Worried to ask about prognosis
I’m starting to worry about my prognosis. I’ve been travelling my journey one part at a time but now I’m seeing a lengthy process. Stage 3 breast cancer.. From biopsy to mastectomy tumour had almost d...
Forum Discussion
We all worry about prognosis. You can ask your oncologist or you can just continue with your look to a positive future. Your oncologist will have the conversation with you if things alter.
The problem with a prognosis is it's not guaranteed. Women with stage 1 breast cancer with no nodes can go on to die from breast cancer, totally not part of prognosis at time of treatment. Then there is the opposite, women with later stage who've been given a poorer prognosis initially, may respond well to treatment and go on to live a long full life. Which person you are they cannot predict. They can give stat's but they can't tell you which part of those stats you are. (For instance if 50% chance of recurrence also means 50% do not)
I chose to believe my treatment has cured me.
Do I worry at times...yes
Does any new pain send me wondering...absolutely
But believing I'm cured allows me to go about living, rather than waiting for the alternative, which just sucks the joy out of it.
It's your decision, but asking that question won't change the wirry and anxiety most survivors have after a diagnosis.
Having said that, I don't ignore my fears, I get things checked. I know that even at stage IV, treatments can still make it possible for a good quality of life, with life expectancy forever changing and hopefully there are better treatments just around the corner. X
The problem with a prognosis is it's not guaranteed. Women with stage 1 breast cancer with no nodes can go on to die from breast cancer, totally not part of prognosis at time of treatment. Then there is the opposite, women with later stage who've been given a poorer prognosis initially, may respond well to treatment and go on to live a long full life. Which person you are they cannot predict. They can give stat's but they can't tell you which part of those stats you are. (For instance if 50% chance of recurrence also means 50% do not)
I chose to believe my treatment has cured me.
Do I worry at times...yes
Does any new pain send me wondering...absolutely
But believing I'm cured allows me to go about living, rather than waiting for the alternative, which just sucks the joy out of it.
It's your decision, but asking that question won't change the wirry and anxiety most survivors have after a diagnosis.
Having said that, I don't ignore my fears, I get things checked. I know that even at stage IV, treatments can still make it possible for a good quality of life, with life expectancy forever changing and hopefully there are better treatments just around the corner. X