STATS I need help with

Patty F · 08-29-2009, 05:51 PM

I read this on another site.........risk of recurrence for stage III breast cancer (and with 15 positive nodes this is stage III) is about 70%. the highest period of time for recurrence is the first two years after completion of treatment, excluding hormonal therapy.
Is this true??????

DianneS · 08-29-2009, 07:29 PM

I guess it depends upon several other factors too. Not sure, but size of tumour is one factor, ER/PR status, grade of tumour are other factors as well as lymph node involvement, vascular invasion present or not. There may be more and I'm sure there will be other members on board soon to point them out? Oh, whether or not the person is her2 positive, and how much, is a determining factor as well.

Percents are difficult as they do not take into consideration such important things as lifestyle and diet which can either increase or decrease the odds.

That's my two cents worth.

Diannes

Midwest Alice · 08-30-2009, 04:55 AM

Herceptin is changing everything. How old are your stats?

Cannon · 08-30-2009, 06:33 AM

I have never seen these stats - and I looked for everything. Also, as others have pointed out, many of these stats are OLD, and do not take into account the widespread use of Herceptin.

The other thing to remember is that even if the cancer recurs - that is not always a death sentence - well at least not a quick one. My sister used to remind me that you just have to live long enough for the next treatment - a sorry thing to be grateful for, but it's true.

I am now 3 yrs out from dx and NED. I was also Stage 3, and I am grateful.

Also, as I like to remind people - for individuals, the stats are either 0% or 100% - so I assume you wil lbe the one with the good outcome!

Best,
Rebecca

Brenda_D · 08-30-2009, 09:03 AM

I don't think that takes Herceptin, into account.
I don't remember seeing any stats that do.

Also stage 3 here too. I am now about 1 and 1/2 years out from the end of active treatment and ned.

karen raines hunt · 08-30-2009, 09:16 AM

I was also stage 3.........with a huge tumor (12 cm). My oncologist reported my risk of recurrence as 68%, but with Herceptin these stats are changing. I am 4 years and 4 months out from my diagnosis date and appear to be NED.

Karen

Karen Wheel · 08-30-2009, 12:50 PM

Only wanted to comment and say thank you for those who have weighed in on being NED for 3-4 years - as I keep wondering what the odds are of staying healthy.

Are any of you doing any special diets (I became a strict vegan and gave up all animal products) but wondering if this is something you are doing too...?

Or just the typical Herceptin and chemo....?

Thanks for giving me hope!!!!

Karen

Mary Jo · 08-30-2009, 01:49 PM

Hi all...

4 years....NED.......and counting!

Things I do different, well, let's see.......I enjoy life wayyyy more........I try to stay focused on what's truly important and realize none of us are getting out of this life alive so might as well live, love and stay close to God.

As for diet and exercise. I always was an exerciser and that hasn't changed....still powerwalk about 4 miles a day - sometimes more sometimes less but that's a pretty good average. I take some supplements......lots of D3....CoQ10......fish oil........grape seed extract.....milk thistle......magnesium......turmeric ...I think that's it. I also eat more veggies and fruits....make my cookies now and use whole wheat pastry flour. Buy dark choc. instead of milk choc. (almost always) but does eat sugar and sweet treats. My motto is everything in moderation.

Like I said....I enjoy my life......and if I gave up everything I still wouldn't live forever (down here anyway - it will be eternal in Heaven though

) and part of enjoying my life is treats on occasion...so I do it.

It's gotta be whatever works for you though.....we all have a life to live......we all should take care of these bodies God gave us BUT we all should enjoy each and everyday we have breath!!

Off to enjoy the day................................Oh ya, one more thing......I don't like red wine but I do like beer. I read that dark beer has more of whatever red wine has (can't remember what it's called) so I switched to dark beer when I do have one or two.

Cheers.....

Mary Jo

sassy · 08-30-2009, 05:01 PM

Stage III, 4 1/2 years out. Don't do that much different. Take fish oil, calcium, eat more veggies. Still enjoy food, but less sugar.

Enjoy life.

Cannon · 08-30-2009, 06:16 PM

Great question about diet. There are lots of threads on supplements, etc.

I think anything you want to do for yourself is good, but I know there are people who have gotten cancer despite having been long time vegans, and there are people like me, who can't get a whole lot healthier in their diet (ok, except for the chocolate).

I am unable to eat more than a smattering of fruits and veggies because of having Crohn's also. Also b/c of the Crohn's, I have iron issues, so need to eat red meat. I was unable to exercise much until recently, due to fatigue. In addition to a slew of rx, I take CoQ10, glucosamine & chondroitin (helps with aches from Femara), baby aspirin, calcium +D, and fish oil. Right now I am also taking potassium b/c it came up low on my last bloodwork (I think also from the Crohn's).

So, do what you can, but don't beat yourself up for what you can't or don't do.

Rebecca

Joan M · 09-02-2009, 08:23 AM

Patty,

There's a formula that I used to calculate my own chance of recurrence that takes positive nodes into account. I found it on the Internet, but that was about 5 years ago when I was first diagnosed and I can't now recall where.

In general, chemo reduces the chance of recurrence by 30% and Herceptin reduces it further, I think, by roughly 50% (so for only chemo, if your onc said you had a 12% chance of recurrence before chemo, for example, you would have a roughly an 8 1/2 percent chance after treatment).

Joan