biopsy report

[River of tears]

What is your prognosis for a young woman (36) whose biopsy and lab reports show a ratio of 15 out of 32 positive lymph nodes, who is in dense chemo therapy at present?  Her Doctor seems to be giving her a run around about what the future is.  As family we are all trying to support her and keep her spirits up,  but we are also concerned,  all she wants is a percentage of cure,  what can she hope for??

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear River of tears, Not much can be said about survival rates (usually quoted in terms of a five year survival depending on stage of cancer) based on the limited information provided.  Decisions regarding adjuvant treatment for breast cancer are based on factors including; tumor size, lymph node status, and hormone receptors.  Adjuvant treatment is given to try to prevent or minimize the growth of microscopic deposits of tumor cells that might grow into a recurrent tumor, chemotherapy is meant to treat any disease throughout the body.  Surgery and radiation therapy are to treat the disease in the breast.  If estrogen receptors from the tumor are positive - hormone therapy will be advised.  If all works out well with treatment your relative will have been successfully treated and the prognosis is very good.

[seven7]

I had 15 lymph nodes removed and 14 of them were positive!  Boy, that was a shock! I am writing this to encourage your friend:

I had a modified mastectomy in one breast,  then 8 rounds of chemo, IN  VERY STRONG DOSES,  3 weeks apart  (first 4 were adriamycin,  last 4 were taxotere)
and now I am having radiation treatments,  and taking the anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen.   I am doing fine.  The chemo is not as bad as it used to be.  I am 69 years old, and still have plenty to live for,  and I believe,  with my good doctors and with the Lord,  I will conquer this.
My Oncologist told me the first time I visited with him some odds.  I will tell you what he said.

He said that without anything but the surgery,  there was only 20% chance that cancer would NOT  recur in a ten year time period.         WITH all the treatments I named above,  he said my chances would be 50/50 of recuring.  I choose to take the prescribed treatments.  A 50/50 chance sounds not too bad,  considering my age.
Encourage your friend to take all treatments.  REMEMBER,  the chances I stated above are just an average from a chart.  Individuals are different.
But I spoke to a lady last night that is still cancer-free after 5 years,  and she had a bunch of nodes positive also.

                    Best Wishes

[seven7]

Hello again.    I left off one chemo drug when I wrote the above.  My first 4 treatments were of Adriamycan and Cytoxin.