I don’t know if anyone can help…I am going through treatment now (had madtectomy, now chemo) but am very down re my prognosis. I have been told 60% chance re 10 years by oncology. At aged 42 this seems terrible. I am upset reading re others with figures that are much higher only as wish it was me. I noticed Predict does not include radiotherapy. Is that because it is assumed you have it? I am also very fit, active and well (even despite chemo) and my correct weight which is not factored in. Surely that would help. This figure is really upsetting me and I have become a bit fixated on it with all the time on my hands. It is ruining my happiness and I wish I did not know it. X
Hi Flower2016…predict is just what it says ‘a prediction based on people of a similar age with a similar diagnosis’ based on historical data…that’s how it ‘predicts’. Easy to say but not so easy to do, please don’t get hung up on statistics. In my profession we say there are ‘lies, da**ed lies and statistics’. Although it can be a helpful tool in deciding treatment options and likely benefits. You will see on the forum many people who have similar diagnoses with different outcomes. My colleague had an almost identical diagnosis to me nearly 5 years ago…she chose not to have chemo, I did and we are both still here, happy and healthy, to tell the tale, although predict gave her a much poorer prognosis than me. Although difficult, please try to live in the moment…use your energy to deal with chemo and resist worrying about the future, which you can’t accurately predict. I have learnt mindfulness, use complementary therapies such as Reiki since diagnosis and only allow myself a maximum ‘10 minute worry window’ every day where I can think about the ‘what ifs’. Then I get back to, and on with life.
All the best for the rest of your treatment…be gentle on yourself…take care xo
I agree the survival statistic mess with your head … And it is all so unfair. Even babies have cancer …
Someone said to me that even if you are given a 2% chance of survival in 10 years, remember statistically that means that 2/100 people will be alive in 10 years and that might be you … Predict does include radiotherapy as it is standard treatment.
I am usually fit and healthy and I think it does make a difference. I have been very ill this week but being fit and healthy before helped me get over the worst sooner. The other people on the ward were much older by 30-40 years, older than my parents. Even they felt shocked by their diagnosis and struggled to come to terms with their mortality (I was thinking I will be amazed if I live as long as any of you).
I really don’t think the number of years you live is as important as what you do with the time you do have.
Hi Flower, please don’t torture yourself by fixating on your so called survival rates, I did for a while but it just dragged me down too much at an already torturous time, I made myself just focus on getting though each day, my brother said to me when I was diagnosed and stressing about what may be , “your alive today so just enjoy it and live, tomorrow you will get up and be alive still and so on, what is there to gain today by wasting the time worrying about what hasn’t happened” he was so right too and I remind myself of it on a regular basis, you are doing everything you can to help prevent a reacurrance and new trials and treatments are coming along all the time so long term survival rates of getting better and better , sending you a hug Xx Jo
Thanks everyone. I personally have not looked at the graph. I do not know enough of my data to do it and don’t want to. Oncologist told me I have 60% chance of being alive at 10 years Charys. It just scares me a lot, and I have been crying and upsetting my Mum who is trying to be positive for me. I wonder if extra chemo would help? Maybe that is stupid? I just want to un know this information! Xxx
Thank you everyone for taking the time to post for me. It does help to get some stupid number in a bit of perspective and I will refer back to this thread when I wobble. Sameoldme…how does the figure double? Is it not based on full compliance with all treatment offered? Just interested…
Anyway, I will continue to try my best to be fit and healthy despite this illness and % and hope for the best xxx
Echo everything that the others have said but wanted to just say please don’t let the numbers get you down. I remember reading everything, using all the prediction tools and working myself up into a real mess when I was diagnosed aged 38. I had 2 young children and dodgy genes from my mum and nan who both died from cancer, my mum at 45! I was convinced that I wouldn’t be one of the “lucky ones” who survived…planned my funeral and everything.
But, 9 years on I’m still here, no evidence of disease (as far as I know) and determined to be here long enough to bounce grandchildren on my knee.
Live everyday to the full, chances are that given the amazing work the doctors and scientists do, you will still be here in 10 years and thinking, like I do, well that stress really wasn’t worth it. As someone close to me said (and I’m not sure if this will help you or not, but it did me - gave me perspective) all the time you are looking over your shoulder worrying that the past will come back you aren’t looking forward and you could get smacked by a bus!!
Hi Flower, sending big hugs to you as i have been experiencing the same. I felt as though my triple neg with node involvement diagnosis had handed me a death sentence. I googled all day, read the stats, bought the books & lived it 24/7 until i hit rock bottom. I gave myself a good talking to, refused to google, limited my access to all things cancer & decided to do it ‘my way’. I feel so much more positive since. The advice on this thread is fantastic. Stay strong my lovely! X
Thank you again for taking the time to support me. I really appreciate it. So I am thinking…I am on TAC x 6 and that is from what I can gather a more recent chemo (Predict data was 1999-2003). Also was 5500 ladies with likely the majority being over 45 as 90% are and I am 42. Also am very fit and active and this has been shown to decrease recurrence by 40%. So I reckon I am now at 75% at least! brilliant! Ha ha ?
Just been reading all your posts and feel better for doing so. Must admit I have been stat. obsessed for the past few months, my head’s been going round in circles and getting nowhere fast! Time to get on with life the best I can and concentrate on things that make me happy! X