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Success Stories!

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  • kathimdgd
    kathimdgd Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2009

    My paternal grandmother had BC in 1929 at the age of 43.They removed both breasts and she underwent radiation,and as far as i know she had no other treatment.She lived to be 94 and died from Pneumonia.Her last dd died last year and she still had copies of the dr and hospital bills that gramma had.Makes me wonder if all the treatments today are doing more harm than good.

    I also have 2 sisters that are BC survivors of 11 and 12 years,one is 82 now the other is 78.The one that's 82 had a breast and lynph nodes removed,and every so often she has a lymphadema  flare up.She only took the tamoxafin.The 78 year old started on Tamox,and ended up in the hospital with blood clots and pneumonia,and started having seizures,she is an epileptic as well.The meds didn't agree with her epilepsy meds and she can't be off those,so she really did nothing more,yet she has no bad side effects,except her arm also gives her problems sometime.She had her right breast and lymph nodes removed as well.

    Both of these sister are doing well for their age and what they went through,much better than i am and i had all the chemos,now on femara,cholesterole went out of whack from the meds,but have it back on track with other meds.

    So i always think that maybe these days we are being over medicated!! Anyone else have an opinion on this???

    Kathi

  • London-Virginia
    London-Virginia Member Posts: 109
    edited October 2009

    This is very encouraging!

    I have always wanted to be (in the fullness of time) one of those terrific old ladies who beats off a mugger with her umbrella then whacks him really hard with her handbag!  It seems like I may get the chance after all!

    thanks for sharing everyone xxxxxxx

  • marlenet
    marlenet Member Posts: 114
    edited October 2009

    This guy at work told me about his mother, At age 50 she had b.c..   She dies at age 93, not b.c related! He was not sure what stage ,grade etc... He sister had b.c. and is 30 years out. 

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2009

    I met a women today who was pregnant when she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer-she had 38 out of 38 nodes positive. She is alive and well and he baby is in 33 years old.

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2009

    I met a women today who was pregnant when she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer-she had 38 out of 38 nodes positive. She is alive and well and he baby is in 33 years old.

  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 57
    edited October 2009

    This needs bumped today  Laughing

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited October 2009

    Absolutely, Diana!! And every day!

    Nico

  • mkibbetson
    mkibbetson Member Posts: 40
    edited October 2009
    An update - my friend who was diagnosed stage 3 in Nov. 1999 is celebrating her tenth cancerversary in St. Thomas next week! 
  • marlenet
    marlenet Member Posts: 114
    edited October 2009

    everyminute

    How cool!   Tell your friend congrats..... 

  • CAtharsis
    CAtharsis Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2009

    This thread is exactly what I needed!

    When I read about 20+ years survivors, I consider myself lucky to be treated in 2009 AND feel like now everything is possible.

    One of my mother's friend is a 15 years survivor.

    One nurse told me she has four aunts that are BC survivors... she said she "mentioned b/c it is true" (not to reassure me!) 

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2009

    My firend is 8 years out form stage 3 26 out of 26 nodes all matted.

    Diagnosed at 36.

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2009

    My friend met a stage 4  survivor-had spots on her liver and is 5 years out NED.

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2009

    A friend of mine had 5 nodes and she smoked. She is 7 years out. I don't know the tumour size.

  • cdncancersociety
    cdncancersociety Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2009
    Many Canadians feel alone when they are faced with fighting cancer, you are not alone in this fight. Check out these inspirational video stories about fighting cancer. Visit fightback.ca for more information on how you can help.
  • kathimdgd
    kathimdgd Member Posts: 84
    edited November 2009

    I have 2 sisters that are 11 and 12 year survivors,and i had my first Cancerversary last month.

    Kathi

  • London-Virginia
    London-Virginia Member Posts: 109
    edited November 2009

    thanks so much for sharing all this great news, and best wishs to all those ladies who are doing well.

  • farila_1966
    farila_1966 Member Posts: 35
    edited November 2009

    This success story is of my friend Pam...I am pasting her mail to me over here.

    I was 37,pregnant for the 4th time (no babies yet) when my right breast started getting red and hurting. My ob/gyn said it was mastitis.I was on antibiotics and heat packs for 3 months. Finally a surgeon did an open biopsy(I was 5 1/2 months pregnant) & found inflammatory bc. The next day I had a mastectomy. I went home and called the 800-4-CANCER number and found a study (not yet released to the public) where they were using chemo on pregnant women. I insisted on going to MD Anderson (where the study was), was accepted, and started chemo early in Sept. Had 4 rounds before delivery, 2rounds after, then 6 weeks of radiation. That was 18 years ago last July.
    love
    Pam  

  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 188
    edited November 2009

    OH PAM AND FARILA_1966, THANK YOU FOR POSTING!  I was 37 when dx'd (38 now...been only 5 months), and knowing that I can last longer than 5, 10 or 15 years is comforting!

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2009

    Cakeisgreat-you have stage 1 A it's almost 100% curable? Of course you can go 15 years.

  • carmelle
    carmelle Member Posts: 134
    edited November 2009

    Nice to see how many positive stories continue on and how much this thread helps women starting out and in between too. I started this thread almost 7 years ago in a deep panic. Today I have almost forgotten about BC.org because I have almost forgotten about BC. It was my lifeline for so long.Hang in there.

  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 188
    edited November 2009

    Hiya, PureE!

    I hope so.  I do have early stage, but in the bc case, I have somewhat of an "Eeyore mentality."  I was young to get bc (37) and no one in my family has cancer of any kind for generations, so I feel like "I'llllll be the one" that will go mets in spite of it all, LOL.  Thank you SO much for the encourgement...it reminds me to get a grip!!!

    Carmelle...that is so cool that you almost for got about bc.  I cant wait till that happens to me!

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2009

    My mom was diagnosed at 48-stage 1-she is 21 years out. Some docs feel it's almost 100% curable. (stage 1a)

  • farila_1966
    farila_1966 Member Posts: 35
    edited November 2009

    Hi there cakeisgreat.. don't allow those negetive thoughts to attack you. I was just 29 when dx and have gone on to survive for more than 13 years ...

  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 188
    edited November 2009

    Thanks so much PureE and farila!  I have to remember the success stories!!!  Thanks for your encouragement :).

  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 312
    edited November 2009

    What a wonderful thread! I'll add my sister-in-law's parents' stories to this upbeat thread.

    17 years ago, my SIL's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. (I don't remember off-hand which stage or type other than that it was invasive.) After a year of treatment, she was declared cancer-free and has been cancer-free ever since. 

    8 years ago, my SIL's father then was diagnosed with terminal cancer (again, I can't remember the details -- I was in the middle of my wedding at the time and was hearing everything second-hand through my mom). Doctors gave him less than a year to live at most. But he survived... and went into REMISSION.

    Both of my SIL's parents are very much alive and thriving today, enjoying their three young grandchildren and loving life and thanking God for healing both of them.

  • greenfrog
    greenfrog Member Posts: 73
    edited November 2009

    Thank you for this wonderful thread. I am 18 months since diagnosis and going through a "bad patch" but the stories here have lifted my spirits so much.

  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2009

    This thread just keeps getting bigger & better with every new post.  :)

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2009

    something to keep in mind that staging was much different 13 years ago-so I believe if they were stage 3 13 years ago that their prognosis was much worse.

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited December 2009

    Bumping for Merry.

    Nico

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2009

    My obgyn nurse told me her sister had cancer in both breasts and in her strenum. It has been 12 years.

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