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Stage III Cancer Survivors ...Five + Years and Out.

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Comments

  • SharonMH
    SharonMH Member Posts: 46
    edited August 2015

    Hi, Just stopped by to say that today is 6 years for me and I am doing well. SharonM

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited August 2015

    congrats Sharon stay well

  • live_deliciously
    live_deliciously Member Posts: 183
    edited August 2015

    congrata. Thanks for posting for us newbies. It really is helpful to the psyche.

  • Cvasquez38
    Cvasquez38 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2015

    Thanks to everyone who comes back to share their stories.... amazing it gives me hope.

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,560
    edited August 2015

    Hi Cvasquez-

    We want to welcome you to our community here at BCO. We're sorry for the circumstances that bring you here, but we're glad you've found us, and hope you continue to be inspired and supported by this community and their stories!

    The Mods

  • KaterinaP
    KaterinaP Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2015

    Hi all!


    Just to say Hi, this is my first message since I just created an account. I was diagnosed in July last year and went through chemo, surgery and radiotherapy, and on the 1st of August started Tamoxifen. I was looking in the internet for long term survivors stories to fill up my tanks with optimism and hope, and got to this site and forum. And I just want to say, THANK YOU ALL that are sharing your stories years after your diagnosis, it brings us the not so long ago diagnosed a lot of strength and hope to go ahead, live our lifes day by day, and feel like the persons we were before that happened to us!

    To tell you my story in a couple of lines: last July 2014 while having a shower, I noticed two enlarged lymph nodes below my left axila, a couple of months later a biopsy was made to it and proved cancerous....so the story began. They never found the tumor in my breast, only a benign one, something like sclerosing adenosis with papiloma cells, but not invasive cancer. So, as it seems, I had what is called "occult brest cancer". I had a Pathological Complete Response to chemo, so after it, in the path report after the surgery, it stated: 0 from 20 nodes had cancer, nor were invasive cancer cells found in the breast, but fibrosis scar tissue was found in 3 of the 20 nodes, so I guess it is considered that the cancer had reached these 3 nodes. But in the path report what is stated is, 0 from 20 nodes positive, which made me really happy the moment I read it! By the way, the size of the nodes that were enlarged before starting chemo reduced, but they didn't get back to normal, so I (and my onc too) thought tumour would still be found after the operation, but fortunately, everything was clean:-)! So I was not completely sure now if I have to put in my details in this web 3 nodes, or 0?


    Really really hope to be able to write here in some time and give hope to newbies in the way you girls are giving it to me!

    Hugs to all from Spain! And all the very very best to all of us!


    Kate

  • Leslie1962
    Leslie1962 Member Posts: 25
    edited September 2015

    Just checking in to say that just passed the six-year mark and am doing well.

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 420
    edited September 2015

    Congratulation Leslie!

    So happy and thankful for you! Thank you for letting us all share in your milestone!

    Diana

  • Annette_U
    Annette_U Member Posts: 13
    edited September 2015

    Congrats Leslie and Sharon! Keep reporting back every year- so happy both of you are healthy and enjoying LIFE!

  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 236
    edited September 2015

    Sharon and Leslie, thanks for spreading hope to us stage 3er's!!

  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 4,606
    edited September 2015

    Yeah for Leslie and Sharon...6 years is good!!! Wishing you many more years of celebrating!!!

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited September 2015

    I am stage 11 but just reporting in to say it's 7 years for me on the 8/9/15

  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 59
    edited September 2015

    Hi Friends,


    Checking in to say that I reached my 10 yr cancerversary. Still have occasional aches and pains, but no complaining here 😛. I still see my onc every 6 mos., which is ok by me.


    I have made it to see my son graduate from college this year, as well as become engaged, and we just dropped my daughter off to begin her 2nd year of college soon. My kids were in grades 8 and 4 when I was diagnosed. Really wasn't sure that I'd reach these milestones, but so grateful that I have.


    I don't post often but I check in regularly and still keep my stage 3 sisters in my prayers.


    Hugs and Prayers,

    Lexi

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Member Posts: 370
    edited September 2015

    Lexi4,

    Big congrats!!!!😊😊😊😊👍

  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 4,606
    edited September 2015

    Lexi....congrats on 10 years!!! and on your engagement. Wishing you many more years of celebrating!!!

  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 236
    edited September 2015

    Lexi...you brought joyful tears to my eyes! I celebrate with you...thanks for infusing hope💛

    Delvzy...congrats to you too!! 💜

  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 182
    edited September 2015

    Lexi, welcome to the 10 years out club. it 's wonderful to see you.

    Leslie and Sharon, congrats on your milestones! All great news!

