when do they tell you if its gone or not

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xskeetshooter
xskeetshooter Member Posts: 169
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
i am finished chemo, into 2nd week of 6 weeks of radation. just wondering what is next,when and how do they find out if its gone

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  • pitt
    pitt Member Posts: 387
    #2
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    I am interested in what you
    I am interested in what you all have to say about this as well. I'm in to 4th week of 6 radiation...
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #3
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    pitt said:

    I am interested in what you
    I am interested in what you all have to say about this as well. I'm in to 4th week of 6 radiation...

    Pitt nice to see you posting
    Pitt nice to see you posting again. How is radiation going for you? I have my next chemo tomorrow, with 2 more to follow, then on to radiation. Hope all is well with you.

    My onc gave me 5 to 10 years cancer free if I do all this treatment. If 10 years that would take me to age 77 and thats not bad. Who knows? I feel my cancer was gone when the surgery was done, and now I'm doing the treatment to get any lingering cells if indeed there are any.
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #4
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    natly15 said:

    Pitt nice to see you posting
    Pitt nice to see you posting again. How is radiation going for you? I have my next chemo tomorrow, with 2 more to follow, then on to radiation. Hope all is well with you.

    My onc gave me 5 to 10 years cancer free if I do all this treatment. If 10 years that would take me to age 77 and thats not bad. Who knows? I feel my cancer was gone when the surgery was done, and now I'm doing the treatment to get any lingering cells if indeed there are any.

    My ONC. told me tht after
    My ONC. told me tht after the surgery as far as they were concerned I was cancer free. The chemo and rads are just extra precautions to zap any cancer cells that may be hiding in different parts of the body. But they have no way of determining that before or after the treatments. Random cancer cells don't show up on the scans, like a tumor or a mass will....no one has ever said to me post chemo or rads, "you show no evidence of disease" like some of the other women seem to be told... , I wish they would......So I just have to hope the chemo and rads killed those random buggers and that the arimidex wont let them come back.
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #5
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    NED
    No one told me NED but I assumed it. They relied on me telling them I was having a problem and then would run a test. So far so good. It's always been other things causing problems. The only test run without symptoms has been mammograms.
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #6
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    Marcia527 said:

    NED
    No one told me NED but I assumed it. They relied on me telling them I was having a problem and then would run a test. So far so good. It's always been other things causing problems. The only test run without symptoms has been mammograms.

    Cured
    I know we all want to hear the word "cured" ... but it's my understanding that if we have experienced breast cancer they do NOT use the word "cured" ... but we are treated ... and it all goes well ... and we have no evidence of the disease ... then we are in remission.

    Although I'd love to hear the word "cured" ... I'll settle for remission.

    hugs.
    teena
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #7
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    "Cancer Free"
    Hi, the word "remission" has never been used in my presence or on my medical documents. I have not even heard the word used in a medical setting or in any of the research I have done. All of my oncologists use the phrase "cancer-free." The St. Louis oncologist did say, "Cancer-free per pet scan." My oncologist here says after 5 years with no recurrence, I will be "cured."

    The possibility of being "cured" may be used in my case because of the type of bc I had, triple negative. After 3 years with no recurrence, the risk drops virtually to zero. Of course, my chances of making it to the 2-3 year mark with no recurrence are about 60/40, so I am not counting on anything.

    As for phrasing, I much prefer "cancer-free." Remission assumes that the cancer you had is merely dormant and will be back. It was used in the past for leukemia, I believe. Myself, I'm not going there.

    As for when we're told our status, I had a pet scan after chemo was completed. Based on the results, I was declared "cancer-free." I would expect scans will be done for everyone after chemo, but it may vary...
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #8
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    Moopy23 said:

    "Cancer Free"
    Hi, the word "remission" has never been used in my presence or on my medical documents. I have not even heard the word used in a medical setting or in any of the research I have done. All of my oncologists use the phrase "cancer-free." The St. Louis oncologist did say, "Cancer-free per pet scan." My oncologist here says after 5 years with no recurrence, I will be "cured."

    The possibility of being "cured" may be used in my case because of the type of bc I had, triple negative. After 3 years with no recurrence, the risk drops virtually to zero. Of course, my chances of making it to the 2-3 year mark with no recurrence are about 60/40, so I am not counting on anything.

