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ER-negative cancer recurrence risk?

Page last modified on: October 2, 2008
Question from JeanneD: I am very frustrated with so little information available for treatment of ER-negative tumors. From what I read, they are the most aggressive, and with my tumor a Grade III, it really scares me. I watch the fat in my diet as well as total calories. Thirty minutes of exercise a day and adequate rest at night helps my energy level. What do you feel my prognosis is for recurrence and is there treatment for the future?
Answer —Kathy Miller, M.D.: Your individual prognosis is still influenced by the number of lymph nodes involved and the size of the tumor in the breast. You understand correctly that tumors that are ER-negative have a higher rate of recurrences in the first five years after diagnosis, but the long-term prognosis is comparable with ER-positive tumors. The good news for women with ER-negative tumors is that you derive greater benefit from chemotherapy than women who have ER-positive tumors who received the same chemotherapy. The other things that you can do to decrease the risk of recurrence is to follow a healthy lifestyle, including eating a low-fat diet and exercising regularly. You're already doing those things, so you're clearly on the right track.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2005, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Hormone-Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer. Kathy D. Miller, M.D., Marisa Weiss, M.D., and moderator Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. answered your questions about a wide range of issues related to hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kathy D. Miller, M.D.Kathy D. Miller, M.D. is associate professor of medical oncology at Indiana University, and a Sheila D. Ward Scholar.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

Jennifer Armstrong, M.D.Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. is a breast cancer oncologist at Paoli Hematology-Oncology Associates in Paoli, Pa., with a special interest in physicians' communication skills.

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