  • hopefour
    hopefour Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2015

    leslie and sharon..congrats on 6 years and thank you for sharing with us!! Congrats Lexi4 on your healthy 10 years and counting! Also, on your engagement! It's always an encouragement to see our sisters doing so well! Thank you!!

  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 74
    edited September 2015

    Hey Lexi..our 10 year club is growing! Love to see the milestones that were so uncertain happening one by one...perhaps we will have grandchildren one day! Not sure I said Hi to Linda and good to see you too!

  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 59
    edited September 2015

    Maryanne,


    So good to see you, too! We started this stage lll stuff together. Yes, I am hopeful to see grandchildren in my future! 😀 And, I'd better clarify. My son is engaged to be married next year. DH and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary next year Looking forward to 2016

  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 176
    edited September 2015

    See my post from today----6 years out from dx!

    Sharon

    Smile

  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 59
    edited September 2015

    Yay Sharon! So happy that you continue to be well! I wish you good health always

  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 176
    edited September 2015

    Hi Lexi! Good to see you here too!

    Sharon

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,560
    edited September 2015

    Hello all you wonderful ladies! And congrats on all your amazing milestones!

    We just posted a request for Survivorship Stories -- would love to have some of you contribute!

    Survivorship generally refers to life after immediate treatment (surgery, chemo, radiation), though a patient may still be on ongoing treatment (hormonal therapy, targeted therapies, complementary methods, etc.). To coincide with an new, upcoming section on the main Breastcancer.org site on Survivorship, we're looking for stories from members who have gone through the active treatment rollercoaster and are now experiencing life after a diagnosis. Specifically, we're wanting to hear your experiences with longer-term side effects of diagnosis and/or treatment, such as sexual issues, weight gain, chemo brain/chemo fog, bone and heart health, exercise and nutrition issues, menopausal issues, lymphedema, infertility, neuropathy, joint pain, skin/hair issues, relationship issues, work and career hurdles, and emotional issues including fear of recurrence.

    Some things to think about for your story: Have you gained a new perspective on this other side of treatment? What life lessons have you learned? What advice would you give your newly-diagnosed self? How does your "old" self compare to your "new" self? What impact has your breast cancer diagnosis made on your life? If you've become a Breast Cancer Advocate, what is your mission and how are you fulfilling it?

    If you're willing to share your perspective of your life after diagnosis and treatment, we'd love to hear from you! Please send your story via PM to the Mods along with a picture of yourself or something that represents you, and a note about how long since you've been diagnosed. Seeing these stories will surely inspire our new members, along with members just going through treatment now, to see that you CAN get through treatment and get to a new normal on the other side.

    Your story will be included with the other Members Stories photos on the main site, and may also be used in part throughout the website and/or in fundraising or event materials.

    Thank you for considering!

    --The Mods
  • Fitz33
    Fitz33 Member Posts: 123
    edited September 2015

    Just passed my 5 year mark since diagnosis. Congrats to everyone on this board.

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited September 2015

    congrats Fitz very encouraging

  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 236
    edited September 2015

    fitz, excellent!!!

  • NinB
    NinB Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2015

    Hello

    in 2010 my wife was is bad condition, we looked for help...in 2009 she found the problem but not told this to anyone, only in 2010 we went to doctors, who told at the beggining hat its nothing and no need to worry...around middle 2010 she started the treatment (neoadvejent) , AC4 and after taxol hereceptin, 5 months after she made surgery, 15 of 20 lymps were touched..we were concerned, its was HER2+ (triple positive). i was shocked from all the story.  this forum after i found and i seen other positive survive cases, it saved me...now 2015 - everything is ok. so always there is a hope. and believe it will be ok for more years many years. and i hope it will give strength to others.

    A big help she also received because she is doing self cultivation of mind and body and she has decided, after what happened, to open a new page of her life.


     

  • sam2u
    sam2u Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2015

    Thanks NinB it is awesome to hear your wife is doing well!!

  • Seaflyer
    Seaflyer Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2015

    I used to read this thread back when I was first diagnosed, and it helped a lot. That was five years ago!

    I was diagnosed at age 29 with stage 3A ILC, 4 out of 5 lymph nodes bursting with cancer and a tumor with tons of foci. I had a lumpectomy, then a reexcision after chemo that found more cancer :( So I got a mastectomy.

    I can't believe I'm sitting here writing to you all. I've had so many wonderful days in those five years. Thanks for helping me see that it was possible.

    For newbies, here are a few things I learned along the way:

    • Always get a second opinion.
    • Young women, if you can, see a specialist in young women's breast cancer!
    • Don't ever blame yourself.
    • You deserve all the love in the world.
    • Bad TV shows are AMAZING when you're on all the drugs.


    Love to you all!

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