Topic: "The first two years risk"

Hi Kim,

Sorry I don't have def answer for you, but thought I'd post anyhow.

Just in case it helps a bit while you wait for others to post.

I always try to remember that statistics are just that;info based on numbers, treatments, averages, out of date sometimes due to newer treatments etc. Sure there seems to be a higher risk in the first couple of years, but this may well not end up applying to your specific case, therefore you might as well enjoy your life and not taxe yourself, stress wise with the what ifs? Lets face it, we could all get hit by a bus tomorrow. I am not trying to discount your worry, it's quite natural.

 Sometimes it just helps maybe to remember that we are all meant to know when we are born, but no one gets to know when their time is up, so the fact we have cancer doesn't change that.

 I just feel really grateful that I am here, now. Perhaps because I have lost lots of friends from other causes, I just know that even at 40, am so much luckyer then they were, and I best not forget it.

I really hope you have a great day. Be good to yourself and enjoy all the good things around you. take care. Sorry I didn't know the answer to your specific question. Hope you breath a bit easier, today.hug. 

Well evidently I was one of those that got a recurrence and mine was within 18 months of my original surgery.  I also use surgery dates since this is the mark when the cancer was removed if in fact they got clean margins.

original dx idc/ilc 7/06 

second dx ilc 1/08

Valerie

I asked my onc the same thing. From what he has experienced, he said he'd say that the biggest risk for recurrence is in the first two years after dx and the second biggest risk is in the first two years after you're done with the hormone therapy if you're ER/PR+ which usually takes five years after surgery. I had to believe him as my mom just lost a friend who was 6.5 years post surgery and she had been done with Tamoxifen 1.5 years back.

I guess my onc believes two things. Whether you're ER/PR+ or not, the first two years after treatment can be risky because there's nothing in our bodies that would stop cancer from growing. And you could be ignorant of any changes that might be early symptoms of recurrence/mets if you're many years out from treatment. My mom's friend I mentioned had been experiencing some pain in her back for quite a while but didn't choose to meet with her onc. Instead, she only met with the surgeon at a totally different hospital and didn't even tell him about this disease. If she had, her bone mets could have been detected much earlier, at least before it spread to her brain. So my onc probably wanted me to keep in mind that this sneaky disease can be back at any time and that we shouldn't belittle any signs that our bodies are giving us.

I was diagnosed on Halloween (of all days) lol and I keep thinking of this day as my "anniversary", but really..maybe I should count April 18 as my "anniversary" (my last chemo)?? Or the surgery date, as some of you do. I guess I'll see what my oncologist says at my next check up. Thanks ladies!

we go by the date of diagnosis...

I go by the date of my surgery,both my onc and my surgeon told me this was the marker, so....almost 5 years for me coming up soon.

I am continuing Arimidex longer than 5 years though, I asked my rad onc could I do this, being er+, and she agreed to let me .

So, another question, will the two years after I stop Arimidex be critical for me??? Sounds as if it will.

Isabella.

My onc and surgeon go by the surgery date, so so do I.  Aug 2008 will be 2 years for me.