Can breast cancer be stopped once it has mastestisized to the lymph nodes?

Question

They have these stages of cancer. And they up the stages for the number of nodes that are affected. But if you get good chemo, what is the difference? Doesn't the chemo kill all the cancer anyways? From the lymph nodes it goes to the organs right? And if it is not detected in the organs, doesn't the chemo stop it cold?

Answer 1

Yes, although it depends on how far it has spread. Cancer 'spreads' easily via the lymph node system (my mom has ovarian cancer and hers spread that way too and had to have some of it taken out).

Chemotherapy works by 'mass murder' if you will of cells. They theorey is there are more 'normal' cells than 'cancer' cells, so if you keep up this treatment, you have a greater chance of killing more cancer cells than normal and the 'break' between treatments allow more normal cells to reproduce. Chemo does not always 'cure' you (although breast cancer has a high rate of success with chemo). For example, with ovarian cancer there are always microscopic cells left that become chemo resistant and are harder to treat again with chemo.

So cancer can still technically 'continue' with chemo, however the cancer cells are so agitated by the chemo process, they are more worried about staying alive than replicating.

Now there are complimentary things you can do to assist chemo, such as using beta glucans especially the Maitake D-Fraction version. It is already in FDA approved Phase 2 trials for breast cancer patients (FDA allowed it to skip Phase 1 trials for safety because of it's long use). Do some research on it and you'll see it works on breast cancer very well in animal models (thus the new FDA trials and more to come in humans) especially when taken with chemo. It is also the only beta glucan that can be effectively taken 'orally' (others require IV injection to be effective).

I'd recommend the D-Fraction Pro version make by Maitake Inc. out of NJ (www.maitake.com) which is used in clinical trials. This is only a suggestion though and not telling you to NOT take chemo, it is important step!

Answer 2

I couldn't say what your life expectancy is...I think that would be a good question to ask your doctor though... I've had several people in my family who had cancer. My aunt had cancer in her lymph nodes and after rigorous chemo/radiation treatments, she has now been in remission for 3 years. My dad had/has brain cancer and he was given 6 months to live. I felt like I was walking on egg shells during those months. It has been 6 years since my dad was diagnosed. The point I'm trying to get it is, even if they say youonly have 1 year to live, you could actually live longer. Just keep a positive attitude about it. And if you believe in prayer, ask everyone you know to pray for you. If your constantly thinking about how sick you are, that'll just make you depressed, and that could ultimately affect your immume system. I know it's easier said than done, but really try to stay positive. I think that's what got my aunt and dad through their cancer treatments. This experience can bring a new perspective to life.

Answer 3

Yes, cancer can be stopped once in the lymph nodes. I had stage II breast cancer (in breast and lymph nodes) and doing fine now. Also people do recover from lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes)

Answer 4

Not sure. But here is some encouraging latest news:

US scientists crack entire genetic code of breast and colon cancers

Research on cancer and the genetic code looks like it may at long last produce real breakthroughs

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