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csquared
New User
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: Results Are Back |
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Hello,
My mother under went surgery on the 22nd April having her right breast removed. She left the hospital on 30th April, before her discharge we met with her oncology nurse who informed us about her cancer.
Type of Breast Cancer: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Size: 4cm
Stage/Grade: 2
Lymph Nodes Removed: 30
Lymph Nodes Involved: 20
Receptors: Estrogen Positive
My mother also had an ultrasound performed on her abdomen while in hospital, they said this was a routine test, this came back clear. She also has to go for a bone scan in a week or two.
The lymph nodes that were taken from my mother, ten of them were found clear of cancer but twenty of them had some cancer cells in them.
Question: What does this mean? Could the cancer be somewhere else?
The nurse told my mother that her cancer was gone and anymore treatment that she will be recieving will be preventative measures. And that regardless of what other treatment she will be recommended to have she will be going on hormone treatment. Is she right in saying the cancer is gone???
Thanks for all your support and help, its great to find comfort in people who have knowledge and wisdom of these situtions |
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Maximise
Regular
Joined: 03 Mar 2007
Posts: 10
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: Results Are Back |
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After I had my lumpectomy and total lymph node clearance where cancer was also found in one node, my surgeon told me had got all the cancer and any more treatment I would receive would be like an added insurance. Imagine my shock when I met up with the oncologist to discuss arrangements for follow up treatment, where she then informed me that they can never be sure the cancer is gone for good, and particularly in breast cancer cancer cells can lie dormant in certain areas (ie Liver, Lungs and bone) even for up to many years. I asked the onc. my prognosis and she advised me that she would never give me an "all clear" from breast cancer and views me as somone living with a "chronic disease", I am 33 and my breast cancer diagnosis was 2 yrs ago now, I try to live life to the full and not keep looking over my shoulder waiting on it to return but its hard sometimes.
Best Wishes to your mum
Maximise
_________________
MAXIMISE |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3741
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Results Are Back |
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csquared, I concur with Maximise, especially in the cases where cancer cell are present in the lymph nodes. I think that is the reason they did the ultrasound... to check for mets to the liver and other organs. Your mother may live the rest of her life with no more cancer. However, she will always life with the uncertainty. It is something that she will have to watch closely for the rest of her life. However, like Maximise said, she should "try to live life to the full and not keep looking over her shoulder" all the time. I live with the same attitude about my brain cancer. Odds are that it will return and I do keep a close watch on my overall health. However, I am trying to make the most out of the life I still have. God bless you and your mother.
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Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Cindy
Senior User
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 156
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Results Are Back |
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Until there is an absolute cure for cancer, we will always, unfortunately, have to live with knowing that it could return at any time, any year. I think telling patients that the cancer is gone gives the patient false hope and security. Always remain in tune to your body. We live our day to day lives with this disease. Try to make living as normal as possible, but always be on the alert for anything that falls outside of what is normal for you.
_________________
Where is the cure???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
www.bcsisters.org/forum
www.mybreastcancerstore.com |
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Muttsmom
Senior User
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 631
Location: Northern AL
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject: Re: Results Are Back |
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Hi Cindy,
I haven't posted in a long time, but once again, I agree with what you said.... lol I guess that's why they call us "senior poster"... hummm, and I'm only 48.... lol
My surgeon or onco never said that the cancer was gone. All the known cancer, as far as the tumor and the + nodes were removed, but the whole idea behind chemo is to kill any other cancer cells floating around. We pray we stay NED, but go for our check ups and even though, especially in the beginning, we'll notice every new pain, even if we know how we got it and worry it's cancer. In time that contant fear eases, but we know to get checked if something doesn't go away after awhile and it's in between our check ups.
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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 |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3741
Location: Tennessee
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