survival rate

[cbev64]

First time using this, am not sure I am in the right place but, I will ask any way.  45 white female with Triple negative IDC stage 3 grade 3, 31 + nodes LVI marked extensive, broadly + margins, intralymphatic tumor .1cm from margins. multifocal extracapsular extension.  Just finished chemo and rads...waiting for scheduled scans.  Can't seem to get a straight survival or recurrence rate from docs, just said I got it bad and will try to kill it...Please clarify recurrence or survival rates for me.

[SueYoung55]

Getting the numbers from the doctors won't happen. I finally got some out of mine and they gave me different odds, each one of them. So am I better off? No, I go with the worst case scenario and make myself miserable on occasion. In the mean time, I'm living my life the best I can.

You may want to check two things. BRCA genetic mutation testing since you are triple negative (which most BRCA 1 people are) and PARP inhibitor trials are doing wonders for people with BRCA mutations and METS.

Check out this link about half way down... http://www.facingourrisk.org/research/index.html#PARP

Best wishes

[bluebutterfly2222]

I have also sent you a private message.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Welcome to MedHelp and to this community!

First, I want to say how sorry I am that you have been diagnosed with this disease, especially at an advanced stage, at your relatively young age.

You are welcome to post in this forum, but since you have Stage III BC, the Breast Cancer: Stage 3 and 4 Community may be more relevant in regard to some  issues, and for specific medical questions where you would like an expert's opinion, there is also a Breast Cancer Expert Forum ( see "Related Communities" and "Related Expert Forums" in the column  to the right of these posts).

In regard to your request for survival and recurrence figures, I'm not sure it's so much that your doctors won't give straight answers, as that such statistics are not meant to be applied to INDIVIDUALS.  They are meant primarily as a general guideline for treatment decisions.  Keep in mind, that to figure 5- and 10-year rates, reseachers necessarily must use data at least that old and even older, which therefore does not reflect the many new treatments that have been developed, that have likely improved survival. Also, new information is constanly being published that may have different figures, so you will see different  "rates" quoted based on publication date.

Congratulations on completing your chemo and radiation treatments. Now is the time to concentrate on following any additional recommendations of your oncologist if you trust him/her, relying on the sources of support that are most helpful to you (be it family or friends, faith, or support communities such as this one), following the most health lifestyle you can manage (see one of today's posts in this forum regarding that), and trying to make the most of every day you may have. ( NOT ONE OF US knows, in regard to ourselves or anyone else, how many that may be!)

Please continue to post any time you have a question, or just something to share.

Best wishes!