IS nonhormone dependent breast cancer considered cured after 5 years?

Hi there,

Does anyone know if non hormonal dependent breast cancer is considered cured after 5 year? I have recently read this in a breast cancer brochure that I picked up at my doctor's office. However, I can not find any medical aritcles addressing this and verifying the information to me.

I guess if this is true then in about a year, I would be considered cured of breast cancer if I do not relapse as I am nearly 4 years NED.

I know the information does sound hooky and nothing like I have ever been told before. I always thought bc could return years later, despite the hormonal status.

Please, anyone is welcomed to enlighten me.

Thanks,
Robin

[Alice]

As I understand it they use the term "cured" after 5 years because durring the first 5 years is the highest likelyhood of recurrance.Also as I understand it this is especially true for hormone negative tumors as they are more agressive and show up sooner with symptoms than the hormone +. Personally I don't think this gives us the "all clear" as far as recurrance goes but it should serve as a guideline .I don't think any of us will ever not think of cancer recurrance at the first sign of anything out of the normal but I have been told that time will help.I am interested to hear your opinion on that being 4 years out? I will go for rads measurement tomorrow and very aprehensive about my life continuing to revolve around this from this time foreward.

I hope this helps,Alice

[Barbara H.]

Hi Robin,
I'm er pr negative. I was diagnosed in June 98 and recurred in May 04. I don't think that we are ever out of the woods. That being said, the longer you are NED I believe that the chances are less for a recurrence.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.

[RobinP]

Babara,

Sorry that you had a recurrence after 6 long years. I also have read a more scientific journal article that I can now not find. In this article, it stated that after 8 years of DFS with nonhormonal dependent bc, the disease was considered cure. I wish I could find this article again on the net. If I do I will list the link for everyone.

Robin

[fourboysmom]

I just completed chemo. Am Her2+3,ER,PR-,high grade. My docs said recurrence would probably be sooner than later, but could return up to 20 years later. Gee whiz, that is a long time, and a long time to worry. This from the folks at Dana Farber in Boston. I'll pray for no recurrence.
Love and peace, Janet from CT

[RhondaH]

and I don't remember where, ER- bc tends to recur in the first 5 yrs and then sharply declines thereafter and that it is reversed for ER+ (less chance the first 5 yrs, but INCREASES AFTER 5 yrs). This would make sense due to ER- being more aggressive in nature. Though this is not ALWAYS the case as I think of Christine and others.

Rhonda Hoffman

[RobinP]

Yes, yes what you're telling me sounds what I recently read also. Thank you, there probably is a decline over time. However, it appears that indeed Christine did relapse after 9 long years so we are never in the clear I guess.
Thanks,
Robin