Race for the Cure

I have just celebrated my 1 year anniversary since I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Breast Cancer.  I have been trying to get back to the life I knew before the cancer diagnosis.  I decided to walk in the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure with a fellow survivor.  At the event they had a number of Breast Cancer Survivors speak about their experience.  I was surprised at how many of them went for over 10 years without a reoccurrence before they were diagnosed again.  Some of them 2 or 3 time survivors.  My question is, will there ever be a point where we are not just considered a Survivor, but are considered Cured?  After listening to some of these women I wonder if there really is a magic 5 or 10 year mark.  

Rhodabear

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

In the field of cancer, we generally call a patient as 'cured' if there has been no recurrence for at least 5 years from the time of diagnosis.  Indeed, a lot of breast cancer patients are cured from their disease, and eventually die of old age or other diseases other than the cancer.  It is just important that the cancer be detected early, and appropriate treatment modalities instituted (such as the surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy) to really increase the chance of cure.

I would suggest that you continue with your follow ups with your doctors and hope that the cancer would not come back.

Regards and God bless.