Will I Survive Breast Cancer? A Comprehensive Guide for Every Stage

[@BeateSchierle]

Thank you, Dr. Griggs! A grim but yet important topic! I had stage 1 in 2014, now stage 4 with a new, second recurrence. 😢 I won't survive this, this is clear. Just turned 57. It's hard. BC is such a mean disease, and it won't leave me alone the rest of my life. Enjoy every day you can, any ray of sunlight and every flower. Beate from Germany

[@mariaiosif741]

❤🤗

[@luticia]

Liebe Beate, Deine Situation geht mir nahe. Ich selbst bin 44 und an Brustkrebs erkrankt. Man sagt heilbar. Die Zukunft wird es zeigen. Ich habe mich während der Krebsbehandlung stets gefragt, wie man die restlichen Jahre überhaupt leben kann, wenn man zeitgleich weiß, es geht bald zu Ende. Die Vorstellung, welche Todesängste Du täglich erleben mußt, ist für mich als Fremde u Außenstehende kaum zu ertragen. Wie mag es sich dann für Dich bloß anfühlen. Ich wünsche Dir ganz arg, daß Du von Menschen umgeben bist, die Dir ganz viel Liebe und Unterstützung schenken und Dich spüren lassen, wie sehr geliebt und bedeutsam Du für diese Menschen bist. Ich hoffe, deren Liebe kann Dich durch Deine barbarische Zeit tragen. Auch wenn es realitätsnah ist, daß Du an Krebs sterben wirst, so ist es genauso realitätsnah, daß Du gesund wirst. Keiner kann vorhersagen. Statistiken zeigen den Durchschnitt aus der Vergangenheit auf, Du aber bist ein Individuum und in der Gegenwart. Bei 10 Menschen konnte es tödlich verlaufen, und Du kannst immer die erste sein, bei der es einen guten Ausgang hat. Vertraue auf Deinen Körper, nicht der Statistik.

[@RoseGarden86]

Don't give up hope. There is no cure for metastatic BC right now but there might be one in couple years

[@BeateSchierle]

@@RoseGarden86 Thank you so much!

[@BeateSchierle]

@@mariaiosif741 Thank you, dear Maria.

[@winnatlife]

Thank you so much for this. I'm two years out from the bmx. Stage 1, no lymph, but luminol b. Good prognosis but still scary. Your kind, gentle voice is very soothing. Thank you.❤

[@alb.9414]

Would you mind to tell what is luminal b in your case ?

[@winnatlife]

@@alb.9414 Of course not! My very basic understanding is that another tumor characteristic can be Luminol A or B. One of tumors was Luminal B. I believe this was the feature that indicated doing chemo was a good idea. (And I did.) Good luck to you!

[@yerbba]

We're glad you found this video helpful and informative. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.

[@susanstrong9218]

This was so helpful and informative. From the day I was dx'd I've wanted to know everything about my cancer. Thank you for sharing this information.

[@yerbba]

We're glad you found the video helpful and informative! It's great to hear that it has provided you with the insights you've been seeking since your diagnosis. Thank you for your feedback and for being a part of our community.

[@marissaancheta4080]

Thank you for this video. Very informative. I was diagnosed with IDC stage 2A with no node involvement breast cancer 8 years ago. I presently have a recurrence on the same breast where my cancer started. I am waiting for the results of the immunohistochemistry studies so that my medical oncologist will have more information for my treatment plan. You are right Dr. Griggs. Information is power. I did not find it depressing. This video has encouraged me to ask more questions about my treatment with my medical team.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your kind words, and we're so glad to hear that the video was informative and empowering for you. Staying informed and proactive about your treatment, especially during a recurrence, is incredibly important. Keep asking those important questions and stay empowered.

[@conniejohnsoncj8724]

Did you take aromatase inhibitors? Did you do radiation? Were you estrogen progesterone receptor - or + and what was your HER2? Sorry for all the questions.

[@lindafox7506]

Wonderful clarity. Very thoughtful and insightful. Thank you very much.

[@yerbba]

We're glad you found this video helpful. Thank you for being part of the Yerbba community!

[@youcamille]

Can you talk about how Grade affects survival please. Thanks!

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right

[@danielanderson204]

Absolutely as Grade 3 fast growing cancer is more often recurring than Grade 1 slowest growing! This is from my Own Research since my dx 1-2-19 Stage2B IDC. Bev

[@yerbba]

You may find our video on tumor grade to be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYbSeJ-QprCKatE

[@naththomas9946]

Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for your very informative medical infor.ation🙏🏽.

[@yerbba]

Thanks for all the love and support!

[@Annzy99]

I'm so grateful to have discovered you! Thank you so much!!

[@yerbba]

We're so glad you found the channel helpful! Thank you for your kind words!

