what exactly is deemed as cancer free
Hi Venice
Im not sure if by cancer free you/they mean once the tumour is removed the cancer has been removed, NED- no evidence of disease, is how it seems to be put to patients now I am 2 1/2 years from dx and when I get my mammo results through this is what they say and to stay vigilant, Im not sure if the term cancer free is used with bc but I may be wrong,
xx
I think different medical people have different views on this just as patients have different views. My medical team use the phrase cancer free after surgery has removed the lump, whether that is before or after chemo. My onc and surgeon also use the term “cured” as my surgeon said to me that you are cured unless or until it comes back, just like any other illness, and I know a lot of people find that quite controversial.
Hi venice25,
I was told by my oncologist that " you had breast cancer, you no longer have breast cancer", yet my surgeon said that I had a very good chance of being totally cured, but still have a 13% chance of it coming back in 10 - 15 years! Bit confusing, but I just think of myself as being in a better place now than when I was diagnosed a year ago. Like you, I’m due my first mammogram in the coming weeks. Here’s hoping we both get cancer free (or NED results) x