Survival

[Pyrra]

Dear Sir/Madame

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer end of February of this year. She is 43 years old. Her tumor had 8.5x8 cm size. She is ER-, PR-, Her2+3. Lymps were clean on MRI, but doctor said he can find them by hands. Her body was clean from mets, but they found a suspicious spot on her back bone, which any doctor cannot be sure of what it is. They say probably it is cancer, maybe it is not (notice that my mother had always pain on that spot, even 6 years ago). She gave the results to many doctors for diagnosis, only her oncologist believes that this spot is for sure a metastasis, but he is calling it micrometastasis. All the rest doctors said that her illness will be determined at or after 2 years, except her oncologist who saddenly few days ago announced to us that my mother has only 2 years of life. She never had a biopsy on her bone. I m wondering how much true this can be. Can he determine by so absolut way the progression of her health? My mother has only 2 years for living? if not, whats the susrvival rate for the first 5 years?
I forgot to say that my mother just finished her chemo , 4 FEK and 4 DOC plus herceptin. Her tumor cannot be found at all, zero. She will have surgery in few weeks

Thank you in advance

[Pyrra]

I m so thankfull for your response. His announcement came like a bomp to my heart. I knew that she has poorer prognosis than other cases, but i knew and was always hopping that se has chances to fight it, always based on what the other doctors said to us. My best wishes to all the people fighting this monster.

[japdip]

I tend not to agree with the Oncologist. It seems that her Chemo has been fairly successful since the tumor has shrunk following treatment. If and this is a BIG IF, the spot on her spine is metastisis you should know that mets to the bone is one of the easiest types to control and one can live many years if this is the only area affected by the cancer cells. If you are not happy with your Oncologist then why not get a second opinion from another? Just because lymph nodes can be "felt" does not necessarily mean that they are invaded by the cancer .... when she has her surgery I'm sure some of the nodes will be taken for study to determine if they are positive for cancer. Best wishes for your Mother's surgery and uneventful recovery......