It’s just over one year since I was diagnosed with BC, I have had chemo,surgery and radiotherapy but none of my doctors has ever given me a prognosis. I asked about it once and was told to wait until after the op, but the chemo did such a fantastic job there was no cancer left when I had the surgery. I am also triple neg.
I am due to see my oncologist in october for my first review and just wondered whether it was worth asking him, I already know that he is reluctant to give a prognosis because statistics aren’t always that accurate as they normally only take certain factors into account, so it only gives you a rough indicator as it is not personal to you. I am normally quite decisive and like to know the facts, but since finshing treatment seem to be going backwards emotionally.
When i saw my onc after my treatment he ran a programme on the computer entering all my details etc and at the end of it came up with a percentage that tell you the chances of being here in ten years time, its quite scary but by the sounds of it you’ll see a high percentage at the end of it.
If you really want to know im sure he could do the same!
I was diagnosed March 2005 and finally plucked up the courage to ask my prognosis at my last oncoligists appointment 3 months, honestly I can say I wished i had never asked. Kind of knew the story as i am regularly on alot of the sites etc but to be actually told to my face was still a shock. I am 33 and have a 3 yr old son. I can only hope and pray that I have a long future ahead of us. I think I do extremely well getting on with day to day life but still the thoughts still hound me !!! Going for a bone scan tomorrow as have been suffering from neck/back pain now for some time. Trying to be postive.
I wouldn’t ask for the prognosis. Prognoses only work for populations, not individuals. If someone has a 1/3 chance of surviving and ends up in that one-third, that’s all that matters. If they have a 2/3 chance of surviving and end up in the bad 1/3, that’s all that matters too. That’s what I was told, probably because the doctor from the surgical team didn’t want to give me what was probably a dire prognosis, but it is true. Later on, my oncologist did say that I was his highest risk her2 positive patient and the guy has lots of patients, but only because he mistakeningly thought I was wavering about paying for herceptin, which I had to pay for myself for a while.
I am in the same position as you as I am just over 1 year from DX, but my tumour is hormone posotive. Like Tracy, my Onc ran the computer programme for me, and I’m glad he did as I have been able to make an informed choice not to carry on with the hormone treatment, as the side effects for me are unbearable, and I want quality of life. I am due my next appointment in October and will tell him my decision then. Knowing the statistics has helped me no end, but it has to be your choice, and I agree, if you want to know, don’t let them fob you off!!