[@coolgirlsuchi]

I had 2a TNBC had my chemo and surgery achieved PCr and did radiation as well and gene is negative. My age is 39. Praying i dont have any any metastatic disease in my life. Thanks for ur video

[@yerbba]

Sending you lots of good energy.

[@chetnakalelkar6700]

Thankyou Dr. Your video was very informative and hopeful for fears that overcome us sometimes. Its encouraging to know where you stand in the statistics

[@yerbba]

We're glad you found this video helpful and informative. Thanks for watching!

[@lisarothman3158]

I find out tomorrow if I have inflammatory breast cancer. I’m terrified and your videos I feel are arming me with facts and easing my mind thank you

[@yerbba]

We’re so sorry you’re going through this, and we can only imagine how terrifying the waiting process must be. We’re glad our videos have been able to provide some clarity and comfort. No matter the outcome, having the right information can make a big difference in feeling more prepared. Thank you for being a part of the Yerbba community, and we’re here to support you.

[@gumbylovesyou]

Thank you for the video, doctor! Can you expand on what you meant when you said “Stage 4 is really interesting and it’s kind of in two groups” - ? I didn’t catch what you meant by that. I was diagnosed with MBC (oligo, de novo) seven months ago and was NEAD in terms of my mets and nodes (all but primary tumor which is still shrinking) at my first scan, thanks the combo of letrozole and ribociclib, so I’m actually very hopeful about the outlook for me, given the ongoing treatment advances and my current good overall health despite, the diagnosis. Thank you!

[@yerbba]

Thanks for asking for clarification. Stage IV breast cancer technically refers to de novo metastatic breast cancer. In common usage, however, many people refer to cancer that metastasizes after the primary tumor is treated as "Stage IV." Strictly speaking, someone who had a Stage I tumor who develops metastases later in life is still said to have had Stage I cancer. This is really confusing to people, so many breast cancer information resources refer to cancer that has spread as Stage IV. We hope this is helpful.

[@petramcarthur1271]

You have helped me all through my journey. I like your kindness in any to understand approach.

[@yerbba]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@ElaineIles-ul7rh]

Thank you I appreciate your intensive knowledge.👌

[@yerbba]

Thank you for being part of the Yerbba community and for watching!

[@Barbara-ex3ge]

Thank you for another informative video. Thank you so much

[@yerbba]

We're glad you found this video informative! Thanks for watching.

[@northwestcoastalcharters18]

I’m stage 3C Inflammatory with HER2+. After 8 rounds of chemo I got PCR at surgery and then proceeded to have 15 rounds of radiation with bolus plus 5 boosters. 15 months of treatments later my port came out few days ago and I’m looking forward to this new life with optimism. Does the fact that I got PCR make my survival rate any better than 50%?

[@mishka_bear]

I'm stage 3c tripple negative IBC. No insight on your question, I'm afraid. Just wanted to give you a high five on the pCR and wish you smooth sailing ahead 🎉

[@yerbba]

Great question. Yes, a pathologic complete response ("pCR") does indicate a better prognosis.

[@rosiearm1]

Thank you so much for this ❤ your videos are always so informative

[@yerbba]

Thank you for being a part of the Yerbba community! We appreciate your kind words.

[@trillianmcmillian2660]

very informative thank you

[@yerbba]

Thanks for letting us know the video was helpful!

[@nanaycooks5800]

I don't know why but watching this gave me this depressed feeling. Maybe i need more inspiring words, even though we BC patients know the truth about this mean disease.

[@yerbba]

It's understandable to have mixed feelings after watching content about such a challenging topic. It is really hard to imagine our own death, no matter what the cause.

[@aliciakis3355]

Never watch this doctor

[@MaryNormanly-pn6bk]

Me too, I have stage 4 breast cancer having chemo for almost 2 years and my oncologist said I always have it for maintenance (No stopping).

[@L-ash777]

@@aliciakis3355 I dont even think she’s staging from the AJCC 8th edition which came out in January 2018, that’s where my oncologists stuffed up until an advanced registrar brought it to their attention

[@crocadoodle7101]

I am sitting here, actively surviving breast cancer, not sure that I will watch this. It’s a lot and I just had a big scare in the last few weeks, then 4 medical appointments, and all is well for now. Recurrence is a real fear of mine.

[@ZobidaBida-y6t]

Thank you for the info. I have stage 2 have to do radiation .

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching. Remember that the Yerbba community is here for you throughout your treatments!

[@Lordisking7117]

I am confused; my tumor was 6.5 lobular breast cancer ER/pr positive, HR2 negative, and there is no node involvement. Bilateral mastectomy, radiation 5-7 year famera therapy. Ki67 5%, no gene mutation, Oncotype 13. I was told stage 2b.

