Breast cancer prognosis?

My friend called me last night and told me his mom has breast cancer. All he knew is that the doctor said it's a "fast-growing" tumor and she'll need surgery. This doesn't sound good, does it?

It sounds even worse when they say it to you.

No cancer is good, but fast growing doesn't have to necessarily be worse. Worse vs better is discovering it late versus early.

Surgery is the most common treatment choice. If they suggest chemo, then that would be an indication that the cancer had progressed a bit more. Radiation is pretty common particularly if less invasive surgery (like a lumpectomy) is performed rather than mastectomy.

Cancer can be fast growing yet slow to spread.

Cancer can be slow growing yet fast to spread.

It can also be both fast growing and fast to spread.

The fast growing isn't as bad as fast spreading, particularly if caught early.

Surgery is usually the first step, often followed by radiation, chemo or both, often followed with hormone treatment for 5 years.

Survival rates are given for surviving 5 years from diagnosis, normally if the cancer is caught before spreading, survival rate after treatment is 98%.

These are actually pretty good odds, so take a sympathetic but optimistic attitude.

The treatment sucks, to be perfectly honest, but it is easier to get through if you approach it optimistically.

Actually it is pretty good, that is what my wife had...a fast spreading cancerous tumor that was 4.78 cm. Why, you may ask was it good? Well, the reason was the aggressiveness of the cancer was it's weakness to chemotherapy.

What this means is that it was very fast growing, from not having cancer in November 07, then it being so large by June 08. So the oncologist we had was experienced in fighting this "Triple Negative Cancer Tumor" and had a plan that we put into action and we have had great results.

After five chemotherapy treatments the tumor was reduced by over half. After 15 treatments it was the size of a small grain of rice. We then did surgery, and are now back on chemotherapy.

What will happen now will be a whirlwind of tests, and doctors appointments. The aggressiveness of the cancer should be it's weakness. She will pull though it, but it is still a tough road ahead.

Good luck,

Dave

My sister in law had breast cancer of that type probably 5 years ago now, she had surgery breast removed and still doing well, so there is hope

Not necessarily, a lot of breast cancers are cured nowadays.