Recurrence Statistics

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DrRobin23
DrRobin23 Member Posts: 2

Hi Everyone! Newbie here...I am exactly 13 days post double mastectomy today. I have been, as I'm sure so many of you have as well, researching statistics for recurrence rates using double mastectomy and chemotherapy. I can find stats for mastectomy alone as well as mastectomy and radiation but so far, no luck on mastectomy and chemo.

I was diagnosed with multi-focal, stage 2/grade 2 invasive mammary carcinoma in the left breast. Tumors were 1.7cm and 1.2 cm. One had attached to my pectoralis muscle which had to be cut, and 3/11 lymph nodes taken were positive for cancer. I start 4 rounds of A/C on Oct. 3, then go immediately into 12 weekly rounds of Taxol. Tamoxifen to follow all of that. They may suggest radiation and I am interested in finding out the differences in recurrence rates DMX + Chemo Vs DMX+ Chemo + Radiation therapy.

Thanks a bunch!! I apologize if this is not the right forum for this post.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited September 2019

    They would not do an oncodx test because of the 3 positive nodes, those statistics can show a reduction in recurrence risk for no chemo vs chemo with hormone therapy specifically tamoxifen.

    The overall statistic for all early stage breast cancer is about 30% chance of recurrence but that is a combination of everyone regardless of treatment after mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiation.

    You might ask your oncologist especially about the reduction from radiation. There might not be that much data on the chemo benefits. I wish more in the way of data collection of various treatments.

    Good luck to you.

    Do you know your er, pr percentages? Also if you are her2 positive there are more treatment options.

  • DrRobin23
    DrRobin23 Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2019

    Hi Meow13! Thank you for responding and I apologize for the delay in getting back with you. According my my pathology report, my cancer was ER/PR positive at >90%, grade 2-3+ but I was HER2 Negative. I had Invasive Mammary Carcinoma (keep saying had since I had my DMX almost 4 weeks ago), and my Ki-67 proliferation index was 20% for one tumor and 30% for one that was located on the axillary tail.

    Reading this pathology report (though I've read it in the past) is very sobering. I believe I am understanding what these things actually mean and could mean more than I did a few weeks ago.

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited October 2019

    Tamoxifen might be a good treatment for you. Make sure they monitor the uterus lining if you decide to take it. Good luck.

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