[@danielanderson204]

Yes, I'm just reading about this too on Breast Cancer Org Hopefully this link works for you and you see that Dr's are doing reclassification of Stages based on more in Depth details... Beverly I know this information wasn't on this page before because I was dx 1-2-19 Stage2B IDC ER+ & PR+ Her2- Low Grade 1 Low Ki67 of 3% & 6% Low Oncotype DX of 13 1.5 lymph node's positive Overall tumor size 2.5 cm I'm always reading Research and Rereading Research I've saved as bookmarks over the year's since my diagnosis. It's very Interesting It won't let me post the link

[@danielanderson204]

The article name on the site I mentioned above is Breast Cancer Stages

[@yerbba]

This tumor would be classified as Stage IIB. It is a T3 N0 M0 tumor.

[@gabrielanikolaiciuc513]

Kann you informed us about Braca1, TNB , please. You are such a great person, thanks

[@yerbba]

Thanks for writing. Triple negative breast cancer in someone with an abnormal BRCA gene has as good a prognosis as it would in a person who is negative for a BRCA mutation. For some people with a BRCA mutation, a relatively new type of medicine, called a PARP inhibitor, may be offered.

[@gabrielanikolaiciuc513]

Thanks for your answer 🙏

[@gabrielanikolaiciuc513]

@@yerbbawhen can the PARP medication be used ? I had a PCR complete remission

[@mladen1urumov]

My wife has IBC.... 😢 After neoadjuvant chemotherapy PET scan found no active cells in breast and lymph nodes. She is now post mastectomy and after recovery continues with radiation therapy and hormone therapy (aromatase inhibitors and other drugs) and one drug "Versenio". Is this enough for IBC.

[@northwestcoastalcharters18]

It sounds like proper treatment for IBC. Radiation is very important and should be done with bolus. Great news that chemo killed all the cancer!

[@gloriareyes3566]

​@@northwestcoastalcharters18😊

[@yerbba]

It sounds as if your wife has received comprehensive treatment. Having such a good response to treatment before surgery is a good sign. Wishing you both the best.

[@NicoleStevensHays11x]

PET scans can detect masses with 10 million cells or more, FYI. That is still Amazing news, though! Radiation is there to clean up any cancer cells remaining in the immediate areas. lol i asked why we need radiation when chemo goes all over the body & they explained to me that there are more residual cells in the immediate area. Basically, the amount of chemo sufficient to kill them all would kill us. I was a 30 year med student before a near fatal car accident, but I didn’t even know that. It’s simple, but never came up. Prolly an oncology resident thing. Anyway, Radiation will get them :)

[@NicoleStevensHays11x]

VERSENIO?! How does she like it?! I was pretty menopausal when I started breast cancer treatment so the hot flashes are unbearable lol. Please tell me what she thinks. It’s a novel drug. One of its type!!! Prayers!!!

[@eugeniatorres9064]

tks ty Doc. very informative n useful aid me fight my metastatic breast cancer since 2023 treatments.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your kind words. We’re happy to hear that the information has been useful. Wishing you well.

[@sointu123]

Do other factors play a role? E.g. If the cancer mass was painfull/symptomatic before treatment and the differnt types, like ER+ , outward appearence at pathology when looking at it after it was taken out etc.

[@NicoleStevensHays11x]

Whether it was detected by symptoms or during a screening is one of the questions that they ask on the predict breast calculator. It does not change much. I think that it was like a 4% difference in my prognosis when I changed it around. I found a lump, and my breast surgeon said that counts as symptoms. I initially put screening because I was doing a self check… For the first time ever … But only things like mammogram are considered screening. Anyway, Googling “predict breast” will pull it up. It’s legit. You can’t check radiation off as a treatment that you’re getting yet. There was a nature article that came out in the last year saying that they were changing that. But it hasn’t been done yet. Nature is one of the most prestigious science journals there are, lol. So, yeah. It’s legit calc. Oh, and my radiation oncologist told me that the 50% from the Calculator would go up to 60% because radiation would add another 10% at 15 years out. ER+ and the other parts of the receptor profile, definitely matter. The KOMEN website has a really good set of charts, showing the stage of breast cancer, depending on not just lymph nodes, tumor size, and metastasize, but also incorporating the receptor profile. From figuring out your stage, you can determine your prognosis. However, you can just get your stage from your doctor. :) if u wanna see it tho, here it is www.komen.org/breast-cancer/diagnosis/stages-staging/ Pls don’t mind my typos/ extra commas that come from voice dictation lol. I’ve gotten sick of editing them all out cuz KZbin’s comment box is the worst..click a hair near the edge and your comment is blown away 🤣

[@yerbba]

The factors that impact outcomes include stage and tumor biology (ER, PR, HER2, grade, genomic assay results). Tumors that are symptomatic have the same prognosis as asymptomatic tumors, all other things being equal.

