer!

    Sending hope, courage, and strength to you....

     

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2017

    Faithhope - I am in total agreement with Denise and we are both Stage III. Stats shouldn't take control over how you live your life. She said it perfectly - live each day to the fullest. I would only add, stay away from Dr. Google. He is not your friend. Yes, I do understand it's hard not to fixate on cancer, but it will get easier.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited January 2017

    A"Stat' are just that "stat' Depending on who puts the 'numbers' in and what is wanted to be shown, they are/can be very 'skewed' to either 'side' or the other.

    Stay away from those bogus sites. According to 'can er math' - it is impossible that I had 19 positive nodes (surgery path. showed that I did). 'Stats' are a cumulation of ALL who die after a BC DX. Does not usually nclude the health issues they may/may not have had when DXd.

    Bottom line is your (or mine or anyone else's) possibilities are individual - either 0% or 100%. Either mets happen or they don't. 'You' will either have a reoccurance or 'you' won't - 0% or 100%. 'You will not have a part/ percentage of your body having recurrence - it is all or none.

    I am a bit more concerned about my SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) and BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) as I've 'abused' my skin all my life (being an outdoor woman) than my IBC Stage IIC - especially after 7+ yrs post DX. The path. on both SCC and BCC have shown that not related to IBC.

    NO ONE HAS ANY GUARANTEES FOR THE NEXT MINUTE/DAY/MONTH/YEAR! Even without any DX of any health issues - Live and Love every minute to the utmost possible.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited January 2017

    Faithhope35 - it would help with the replies you get if you would fill out your Profile. That way others could post to your DX who have similar DXs.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2017

    Statistics is math. Math is numbers. Life is life. We aren’t robots. If something happens to you, your chances are 100%. If it doesn’t, your chance of it is zero.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited January 2017

    ChiSandy - much better put than my 'ramblings'.

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  • Faithhope35
    Faithhope35 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2017

    thanks for your responses everyone. I filled out all the info, not sure why it doesn't show up at the bottom

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  • Kathleen26
    Kathleen26 Member Posts: 210
    edited January 2017

    I wasted a lot of time on the website when I was first diagnosed. Eventually I realized it was a waste of time because it really didn't matter what it said because it wasn't going to determine whether I had a recurrence or not. As others said, that either will or will not happen; it won't 42% happen.

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  • fd1
    fd1 Member Posts: 239
    edited January 2017

    Hi FaithHope - please don't worry! They shouldn't make these tools available because they are so hard to understand. The 42% is before having any treatment. If you look at the menu for the BC tools you will see one called therapy. If you put your info in there and then the treatments you received, you will see the actual 15 year death rate (which is 15% if I assume that you received standard treatment of 4 x AC, 4 x Taxol dose dense plus tamoxifen)

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited January 2017

    fd1, you beat me to it--this particular calculator looks at survival stuff without treatment, and I can't think of why they put it on the internet. Even the calculator that factors in "therapy" is, by necessity, outdated. FaithHope, spray your brain with the hose and rinse those numbers outa there.

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  • Faithhope35
    Faithhope35 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2017

    Thank you thank you so much!! I didn't realize that was before treatment!!!!! I feel so much better. I know you're either 100% or not but somehow this makes me feel so much better! Hugs to you all!

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