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My friend who has cancer (I am not sure what type but assuming breast). has stop contacting most of her friends but I just saw today on FB she went through 6 months of chemo and was on her last course today. Does that mean you are cancer free? I’m hoping so.
Its not a certainty. Personally I don't like the phrase "cancer free". Surgery obviously is intended to remove the known cancerous tumor, so if there are no signs after that, some might say it. Chemo is not a cure, it is intended to reduce the likelihood that cancerous cells not removed by surgery continue to grow and cause damage. For how long is still a question. So much depends on her specific type of cancer, how aggressive it is, how advanced it was when found, whether it had metastasized, and her individual body's response to treatment.
So what is she? It may be more accurate is to say that she "has no detectable signs of disease" at this time. She may never have any further problems. Again, depending on the type, it could recur next year. Ten years from now. Thirty years from now. There is just no way to say for sure.
Thanks. But when you are on your last treatment does that mean you have no detectable cancer and that is why she was able to stop chemo?
I had a nice friend who had about 2 yrs of various types of chemo, I think her cancer started with breast but it did spread, she passed away a few months ago.
A case close to home was my grandkids dad, I don't know how many different chemo drugs they had him taking and the cancer started in his lungs and it did spread, he was gone in 6 months time.
I've heard positive stories but negative ones too.
Personally, I hope my prevention remedies are working for me.
Last edited by jaminhealth; 01-16-2018 at 03:49 PM..
Thanks. But when you are on your last treatment does that mean you have no detectable cancer and that is why she was able to stop chemo?
No not necessarily. Chemo is done in cycles for a prescribed period. At the end of a cycle another assessment is made, scans, tests etc.
At the end of a Chemo cycle there may be no change in the tumor load, there may be a slight decrease, major decrease, no detectable load. Heck it could be worse.
Because someone has finished a cycle of chemo you can't make any assumptions on their status.
The post says this “this part of the journey was successful and I hope the next part of it is as successful as the first”. So not exactly sure what that means.
You are cancer free after 5 years of initially every few months, then twice a year monitoring results. Only AFTER a physician does official conclusion. I have a living example in the family.
Thanks. But when you are on your last treatment does that mean you have no detectable cancer and that is why she was able to stop chemo?
There is a not a simple answer but usually the end of chemo is a significant milestone and a great relief for the patient and a reason to post a congrats , a like or a heart on her FB.
My wife went through the breast cancer journey and will receive her last infusion next month the day before Valentines day.
In breast Cancer usually chemo is part of a plan that includes: Surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), Chemo infusions from several months up to a year or more, radiation every day for about 6 weeks.
Chemotherapy:
My wife had Stage 2a so no evidence of disease outside of the tumor in her breast right at the beginning.
Her specific tumor was found to have a receptor sensitivity to several targeted drugs which were part of her "chemo cocktail" . No Cancer was thought to be any where else but just to be sure two more "heavy duty" drugs were added just in case. She received the heavy duty stuff for 4 months and had all the classic side effects (hair loss, GI upset, fatigue etc..). Then Surgery, then radiation and then a continuation of the targeted Chemo (not as bad as the first 4 months) which will be done next month.
So usually when surgery is done extra good tissue and lymph nodes are removed and tested to make sure all of the Cancer cells are removed and at that point maybe all the cancer is gone?
Radiation done to expand on the surgery and chemo done systemically to reach every where in the body.
AND after that we will be having followup checkups with the Oncologist closely over the next 5 years
So that is/was our experience...
Anyway like I said now is a good time to congratulate your friend!!!!
Certain cancers, even when "cured", are notorious for coming back.
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