[@Firma1]

Hello DR Yerbba, thank you for your videos so useful, I just diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer stage 1b now what is my opinion, your feedback would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for reaching out with your question. It is hard to determine your treatment plan without being part of your medical team and knowing your overall health and the unique characteristics of your tumor. We're dedicated to empowering you with personalized treatment options to help you make informed decisions with confidence. For a more comprehensive understanding of available treatment options and tests we encourage you to visit yerbba.com to get your personalized Yerbba report if you're based in the U.S.

[@gabrielasaez9601]

I had a 5 cm tumor but my lymph nodes were negative, the surgeon removed them regardless; then I had radiation treatment (20 sessions) and a few more lymph nodes radiated, it’s been 6 months and so far everything seems to be fine. But cancer is sneaky.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for sharing your experience with our community.

[@Varbara-k9e]

Doc stageone infiltrating ductal carsamoma limpnotes be ni.né six weeks radiation was having two mamograms a year for two years my doctor said that's what's she does the first two years on emadtrol just had a mamogram done last week now she said i come back once a yeAr she said my tumor was smaller than the top ove a pencil eraser I'm sixty three feel great no sign of cancer what is my survival rate my surgeon said it's great what's your opinion

[@Varbara-k9e]

I'm😅

[@joehouston2833]

How are you doing now?

[@Gail-uz6nb]

Statistically, I'm an anomaly. Seven years ago I had stage 2 IDC, ER/PR + 100%, HER2- in the left breast and DCIS in the right breast at the same time. They threw everything at me with chemo and radiation. I was on Letrazole for 5 years. I often wonder what my survival statistic rate would be. However, as you say they are only statistics. Each of us is unique. I consider myself lucky that I was diagnosed with both at the same time. Never give up hope.

[@yerbba]

Great question. While you are unique, your story is not super strange. The prognosis in someone with bilateral cancer is driven by the more "serious" cancer. That is, having had DCIS in one breast does not make your prognosis worse or better.

[@pushpasamanthikulathunga6872]

Thank you so much

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching! We hope you found this video helpful.

[@julietimado4381]

Thank you doctor. Very informative

[@yerbba]

Thanks for watching!

[@suzettebarclay6423]

I had DCIS in 2020. I did surgery and radiation. Now i have triple negative breast cancer. I only dud radiation for about 3 weeks, which i now fibd strange. I am now recommended to remove my breast. I have no known cancer in my family, so it is hard for me to understand why I have this disease.

[@yerbba]

We can’t imagine how hard it must be to face a new diagnosis after everything you’ve already been through with DCIS. It’s natural to question why this is happening, especially when there’s no family history. The recommendation for surgery can feel overwhelming, but it’s clear your medical team is working to give you the best outcome possible. Please try to be gentle with yourself-it’s not unusual to feel a mix of fear and frustration. You don’t have to carry this burden alone. Surrounding yourself with a support system, whether it’s loved ones or a community of others who understand, can make a huge difference. Your feelings and your journey matter. We don't know the cause of most breast cancer.

[@joehouston2833]

How are you doing now?

[@NicoleStevensHays11x]

@@yerbba you are an amazing physician. Your bedside better and the way that you talk to patients is incredible. I did 3 yrs of med school at stony Brook but had a near-fatal MVA. I was being reconstructed for years. Your comments and videos are basically like something we would have been shown in the first 2 years as an example of what to strive for and what a top notch MD sounds like.

[@stchannel2476]

Thank you very much!

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching!

[@kimforeman5409]

Do pathogenic mutations alter survival rates? I started at DCIS grade 3, at surgery I went up to invasive cancer, stage 1 grade 2 with no positive lymph nodes. But I have a genetic mutation. Am I doomed to die from cancer?

[@yerbba]

Great question. The prognosis is the same in people with an inherited mutation as it is in those who do not have one. We hope this is helpful!

[@LindaLopez-i3r]

Does “prognostic stage” take into account those markers you mentioned….hormone receptor, HER 2? I was moved down in stage based on my tumor subtype following surgery/pathology report.

[@yerbba]

Prognostic stage does incorporate those other characteristics, differing from anatomic stage. Despite all the work that went into creating the prognostic staging system, the anatomic staging system continues to be used much more often. Some people are given a prognostic stage as it sounds like you were.

[@afshaniqbal6184]

Thank Dr but I feel sad about my self .after knowing survival rates .

[@yerbba]

Thanks for sharing your emotions with us. It is so hard to think about not surviving breast cancer or any other illness. Remember that most people do survive breast cancer. Reach out to the people you trust when you feel sad, including your medical team.

