HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Progression rates from stage IIIC to stage IV?

Jackie07 · 09-02-2009, 10:02 PM

Marcia,

I thought I had replied to you - since I couldn't see it on this thread, I'll just say it here again.

I agree with everyone that stats really is just a 'reference' number. When I had my brain tumor diagnosed, my surgeon was sure that my neurologist's guess was not correct. Sure enough, after sending the sample to another institution, it turned out to be a very rare type of brain tumor. Something like less than one percent of all brain tumors diagnosed (it's not even in the textbook - according to my doctors) Taking into account that any primary brain tumor is considered rare, mine became really, really special.

If you look at the stats of all brain tumors, the odds for me to be still here and typing all these messages would be very slim. But it so happened that I had a great surgeon who worked on me 23 hours straight. And when the 3 residue tumors grew again Gamma-knife Radiosurgery was available everywhere and mine have been well under control ever since.

But then I got breast cancer, and then I got recurrence... So what - my oncologist just commended on my being a fighter for 6 years (against breast cancer) and I reminded him to add 13 more years for my brain surgery.

I'm typing this while reading Becky's quote right above: "... you
are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."

Check out the 'long-time survivor' thread by using the 'Search' button on top of the Gold bar. I'm sure you will find plenty of stories of stage III or even stage IV survivors there. And remember that people who are 'cured' usually don't seek out this board or continue to hang around. Since we are all survivors here, you know you belong to the 30 % winners' club.

09-02-2009, 10:02 PM	#5
Jackie07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: "Love never fails." Posts: 5,808	Re: Progression rates from stage IIIC to stage IV? Marcia, I thought I had replied to you - since I couldn't see it on this thread, I'll just say it here again. I agree with everyone that stats really is just a 'reference' number. When I had my brain tumor diagnosed, my surgeon was sure that my neurologist's guess was not correct. Sure enough, after sending the sample to another institution, it turned out to be a very rare type of brain tumor. Something like less than one percent of all brain tumors diagnosed (it's not even in the textbook - according to my doctors) Taking into account that any primary brain tumor is considered rare, mine became really, really special. If you look at the stats of all brain tumors, the odds for me to be still here and typing all these messages would be very slim. But it so happened that I had a great surgeon who worked on me 23 hours straight. And when the 3 residue tumors grew again Gamma-knife Radiosurgery was available everywhere and mine have been well under control ever since. But then I got breast cancer, and then I got recurrence... So what - my oncologist just commended on my being a fighter for 6 years (against breast cancer) and I reminded him to add 13 more years for my brain surgery. I'm typing this while reading Becky's quote right above: "... you are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." Check out the 'long-time survivor' thread by using the 'Search' button on top of the Gold bar. I'm sure you will find plenty of stories of stage III or even stage IV survivors there. And remember that people who are 'cured' usually don't seek out this board or continue to hang around. Since we are all survivors here, you know you belong to the 30 % winners' club. __________________ Jackie07 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2 NICU 4.4 LB Erythema Nodosum 85 Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d 3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills CN 3 GKRS 52301 IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET 6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M Diastasis recti Tamoxifen B. scan Irrtbl bowel 1'09 Colonoscopy 313 BRCA1 V1247I hptc hemangioma Vertigo GI - > yogurt hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410 Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk DEXA 1/13 1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer. 3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer. Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2) 10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016 7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence. 7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule. 1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule. "I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe Last edited by Jackie07; 09-02-2009 at 10:06 PM..