No recurrence after 5 years=cured?

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cheekymonkey
cheekymonkey Member Posts: 86
edited November 2016 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Has anyone heard this before? My oncologist, who does a lot of research and presents at the conventions/conferences told me that triple negative tumors respond very well to chemo, and if you go anywhere from 3-5 years without a recurrence you can pretty much declare yourself cancer-free (at least from that one tumor). Has anyone heard this before? Is there anyone on this list who recurred after 5 years from the same tumor?

Just curious....

mitzi
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  • fd411
    fd411 Member Posts: 398
    edited August 2007

    I've read this, not sure if on this site or another, that if triple negs recur or metastasize, it'll usually happen within the first 2 years.

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  • Indigoblue
    Indigoblue Member Posts: 274
    edited September 2007
    Nor unuaul comment; typical...they wnat us to keep a positive outlook,

    Indi
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  • Carmelle
    Carmelle Member Posts: 388
    edited September 2007
    This is actually based on science. The downside of triple neg being less treatment options. The plus side is that if you remain recurrence free 5+ they can clinically be considered cured.Only 2% recurrence after that...very small, like general population.
    ER+ HER+ ladies have more treatment options but cannot be considered cured evern after 5+ as at least half of recurrences for that group continue on up to 20 years.
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  • SoapMaker
    SoapMaker Member Posts: 157
    edited September 2007
    Through prior research, my understanding was that the farther out from diagnosis triple negatives get...the less chance for recurrence. I have never read of if you make it to five years you can consider yourself cured. What I did read was that if you make it to 2 years, you have much less chance for recurrence and the percentage goes down each year you are free. I also found that five years free equals to hormone positive women taking Tamoxifen for 5 years. It *has* been a while since I have done any research, so maybe there *has* been some research to substantiate the 5 year statement. I just made 5 years on 8/28, so that would be wonderful news for me; however, I will never let my guard down until there is an announced cure for cancer. When that day comes...and it will, I will celebrate.

    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Where is the cure
    www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited September 2007
    I had a reocurrence after 12 years and am trip neg, however, not from my original tumor. New tumor, other breast. I then had a bilateral mastectomy. I'm also BRCA1+. I was also considered "cured" after 5 years. All that meant for me was that I no longer had annual bone scans. When I found my lump, all concerned moved quite quickly to a diagnosis. I have one more Tax. treatment on Wednesday and then the chemo is done. I will then discuss what the "new" protocol will be for scans. Will I ever be considered "cured" again or will I forever be watched? I am only 44 with my first diagnosis at age 32. I guess I'll find out next week what the new norm will be.

    Sharon
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  • SoapMaker
    SoapMaker Member Posts: 157
    edited September 2007
    Sharon, if they found another cancerous tumor in your other breast that was not from the original tumor, wouldn't that be a new primary and thus you still do not have a recurrence from your first diagnosis?

    Good luck with everything.

    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Where is the cure
    www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited September 2007

    Well, My new way of life will be: in 3 weeks I see my onc. at that time he will schedule a ct and bone scan. I just recent had a chest x-ray which came back clear. If these are clear, I will then have scans every 3 months for the next 3 years looking for lung, liver and bone mets. After 3 years, he will decide how often. Not when they will stop, just how often. He has been my onc for 12 years. Him and I are approximately the same age and he said he plans on practicing for the next 40 years so we can be together for the rest of our lives. In other words, I will be seeing him in one form or other forever. He said he plans on keeping me around that long. A recurrence doesn't necessarily have to be in the same breast from the orginal tumor a recurrence can be in another part of the body. It was the same cancer as in the orginal they considered it a recurrence rather than a primary.

    My trip neg world....different.....but alive!

    Sharon

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  • playwriter
    playwriter Member Posts: 316
    edited September 2007

    my onc told me the same thing -- if i don't have a recurrence w/in 5 years, i'm not likely to.

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  • HollyHopes
    HollyHopes Member Posts: 497
    edited September 2007

    I heard similar info from my onc....2 years out being the most likely time to develop a recurrence with chances decreasing each year after that.  Highly unlikely to have a recurrence 5 years out..just like the general population.

    When can I start counting??  Finished rads last week...

