Resolved question:
I'm hoping for a little encouragement.
Last week (I think) I told you that the doctor said the breast cancer had showed on my mammograms for five years--but they didn't catch it until I found it myself. They thought that was because lobular is difficult to detect on mammograms.
You answered, that I must have very slow growing cancer, because there would usually be metastases by then.
That has made me worry a lot that I have undetected metastases.
I've had 2 CT/Pet Scans, 2 bone scans, and and MRI of the spine and pelvis--all negative. But, ever since our conversation, I've been worried that they are false negatives.
Is it really true that I should have had metastases by now? I'm scared.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Oncologist
Hello.
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com.
As per the current guidelines, you do not have a disseminated disease since all your scans are negative. Experts recommend not to include CTC in the routine management of patients in current practice.
Your ALLRED score is high suggesting favourable outcome and response to hormonal therapy.
You have completed chemo and due for surgery and radiation later.
You were to receive AI either concurrent or sequentially with your oncologist's opinion.
There is no other scientific and validated investigation to predict future outcome more definitely than the available scans.
If you were my patient, I would consider a good outcome in your case.
I would suggest that you need more medical attention for anxiety now as it is making you more stressful.
Let me know if I can assist you any further.
Regards.
Thank you very much for your encouraging answer. Is it really rare for a lobular/ very ER positive cancer to go five years old patient without mets? Or is it more common for a faster dividing cancer, like ductal?
I wouldn't say it is rare. It is not uncommon for such a presentation. The cause can be attributed to its slow proliferation.
Thank you. Your answer helped a lot.
I forgot to tell you that I have "Classic Lobular" (which I guess is supposed to divide slowly), but it is also a Grade 2. Is your above answer still true, if it is Grade 2 Lobular?
Yes. It holds good for your case.
I don't want to drive you crazy by asking the same question over and over. But just to be clear, you would say it is not uncommon for Classic Lobular, Grade 2, to go for five years old patientwithout mets?
Hello.
Since your tumor is slow growing, it may or may not metastasize. In fact tumor biology is still an unexplored field.
Regards.