[@marcialane8235]

I have a probably dumb question, but can your stage change after your surgery, like after a lumpectomy and your pathology report comes back…if I’m a stage 1 on biopsy, can it be actually a more advanced stage not seen yet until after lumpectomy?

[@LindaLopez-i3r]

My surgeon told me that stage could change if the tumor was found to be larger at the time of surgery (or if lymph nodes were found to be positive in the sentinel lymph node biopsy). I did move from Grade 1 at time of biopsy to Grade 2 at surgery. It was explained that pathology after surgery is more accurate since they have a view of the entire tumor.

[@marcialane8235]

@@LindaLopez-i3r thank you.

[@mariaiosif741]

Yes , it can, the surgery reveals much more

[@danielanderson204]

Yes

[@yerbba]

There are no dumb questions, and this one is a particularly smart question. Yes, before surgery, we have only the clinical stage (what we can see on imaging and detect on exam). After surgery, we have what is referred to as the "pathologic stage," which is more precise. It is not uncommon for someone to have a clinical Stage I tumor and a pathologic Stage II (or even III) cancer.

[@maxinebrown9822]

Thank you 😊

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching!

[@DawnNarvaez]

I think it is really sad that the "no treatment" with "standard of care" - aren't studied. $$$$$

[@yerbba]

Oh, they definitely are studied. The problem is that comparing a treatment to no treatment is not considered ethical. To randomly assign a group of people to no treatment at all would risk the lives of people in such a study given what we already know about the efficacy of treatment. Nearly every disease has had a trial of "best supportive care" with an active treatment. We are starting to decrease the duration of treatments in people at lower risk. These are referred to as de-escalation strategies.

[@spac3jam514]

What kind of lifestyle changes happen to breast cancer fighters? I am very worried for my mom, what would be the new "normal" for her - regarding work, taking care of her grandkid, going out with friends?

[@yerbba]

Adjusting to a "new normal" after breast cancer can vary widely, and it won't be possible to draw any conclusions until she is several months to even a year out from her treatment. It's normal to feel concerned for your mom, but open conversations with her about her needs can help you both adjust. Check out our video on adjusting to a "new normal" after breast cancer here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJiZmZ6BbtaieLs

[@trmon8890]

Dr. Griggs. What about cancer and testosterone? Do low topterone levels have any impact with the development of Male Breast Cancer?

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right

[@trmon8890]

@@meahdahlgren6537 Yes guys can get breast cancer too and the information out there is mainly sucks and geared towards women. Dr. Griggs tends to answers questions

[@yerbba]

Testosterone is converted to estrogen in both men and women. Low testosterone may theoretically be protective against breast cancer.

[@NANA3131]

Are we going to have cancer vaccine soon?

[@luticia]

Dr.Griggs, would you consider breast cancer with a size of 2,1 cm a T1 or T2 tumor? I have N0, M0. So I wonder which stage I have?: I or IIA? I mean my tumor is only ONE mm bigger than 2 cm!

[@yerbba]

Even though it's only 1 mm over 2 cm, this is a T2 tumor, so Stage II. It is important to remember that tumor size in itself is a prognostic factor. So the prognosis with a 2.1 cm tumor is better than with a 4.9 cm tumor. The cut off had to be at some tumor size although of course some people have a tumor just barely (one big toe) into that T stage. For a more comprehensive understanding of available treatment options and tests we encourage you to visit yerbba.com to get your personalized Yerbba report if you're based in the U.S.

[@luticia]

@@yerbba Thank you very much for answering my question! I appreciate it!! 💐

[@luticia]

For all people here: You guys, in order to be able to read the newest comments or answers to your post, you‘ve got to press the refreshing button in the upper comment section!! Then you‘ll see all the answers. No comment was deleted.

[@yerbba]

Thanks for sharing this helpful tip about refreshing the comments section!

[@alisonkavanagh8306]

Hi, thank you for the information in this video, I had ILBC which was 7.7cm but nodes were clear, which puts me into stage 2b, but my oncotype dx result was 10, does this improve the 70-85% survival rates?

[@yerbba]

It sounds like you've been through a lot, and it's great to hear that your nodes were clear. With an Oncotype DX score of 10, that’s definitely encouraging and can positively impact your prognosis. While each case is unique, a lower score generally suggests a lower risk of recurrence. It's always best to discuss the specifics with your oncologist, as they'll have the full picture and can provide guidance tailored to your situation.