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  • Sadie-Rose
    Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
    edited September 2007

    Hi Everyone,

    I just read the comments on this thread of the site.  I am triple negative too.  I am three years out from treatment!  My oncologist was delighted at my last appointment.  She told me the first two years are the most likely for recurrence.  The third year gave us a little extra clearance.  I do feel I can go forward now and I don't have to watch my step so closely.  My oncologist is vigilant though so I will repeat a PET scan in January and keep up the blood work.

    I have the same understanding that some of you have already mentioned.  Triple negative cancer is more agressive and likely to recure in the first two years, but....and this is an important but....it responds very well to chemotherapy!  I was stage IIb, grade 3 with one positive node so I feel pleased to pass the three year mark.  The thing that is really great is that we don't have to take any medications that cause side effects after we are done with treatment.

     Sadie

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  • HollyHopes
    HollyHopes Member Posts: 497
    edited September 2007

    Hi all,

    I finished up rads about a month ago but have had no scans or tests of any kind...what is up?  Should I ask for some test?  Who do I ask...rad onc, surgeon or med onc??

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  • Sadie-Rose
    Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
    edited September 2007

    Hi HollyHopes,

    My medical oncologist and my surgeon ordered the tests and scans.  It seems you should at least know when you will be seen again by one of your doctors.  My doctors alternated my appointments, but my medical oncologist was the lead person. 

    I think I had an MRI at the end of all of my treatment and I continued to have PET scans every 6 months.  I did something every three months for the first three years ( Pet scans, MRI and Mammograms, plus blood work and office visits),and now we are stretching that out a bit.   

    It's exciting that you have completed the core of your treatment.  I remember feeling a little bit like I was graduating from college, but I hadn't finished all the classes yet.  My friends wanted to celebrate my ending of treatment.  I didn't feel quite finished because I was still running around going to multiple appointments.  I remember it was kind of an uneven time.

    You did make it through the hardest part!!!!!  I hope you are gaining energy each day.

    Sadie

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited September 2007

    Hi Holly, I have had no tests (Just a bone scan years ago I insisted on), here in California we are all on HMO's so we get NOTHING unless the bone is sticking out of the skin!

    If you have great insurance, federal government or the like, or are wealthy, there are lots of tests. 

    I have had none.

    Hugs, Shirlann

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  • Watson
    Watson Member Posts: 1,490
    edited October 2007

    I am 2.5 years out from dx, so hopefully I am on my way!!!!!!  I actually don't live under a cloud of doom and gloom.  Just not my nature.  (see my tag line after my signature!Laughing) 

    My oncologist doesn't do tests on me either.  She says because I'm early stage (2).  They only do tests if you are symptomatic.  I have had two bone scans due to back pain.  They were fine.  She is also scheduling a chest xray.  I think I had one of those last year as well. 

    My BS had me do a breast MRI along with mammogram this past time. 

    But I get no CAT, PET or whatever those full scans are due to staging.  The tests make me anxious as all get out, so I'm glad they don't test me.

    All in all, life is good! 

    My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!Cool

    Watson

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  • Skippy123
    Skippy123 Member Posts: 11
    edited October 2007

    Sadie-Rose,

    Are you BRCA1/2 positive or negative...just curious. 

    Skippy in Austin

    Dx July 2007

    Stage II Grade 3 IDC

    Triple Neg.

    BRCA 1/2 negative

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  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited September 2016

    Sorry, but after 7.5 years from original diagnosis I got a lung met. I did have a local recurrence 2.5 years after diagnosis and tx which was not a good sign. My onc treats another TN who got mets at 9 years. It's unusualbut it happens.

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  • gymgirl1940
    gymgirl1940 Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2016

    Latest curve I saw indicates that re-occurrence peaks at 2.5 years and decreases to essentially zero at 7 years. However, this was for all cases. I don't think it accounts for treatment variations such as stage at diagnosis, BRCA 1/2 or not, node involvement or not, etc.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited November 2016

    My MO said reocurrance is highest in the first 2 years and then begins to drop. He says this is due to chemo either not working or not working well enough.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited November 2016

    yes I have heard that, the one good thing about triple negative cancer.

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  • RTChris
    RTChris Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016

    I've heard the 5 year = essentially cured stats as well.
    Once you get to 5 years the chances of that cancer coming back are almost the same as someone in the general public getting a new primary breast cancer.
    I work in a cancer hospital In the radiation oncology department, and we often see patients with ER/PR + tumors show up with recurrences at 15 - 20 years, but I've almost never seen a TN patient return outside of 3 - 5 years.
    Here's hoping. I am creeping up on 2 years now myself.

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