How fast is recurrence?

Cassie · Regular Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 10 Location: AZ

Dr. Leo,
Some of us have been batting this question around and thought you might help us. Many of us were told when we had our original diagnosis that the cancer had been growing for years to get to a point where it could be noticed. Then why is recurrence more likely within the first years after surgery? Since the original tumor took so long, why do some suffer recurrences so quickly, despite stage, grade, ER/PR status or whatever?

Thanks for any help you can give us,
Cassie

Muttsmom · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: How fast is recurrence?

Hi Cassie,
I'm definately not trying to answer for Leo because I'd like to try to understand this more too. I know why I was 2 years NED, my onco said he was "encouraged" and when I asked what did he mean, he said that it shows that the cancer wasn't chemo resistant and it wasn't real aggressive. I've known a few ladies that have had reoccurences in less then a year after dx and then I've seen ladies that have a reoccurence after 6, 8, 12 years. I know that is just one reason why it would come back quickly. It is strange how we're dx and can have it back in our liver, bones etc. so fast when it was growing for many years before we could either feel it or a mammogram pick it up and then it can go nuts after treatment.
I'll be checking for Leo's answer too, to this very good question.
We need a cure for this mess and be done with it. Going through it once should be more then enough!!!!
Nancy
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

You pose a very interesting question, which is being looked into by many research folks. The quick answer is: we don't know how tumors will behave. We all know that some are more aggressive than others, and also know some markers of which ones can be more aggressive: poorly differentiated, ER/PR negative, HER2 etc. Also it seems that after getting chemotherapy, the recurrence is usually more aggressive, and also resistant to the previously given chemotherapy. Another thing is that after a tumor is metastatic, the biology of the tumor is different: once it is able to travel through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system it has then shown how aggressive it can be. So there are a lot of reasons for the recurrences to grow faster, but in the end we don't really know which tumors have a higher potential for recurrence.

regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

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