Tumor Off Radar - Interpret, Please!

faithandprayer

Hi All,
I introduced myself last evening and SO appreciate all of the warm welcomes!

So, I find myself here today with a question that has been burning for a couple of weeks. I was diagnosed at the end of March with BC (estrogen+, HER+, node+). Stage IIB-IIIC (haven't had surgery yet). There were actually 2 tumors, one close to 3mm and one close to 2mm...side by side. Also, they were actually able to also see one of the cancerous nodes on my ultrasound (apparently not common) and biopsied it at the time of diagnosis, hence, the node+

A couple of weeks ago they did my first MRI since diagnosis (3 months into chemo).
A miracle occurred. They cannot see the tumors on the MRI. We all saw the before and after with our own eyes. If there had been room, I think my Dr would have done cartwheels. Seriously.

All that to say, now, 2 weeks later (and initial celebrations over), the unpredictability of this disease is creeping back into my head and I'm trying to get my hands around what this actually means.

Soooo....what does this news mean?
Is this type of response uncommon this quickly?
Does this somehow change overall statistics or inhibit recurrence chances?
Since it is an aggressive form is it more likely to aggressively die but then more liekly to come back?

And,if chemo blew up the "Mother Ship", does this mean the little cancer "life boats" free floating in me from node seepage more likely to be blown apart, too?

I know there is nothing definite with any of this and it can all change in a heartbeat. I'm just such a black and white person and this winding...very gray...cancer path has me all over the place. I've gone from them finding a spot on my liver the first week (and accepting I may be terminal for a week) to 3 months later they cannot find the primary tumors. It's really hard to mentally stay geared...

Geesh!

Alexis F

You really need to talk to
You really need to talk to your oncologist and your medical team about all of these questions. They are the only ones that can answer you.

I wish you good luck!

chickad52

I AGREE
I agree with Alexis, that only your ongologist can really answer all your questions. They are the medical experts. Good Luck and God Bless

mimivac

Back and forth
Faith, I know it's hard to be thrown back and forth like this. You just want to know for sure whast's going on, I know. I think the fact that your tumors receded so much is a very good sign. They are reacting to the chemo well. I'm not sure what this means overall. As you stated, cancer is not black and white, but has lots of grey areas. It depends on a multitude of factors. But, you have great news and you can be happy about that. Please talk to your doctor about what all this means and ask all the questions you posed here. Rooting for you!

Mimi

lynn1950

I agree
yes, talk to your oncologist. Another thing to do is to look at the book Anti-Cancer (thanks for referring it, Mimi). It will help you to understand how cancer acts and ways you can prevent recurrence. It is written by a surgeon/researcher who is a cancer survivor.

Lynn

faithandprayer

mimivac said:

Back and forth
Faith, I know it's hard to be thrown back and forth like this. You just want to know for sure whast's going on, I know. I think the fact that your tumors receded so much is a very good sign. They are reacting to the chemo well. I'm not sure what this means overall. As you stated, cancer is not black and white, but has lots of grey areas. It depends on a multitude of factors. But, you have great news and you can be happy about that. Please talk to your doctor about what all this means and ask all the questions you posed here. Rooting for you!

Mimi

I know...
I know, I'm looking for you to have a crystal ball. And, of course, none of us do. That has been my biggest struggle with all of this. It really wasn't fair to ask those questions because, of course, there are really no exact answers. Sorry.

It's like I pray and wait. Then, I get what seems to be good news, but, somehow I can't allow myself to savor it. I'm so guarded. Like I just don't want to go back to that place on March 30th of completely having the rug pulled out from under me and being off-guard. So, instead, I look for definitives. To assure or prepare me for what's going to happen. I keep waiting for closure. Is there ever any?

I just really need to let go of the control on this & turn it over. Countless times, I've thought I have. Perhaps, momentarily I do. Then, I do something (like re-read my post) and realize I have such a long way to go...

Does anyone else struggle with this and if so, how do you cope?

DianeBC

I would suggest, as the
I would suggest, as the others have, that you call your oncologist immediately and try to get in as soon as possible. Tell them you are desperate for answers and also need something for your nerves. Normally, they will get you in pretty quick. There are antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills to help you cope during this time. We all have been thru it and we all get thru it, but, sometimes we need a lil medication added on. There are women here that have been thru this 2 and 3 times, and, if they can do it, the rest of us can too.

So, call your doctor and get your questions answered please.

Good luck!

Marcia527

I can tell you what my
I can tell you what my surgeon told me. That is that I needed chemo first before surgery to shrink the tumors because they were quite large. And it would get floater cells too. Before surgery I was a stage 3a and after a stage 2b. I thought after surgery I'd just need radiation but that was changed after surgery. I was deeply disappointed but I adjusted. That's all we can do. You just have to do what you have to do and adjust. That's life dealing with change. Hang in there and soon it will be over and looking back at it all. Anything you want to remember write it down. You'd be surprised how much you forget.