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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited July 2018 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Please forgive my ignorance but I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April and still have so much to learn. Some of the information and terminology is overwhelming.

What does it mean when someone writes, for example, "it will help 3% to have radiation?" Does it mean the treatment will only help 3% to prevent cancer from reoccurring? I will be assigned an oncologist in two weeks so am preparing a list of questions that need to be answered before I decide on a course of treatment, if any.

Thank you.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited July 2018

    It most likely means a 3% reduction in probability of recurrence (say from 6% to 3%, which is actually cutting it in half). It's important to ask what the probabilities are with and without the treatment to see the impact.

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  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited July 2018

    Yes, what Ingerp says. When in doubt, get clarification as to whether the (risk reduction) percentage stated is Absolute or whether it is Relative..

    Also, keep mindful that Survival statistics are to be distinguished from Recurrence statistics. Overall Survival statistics are to be distinguished from Disease-Free Survival statistics.

    Welcome to BCO.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2018

    Thank you Icietla and Ingerp for the information. It will help me know what questions to ask and be better informed when I meet with the oncologist, presumably next month after I meet with the surgeon on the 6th.

    At this point I'm on information overload but have plenty of time to prepare.

    Thank you for the welcome and the help!

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