I had breast cancer diagnosed in 2011 (37mm grade 2, node positive, ER positive, HER2 negative tumour) and was treated with lumpectomy, chemo, radiotherapy (and tamoxifen for last 7 years). I’ve had annual mammograms that have all been clear (last one in July 2018). Having noticed lethargy and slight underarm pain and swelling in breast I saw consultant in November who after examining me said he was not clinically worried but would do CT scan and ultrasound to check things out. Anyway biopsies and tests have led to a diagnosis of grade 3 recurrent disease in axillary nodes and fatty tissue. It’s not operable because of blood vessels, previous scar tissue etc and I have just started six rounds of Docetaxel and long term use of Herceptin. I assumed that the chemotherapy was intended to destroy the tumour and the Herceptin was for prevention purposes going forward - my latest cancer is HER2 positive and oestrogen negative so its a complete reversal. Anyway I was surprised to read in my chemotherapy record book that my treatment intent is Disease Control/palliative and I queried with the nurse why it wasn’t curative. She said recurrent cancer could not be cured - only treated. I had not read this or had any conversations with my consultant or oncologist to this effect. My bone and CT scans do not show spread of disease elsewhere so I have been taken aback to discover it’s incurable and would appreciate insights from others with recurrent disease.
Hello Lynne ,how awful for you to not be given proper information and find this out from your notes.I don’t know enough about this to say if it is correct but it would be worth posting in the secondary section of the forum to ask the ladies there their opinion and also in the Ask the Nurses section .I will post you the links .Jill x
Absolutely you would expect to have that conversation with your Consultant - treatable is very different from curable .You should get on the phone Monday and request a proper discussion .
Surely if it’s different to last time it’s a new cancer not a recurrence?
Lynne Im not surprised you are confused and I’m sorry after so long you are having to deal with this again.
My understanding of things are that as this is a different type to your previous cancer than it would be a new primary also a recurrence is total curable providing it hasn’t spread elsewhere in the body as in to bones and or organs.
It may be things are not so clear cut due to it being in fatty tissue, I’m afraid i don’t know anything about this but you certainly need some clarification Xx
They make a distinction between curable (gone completely) and treatable (can live a long time but can’t get rid of it competely). Treatable does not mean palliative (end-stage).
My aunt (now 83) got her first breast cancer aged 50. Since then she has had 3 more, including recurrence in her scar. She’s on anastrozole for it and is doing fine. Hers is treatable but not curable. She’s still much more likely to die of something other than breast cancer.
Hope this helps a bit, clinic letters can be unnerving!
Hi Lynne, I’m sorry that you’ve had a recurrence. I had a recurrence very soon after my first lot of surgery/treatment finished & my oncologist told me they were still trying to cure me. Good luck with your new treatment plan xx
Sorry to hear that. One of the nurses on this forum provided a link that I thought was helpful in regards to diet/lifestyle and recurrence risk etc. On this page: