Scared: ILC survival rate

That could be without any treatment?  Don't feel less hope.  I don't like the "cured"saying either, because they say there is no "Cure" for cancer.  They should call it "postponed".  I don't think those stats sound right. Someone will come along that can give you some links to sights that you can put your info in and find out the survival rate.  Peace to you, Tami

Hi BW,

I wonder if the seemingly low 30-year survival rate (ILC - 50%, IDC - 37%) is related to the age of the participants in the study.  The 50,399 women involved had a median age of 64.6 years (ILC) and 60.6 years (IDC).

I've had BC for 4 years, 5 surgeries within the first 3.  I had to wean myself from bc.org and research studies because I was obsessed with numbers and what-ifs.  Every pain seemed to be cancer lurking back.  Now I just check in here occasionally to see how folks are doing.

Cancer survival is unpredictable.  A friend of mine had Stage 4+ melanoma with mets tumors in her neck and abdomen.  I say "had" because she's been cancer free for 8 years.

Be stoic with your treatment.  Live life happily.  Be careful swallowing nuts.

I don't know the stats on survival rates with ILC  ( I think it depends more on the actual progression of the cancer and not the particular type); but wanted to let you know some good hopeful news. My mom is a survivor of ILC of over 22 years now without a recurrence.

Anne

BWorrier--I believe the significance of the 5-year survival rate is that most recurrance or metastasis occurs within that time frame. That doens't mean that they can't occur later, but the first five years are the most critical.

My oncologist said this to me...IDC type cancer is worrisome in the first 5 years and "USUALLY" (and of course we know that this is just an odds game and nothing is ever really usual), if there will be a recurrence, it happens by year 5. 

ILC type cancer is usually slower growing and IF there were to be a recurrence, "USUALLY" shows up after 10 years.

So ILC has a better outlook near term and then the risk actually increases (man, did I hate to hear that!).  Of course, we can all hope and pray that each year, there is better technology and detection and meds, etc.....and maybe a CURE!

Bwalker, I am a 5 year 4 month ILC survivor, just had bone scan, pet imaging, and mammogram and I am still cancer free.  We have no expiration time on us.  Please don't be scared, just do what has to be done, do your mastectomy, do your chemo and then live, be happy, and enjoy life.  You can do it.  sending you gentle hugs.

I pm'd you all the details and yes, I am very happy.   Hope all is better with you today and so sorry I typed walker instead of worrier.  A senior moment. LOL  I am a tad nervous about being off of all drugs now but I am not going to worry about it.  I am just going to live my life to the fullest, do Gods will as much as humanly possible and just enoy my family and most of all just be happy.  It is the tude.  Big hugs to you. Sherry

Son of Cancer:  What a sweet son you are to be concerned for your mom.  I am a 46 year old mom of three children.  My oldest daughter is married and 23 and the best thing she has done is talk to me about it.  My son is 20 and on a church mission for two years.  We e-mail once a week and he's forever telling me to take it easy and let others help me (he knows me).  My youngest (daughter-15) doesn't want to "see" anything (had masectomies) but she's artistic and made me the sweetest oil pastel piece.  So, do what's right for you.  How it would lift your mom's heart to know you even did this for her!!  Just let her know what she means to you and that you are thinking/praying for her.  She needs your love and I bet you are more than willing to give her that.

bookgirl ~  I had both ILC and IDC. I had multicentric bc with a primary (1 cm) lesion that was mixed lobular & ductal; a 9mm lesion that was lobular+tubular; and two tiny (5mm + 1mm) lobular lesions.  The bc in my lymph node was ductal.  I'm still not sure what to make of it when we have more than one kind of bc, but I tend to think that different factors (family history, HRT, etc.) went into forming each type.   Deanna

Sam ~  It might help you to know that most bc's (with a few exceptions) are very slow-growing.  In fact, they say that by the time a lump can be seen on imaging (like a mammogram or ultrasound), it's probably been growing for 10 years.  So, unless her doctors advise otherwise, it's probably a great idea for your family to enjoy that planned European trip before your Mother has to start treatment.

The other thing you might do for your Mother is refer her to this website.  Not only is the informational section very complete, but there are threads here by month for each step of treatment (e.g. Surgery in September 09).  Having other women who are going through the same thing you are to share with makes the journey much easier.

Also -- in case no one's told you, breast cancer that is caught early -- as a high percentage is with today's digital screening equipment -- is highly survivable.  So, even though it's a very scary diagnosis, the chances your Mother will have a very favorable outcome are very high.   

Take care, and tell your Mother she has a place to come and share her fears and concerns with a ton of women who have been exactly where she is now  ~  Deanna