[@alb.9414]

Thank you dr for this and all other videos that you posted. It helps a lot to most of us , cancer patient to understand better what our oncologysts do not say or do not have time to explain. Can you pls make a video about Luminal B if possible? I tried to research and I found different criteria for distinqushing between Luminal A and Luminal B hormone driven breast cancer. One article states that Luminal B has no or very small signaling for progesterone and that why it is considered Luminal B which is apparently more agressive. The other article consider high KI 67, estrogen and or progesterone positive and her 2 positive - is Luminal B. Please what is your take on this subject? I have stage 1, grade 2, 100% estrogen signaling, no progesterone at all, and Her 2 has one plus only but in Canada this is considered Her 2 negative. In the total absence of progesterone according to one of the research I have read - it puts me in Luminal B but now I am not sure.

[@yerbba]

Thanks for writing. Luminal A and luminal B breast cancer refers to different types of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Luminal B breast cancers tend to have higher grade, negative progesterone receptors, higher levels of Ki-67 (a marker of how likely the tumor cells are to divide), and may be positive or negative for HER2. These are the estrogen receptor positive tumors that can lead to chemotherapy being offered rather than endocrine (hormonal) therapy alone. The tumor you describe is considered HER2-negative around the world not in Canada only.

[@veronicapino3733]

Thank you

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching!

[@coolgirlsuchi]

Hello Doctor. Is there any Statistics for Triple negative Breast Cancer stage 2 grade 2 lymph node involved before neoadjuvant chemo and achieved PCR after surgery? What will be the percentage of the survival in that case

[@yerbba]

Achieving a pathologic complete response (PCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a very positive outcome, especially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). While survival rates can vary, having PCR generally improves the prognosis significantly. The exact percentage can depend on various factors. Your own oncologist may be able to give you more precise estimates of your risk of recurrence, but it is much more likely that you will not have a recurrence.

[@tcbellsz]

I never got my Yerba report 😢

[@yerbba]

Please contact us at [e-mail], and we'll make sure to resolve this issue promptly. You should have received your report by now, and we're here to ensure you get the information you need.

[@notaz123]

Hi Dr Griggs..what are the symptoms of breast cancer spreading to the skin

[@yerbba]

When breast cancer spreads to the skin, we can see redness, pulling back (retraction) of the skin, or ulcers in the skin. Often, there are no symptoms, but the location of the tumor makes doctors look for skin involvement under the microscope.

[@minaj3398]

My mom 48 years old initially underwent a cholecystectomy for gallbladder stone removal & during the preoperative clearance, blood tests and spinal aspiration revealed a tumor of mammary origin. Turns out to be IDC stage IV that metastasized to nearby lymph nodes, single small foci in the liver and skin in the right gluteal region very small. Treatment prescribed includes: Zoladex 3.6mg (Administered today, to be repeated in a month) + Femara 2.5mg (Once daily) + and something else but I can’t recall the name. She’s concerned because she thought only chemo will help and afraid that hormonal therapy is not enough. Immunohistochemistry showed Tumor cells positive for pan-CK, CK7, E-Cadherin, focal positivity for Mammoglobin, ER (80% moderate intensity), PR (30% moderate intensity); negative for GCDFP15 and Her2 (score 0). • Ki67 PI: 20%. I’m actually a medical student but I don’t know what to say to reassure her and I need your advice. Do you think the treatment plan is good enough?

[@minaj3398]

Her case was discussed in the MDT meeting and consensus for further management she has planned to start RIBOCICLIB 600 mg daily. The dose is RIBOCICLIB 600 mg once daily x 21 days and one week off for 1 year

[@minaj3398]

Can you please reply I’m really concerned this is the first time we ever go through something like this I’m devastated I’m putting a brave face in front of my mom but I’m dying inside 😭😭😭😭😭

[@yerbba]

We're so sorry to hear about your mom’s diagnosis. It’s understandable to feel scared and overwhelmed. The treatment plan, including Zoladex, Femara, and Ribociclib, is a standard approach for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, especially with metastatic disease. Hormonal therapy, combined with targeted therapies like Ribociclib, can be very effective. Keep being there for her, and make sure to take care of yourself too.

[@fakeevil9099]

How are you

[@gabrielasaez9601]

How doctors know it’s inflammatory or it isn’t? Is GT DNA a good test to bolo?

[@yerbba]

Would you be able to provide more information?

