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Becky · 11-05-2009, 04:02 PM

Dianne

I guess you need to determine what does that 4% - 6% really mean. For the purposes of my little exercise, I'll use 5%.

Let's say your chance of recurring is 10%. Did your onc mean it gives you a solid 5% meaning now your chance of recurring is 95% or does it dimish your chance of the recurrance rate by 5% meaning now your chance of recurring is 90.5%. I don't think anything is worth that half a percent (IMHO) but a true 5% just might be for many women.

Also, if your chance of recurring is 50% and you get a solid 5% from Tamoxifen, then you only go up to 55% but on the recurrence diminish rate, you are almost at parity at 52.5%.

So... what does your onc mean and what does it mean to you.

Everyone has different rationale in their treatment and what makes sense for you as an individual. Some people will do anything for even a half of a percent and others might want a 25% - 35% benefit or better to try something. Its up to you.

11-05-2009, 04:02 PM	#2
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: Tamoxifen and weakly ER positive women? Dianne I guess you need to determine what does that 4% - 6% really mean. For the purposes of my little exercise, I'll use 5%. Let's say your chance of recurring is 10%. Did your onc mean it gives you a solid 5% meaning now your chance of recurring is 95% or does it dimish your chance of the recurrance rate by 5% meaning now your chance of recurring is 90.5%. I don't think anything is worth that half a percent (IMHO) but a true 5% just might be for many women. Also, if your chance of recurring is 50% and you get a solid 5% from Tamoxifen, then you only go up to 55% but on the recurrence diminish rate, you are almost at parity at 52.5%. So... what does your onc mean and what does it mean to you. Everyone has different rationale in their treatment and what makes sense for you as an individual. Some people will do anything for even a half of a percent and others might want a 25% - 35% benefit or better to try something. Its up to you. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think" Last edited by Becky; 11-05-2009 at 04:04 PM.. Reason: Addition