    As for phrasing, I much prefer "cancer-free." Remission assumes that the cancer you had is merely dormant and will be back. It was used in the past for leukemia, I believe. Myself, I'm not going there.

    As for when we're told our status, I had a pet scan after chemo was completed. Based on the results, I was declared "cancer-free." I would expect scans will be done for everyone after chemo, but it may vary...

    Thanks Moopy
    That was a really good question. So with me having her2 pos I wait the 5 yrs when done with Tamoxifen to get the all clear ???
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    #9
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    Hi
    I just finished chemo today and will be getting a petscan on the 4th. I'll find out on the 8th the results. The waiting and wondering is hard.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #10
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    laurissa said:

    Hi
    I just finished chemo today and will be getting a petscan on the 4th. I'll find out on the 8th the results. The waiting and wondering is hard.

    I like what I heard
    My rads oncologist said I was cancer free. My oncologist actually said and wrote down that I was cured! Either or, I like both of their answers!

    Sue :)
  • ladybug22
    ladybug22 Member Posts: 646
    #11
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    curd
    my onc told me i would never be cured.
  • xskeetshooter
    xskeetshooter Member Posts: 169
    #12
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    hmmn
    thats scary not knowing. just waiting for something to pop up as a sign. thanks everyone for your input
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #13
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    Kat11 said:

    Thanks Moopy
    That was a really good question. So with me having her2 pos I wait the 5 yrs when done with Tamoxifen to get the all clear ???

    Kat, Laurissa
    I think 5 years is a milestone for every type, so I'd say yes. You might check with your oncologist,though.

    Laurissa, wishing you good scan results next month. You're right about the waiting being the worst. Please keep us updated.
  • boppel
    boppel Member Posts: 26
    #14
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    xskeetshooter said:

    hmmn
    thats scary not knowing. just waiting for something to pop up as a sign. thanks everyone for your input

    I was told "in Remission". There are no guaranties. First BC in 1998 with mastectomy, chemo. Second BC 3 1/2 yrs later, new primary, lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. I had pet scans done when I was done with treatments and a bone scan. My check ups are now yearly with bloodwork and ca 27.29. I try to keep on top of it. Still get anxious when I see my onc. but it must be done. I have never been told that I was "cured' and I am happy with "remission". I am doing well by the way , I am 66 yrs old now. There is Hope ! Hugs...emmi
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #15
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    Moopy23 said:

    Kat, Laurissa
    I think 5 years is a milestone for every type, so I'd say yes. You might check with your oncologist,though.

    Laurissa, wishing you good scan results next month. You're right about the waiting being the worst. Please keep us updated.

    I have been curious since my diagnosis
    about 5 years mark, All statistics is for 5 years survivorship. Does anybody know why is 5 not 4 or 6/
    Thanks,
    New Flower

    Laurissa,
    wishing you luck on your PET scan.
  • HillBillyNana
    HillBillyNana Member Posts: 107
    #16
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    boppel said:

    I was told "in Remission". There are no guaranties. First BC in 1998 with mastectomy, chemo. Second BC 3 1/2 yrs later, new primary, lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. I had pet scans done when I was done with treatments and a bone scan. My check ups are now yearly with bloodwork and ca 27.29. I try to keep on top of it. Still get anxious when I see my onc. but it must be done. I have never been told that I was "cured' and I am happy with "remission". I am doing well by the way , I am 66 yrs old now. There is Hope ! Hugs...emmi

    Again I ask "are we patients or survivors?"
    My doctors have never told me I am cured. But they do say things like take Tamoxifen for 5 years just in case there is a tumor cell. Then take femara to decrease your chances of recurrence. But I have FELT cancer free ever since the surgery was over. I like saying I had BC in 2003. But I had surgery, chemo, and radiation and I feel like the cancer is all gone. I did take the Tamoxifen for 5 years. Not many side effects. Mainly hot flashes. I call myself a survivor. Like a car crash? You may get hurt but if you are still alive after your wounds heal then you are a survivor. right? Be alive!!
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #17
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    This was a good question.
    This was a good question. Thanks for asking it. I am still undergoing treatment and will start with Tamoxifen when done with radiation. Best of luck to you.
    BL

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