[@mctaylor8465]

Im a bit confused regarding what is 5 yrs based on..does this mean it is based on the treatment a person received 5 yrs(which may not be adversed as today)or is based on treatment(more advanced) a person receiving now with the same dx..for example, 14 years ago. I was dx with stage 3 lobular (size and node involvement) cancer..(both breasts involved)..had. chemo, radiation, and aromasin 5 yrs..at that pt the survival rate was 73% for 5 years..was that based on treatment used 19 years? In away i think the % is meaningless..ive lived 14 yrs without new symptoms, though lymph node on other side is ?able..though worry about it coming back more often now than 10 years..like waiting for the other shoe to drop

[@yerbba]

This can be confusing, and you're right, the percentage is hard to interpret. The 5-year survival rate refers to the likelihood that someone diagnosed today will be alive 5 years from now. The "conditional survival rate" refers to people who are further out. Someone who is alive 5 years later has a higher 10-year survival rate than someone who has the exact same tumor and who is alive 2 years later by the mere fact that time has passed. Someone who is 10 years out with no recurrence has a very high likelihood of surviving to 20 years. That is, the survival rate improves each year one gets further out merely by the fact that they have made it thus far. The risk of recurrence does not increase over time. Rather the risk of recurrence decreases with each passing 5-year period. And yes, the survival rates are based on the treatment that person received. We hope this is helpful and not more confusing.

[@mctaylor8465]

Thank you for your explanation..I was dx with Lobular breast ca, and have read recently this type has been determined to result in higher rate of recurrence 10-15 yrs out.. also learned more research is being done specifically for Lobular ca..so glad to hear..

[@candyanthony1483]

I have stage 3 invasive carsnoma thinking about taken both off is do i have radiation if i do this surgery.

[@yerbba]

Decisions about radiation therapy are based on the stage of the cancer and the type of surgery. If someone has a mastectomy but has a tumor over 5 cm or 4 or more positive lymph nodes, radiation therapy is recommended. For some people, 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes leads to a recommendation for radiation therapy.

[@susantaulli6580]

You didn’t mention achieving PCR or not achieving, RCB and how that changes the statistics.

[@yerbba]

People who have a complete pathologic response, in which there is no evidence of cancer after chemotherapy (and other treatments if appropriate), are associated with a better prognosis.

[@safaalriyami4643]

Why is the statistics limited to 5-10 years survival and not longer?

[@yerbba]

An often asked question! The main reason is that following up patients for such a long time is nearly impossible. People move around and no longer see their doctors. Tumor registries require approximately US$1000 per year per patient. If a patient moves and does not share their new address or stay in touch with their medical team, we are not able to get long term outcomes data.

[@conniejohnsoncj8724]

@@yerbbaI think this answers my question I just left! So you’re not saying that survival is up to a max of 5-10 years? You’re giving us statistics that were gathered for that period of time with patients?

[@freebird4867]

@@conniejohnsoncj8724survival is not capped at ten years - many beat cancer and live very long lives. I hope to be one of them :)

[@vilmavelazquez1979]

I came across 2 women here in KZbin (one in her late 20’s another in her mid-40’s) whose DCIS ER/PR+ breast cancer came back as stage 4 within less than 5 years. The first one got pregnant and had her baby, the second woman had liquid in her lungs. After performing thorasentesis they found breast cancer in the liquid as well as nodules inside her tórax. How is this possible? They were both given estrogen blockers for 5 years. You said by definition DCIS does not spread… neither of them got chemo, just surgery and radiation, plus endocrine therapy. In my case, I had stage 3 ILC (non-mass) with 1/3 SNL w/micrometasis, ER/PR+ HER2-. I got neoadjuvant chemo, mastectomy and 25x rads, now on anastrozole for 10 years and the first 2 years on Verzenio also. My oncologist told me my 5 year survival is 85% with Verzenio but there’s always a chance that cancer can come back within 2years very aggressively. I’m 51, diagnosed a year ago. What are your thoughts? I feel statistics are tricky and may give false hope 😢

[@yerbba]

Statistics are tricky indeed. They apply to groups of people rather than to individuals. The cancer you describe is associated with a very good prognosis. The estimate you received sounds accurate. In people who were told they had DCIS who develop metastases, it is likely that there was an area of invasion that was not detected on the pathologic examination. It really is true that DCIS has not invaded the basement membrane. Cancer cells have to invade the basement membrane to metastasize.

[@JRichardson3284]

I'm confused, I was told I'm stage 2 but I had two of the same tumors, one was 11mm and the other 44mm but 11 positive lymphnodes. Shouldn't that be stage 3?

[@ebnanaann5644]

Similar here I am told stage 2 mixed invasive ductal and lobular 25mm tumour and 5/20 positive lymph nodes - stage 3 ? on endocrine therapy

[@JRichardson3284]

@@ebnanaann5644 I'm sorry to hear that! How are you getting on with treatment? I'm all finished and now on tamoxifen, verzenios and zoladex.

[@yerbba]

You are right that this would be a Stage III cancer. It's possible that you heard "grade 2," a common source of confusion. Talking with your medical team would be helpful. You may want to check out our video on grade here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYbSeJ-QprCKatE.

[@briggettecammett6181]

How can I tell if I am luminal a or luminal b?

