Risk assessment
 

What do you think when you have 2 widely different risk of recurrence assessments from 2 different medical professionals?
I asked a prominent Breast CA nurse specialist from John's Hopkins what my risk of recurrence was and was told it was high. My own Onc (not specializing in BC), given the same info, says slight.
I know neither can ultimately know what will happen, but the huge difference is un-nerving, to say the least.

It could be they are both referring to the same data and they both perceive that same data differently.

Say for example, your risk of recurrence is 20%, based on HER2 status, pathology reports, and your tumor's response to drugs. The nurse, who is used to normal recurrence rates of 5 to 10% would think your risk is high. Compared to normal rates, she would be correct. The doctor looks at your recurrence rate of 20%, and even though it is higher than normal, there is still an 80% chance that there will be no recurrence.

This is one of the truly frustrating aspects of dealing with medical personal. High and slight don't have much meaning unless you know where perspective is from.

I agree with Lee. After surgery I went to two different oncologists (Herceptin wasn't available then) and one waffled on my future and the other said, no problem - you'll beat this.


I guess its about being wrong. The first one was afraid that if he said I would recur and didn't, its a better situation for him. And the second one knows the chance is there but low and wants to give hope and optimism so says no problem and if I recur, she made a mistake. That takes guts.

You'll be fine. You risk is lower than you think. Its just the nurse is afraid to make a mistake that has bad consequences and your doctor isn't. That's her problem and it shouldn't make you worry.

Pink Girl, you have a very sage oncologist there!

No one knows for sure. I guess if you believe that GOD knows all of our paths, he is the only one that would know, and know why! Before I had cancer, I had many personal challenges, and then there was cancer! I thought that at some point my plate had to be full and there could be nothing added to it. Personally I was wrong. I think that there is no rhime or reason that we can detect for who recurs and who doesn't. Either you recur or you don't. That makes 2 catagories 100% that you didn't recure or 100% that you did. All we can do is not obcess about it and be thankful and find the joy in every day we have ahead of us.