[@yerbba]

To determine if you are luminal A or luminal B, doctors typically look at specific markers in your cancer cells. Luminal A cancers are usually hormone receptor-positive (ER+/PR+), HER2-negative, and have a lower Ki-67 index (a marker of cell proliferation). Luminal B cancers are also hormone receptor-positive but may be HER2-positive or have a higher Ki-67 index. You may find our recent video about Luminal A and Luminal B breast cancer subtypes to be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGrdqZuZiLNla9k

[@briggettecammett6181]

@@yerbba Ty. What would the number be for a low KI-67? I have heard that some docs don’t really rely on Ki-67 numbers.

[@marivallejo6718]

Thank u

[@yerbba]

We hope you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@mariapatconsuelo4447]

I have big mass in my right breast,,I didn't yet undergo mamogram,but I talk to my employer here in Saudi to do mamogram after Ramadan

[@mariapatconsuelo4447]

I'm 50 yo, from Philippines and working on here in Saudi for 3yrs now, before I came her I feel already in my breast a small kind of stone,but now the sizes is almost 4times before and most of the time I feel easy to get tired and feel dizzy,and the worst is I feel my vein in my breast same lang someone taking or sipping my vein and the pain going outward to my right shoulder,in armpit side going my lower back and sometimes I feel pain in my vein from right side going to left side of my breast And the area where I have a mass my skin different in that area the color sometimes reddish and blueish color and my nipples become inverted and my breast started to deformed already and there's some little discharge 😢

[@mariapatconsuelo4447]

I'm 50 yo, from Philippines and working on here in Saudi for 3yrs now, before I came her I feel already in my breast a small kind of stone,but now the sizes is almost 4times before and most of the time I feel easy to get tired and feel dizzy,and the worst is I feel my vein in my breast same lang someone taking or sipping my vein and the pain going outward to my right shoulder,in armpit side going my lower back and sometimes I feel pain in my vein from right side going to left side of my breast And the area where I have a mass my skin different in that area the color sometimes reddish and blueish color and my nipples become inverted and my breast started to deformed already and there's some little discharge 😢

[@JRichardson3284]

You should get seen by a doctor as soon as possible 🙏🏼​@@mariapatconsuelo4447

[@BeateSchierle]

@@mariapatconsuelo4447 Oh my goodness, that sounds terrible. Do you have health insurance there? This definitely must be seen by a doctor, soon... Big hug and all the best for you!

[@mariapatconsuelo4447]

@@BeateSchierle thank you dear for your concern, yeah I have insurance only now because its Ramadan the clinic here is adjusting Thier time for now,I'm waiting until the celebration finish,my madam talk to me if what might result and I need under medication this will not send back home to the Philippines,I will take my medicine here,because the treatment is free in most Muslim countries,may god bless me🙏 I need to do it for my children,I'm widow already for sevenb years so I need to sacrificed first and do good what's is best for me🤲🙏

[@comradejensen418]

I don't know why medical people don't speak frankly to patients. It's a big let down. Is it because we are women? We need to make plans for families and finance it's ridiculous. 😢

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right

[@yerbba]

Such a good question. Most patients want honest information. We hypothesize that medical professionals feel upsetting or hurting their patients. Most of them go into medical to relieve suffering. The irony is that honesty strengthens trust, does not diminish hope, and does not cause suffering. More often, lack of straight talk causes harm. Thanks for taking the time to write.

[@conniejohnsoncj8724]

You talk about survival as 5 and 10 years - does that mean people generally don’t live longer than 10?

[@yerbba]

We can see how that might sound concerning, but survival statistics are often discussed in terms of 5- and 10-year increments because those are the most studied timeframes. It doesn’t mean people don’t live beyond 10 years-many people do! The 5- and 10-year survival rates just give a snapshot of how treatments and outcomes look over those periods. Many breast cancer survivors live long, healthy lives well beyond that even after Stage III or even IV disease.

[@realitysven]

My partner has stage 2.. Put there is 2 lumps. We don't know yet whether they're stuck together or single.. Can you give me some information on this please... Also when you say there is a 5 year life expectancy is that of the person or the actual cancer I don't quite understand

[@yerbba]

Stage 2 with two lumps could mean a few different things, and whether the lumps are connected can determine the stage, which may play a role in treatments that are offered. When discussing ‘5-year survival rate,’ it refers to the likelihood of surviving 5 years or more after diagnosis, based on large studies. It’s not a hard limit, and many people live long, healthy lives post-treatment.

[@NicoleStevensHays11x]

I had a 2.5cm tumor and it had a 1cm friend next to it… “accessory tumor.” Or satellite tumor. Chemo brain … can’t recall which it is called. That’s just sad lol. When they ask for measurements on the calculators or for things like this, you always take the largest diameter of the largest tumor. So, you take the biggest mass, and then you use the largest number in its dimensions. Never add them together. :)