Stage III Cancer Survivors ...Five + Years and Out.
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warrior50, LindaKR- congratulations on 5+ years and thank you for posting.
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Tomorrow marks 5 years since being dx'd.
So much to be thankful for.❤
I honestly didnt think my life would recover from the trauma of being dx'd and treatment. I really struggled emotionally with the aftermath of going thru it. I was in so much fear of a recurrence that I obsessed on everything that could be a symptom. It was debilitating.
But I'm so thankful that part has gotten so much better. I'm in a much better place emotionally and mentally. I can't say how or why, but it has gotten easier to manage.
I hope this helps somebody that might be struggling.
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Yes Tangandchris!!! Your post is exactly what I needed to read at this moment! I am one-year from the start of my chemo and my mind continues to race with fears that I focus on giving up to God daily. I'm glad to hear such emotions no longer run your life, and congratulate you on 5 years! Keep coming back every year until you move to the 10-year forum!
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October 20 was my first day of retirement and the seven-year anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis.
Like most of us, I struggled with fear and grief in the beginning. The treatment itself--surgeries, chemo, radiation, drugs--weren't too much of a challenge for me; I physically tolerated everything OK. But the shock and spiritual distress was occasionally overwhelming.I was SCARED.
I compare the process of diagnosis, treatment, and aftermath, to suddenly having an elephant in my living room. It's enormous. It stomps all over my furniture, poops on the rug, smashes the lamps. It's all I can think about. But gradually, over the years, the elephant shrinks into a tiny mouse that hides in the wall. Occasionally it'll come out and squeak a little, like when my hip aches (bursitis) or I have weird abdominal pain (gas). It's always THERE but it's no longer making a mess of my emotional peace. I don't even think about it much.
My advice for the newer sisters and brothers is "one day at a time." The days add up to weeks, months, and then years. The chances of cancer NOT recurring are pretty good. Blessings--SB
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sbelizabeth....thank you!! just what I needed to read while the elephant smashes up my furniture...
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Ebelizabeth,
Love the elephant analogy. I thought of my cancer as uninvited family house guests who long overstayed their welcome. Left the place in shambles but did not poop on the floor.
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Hey All,
Posting to offer hope to all who find this board. On 9/22 I became a 7 year survivor. This board and the survival stories were so incredibly helpful when I first started my journey.
Hasn’t always been easy and those aches and pains along the way can be scary but thankfully that is all they were!
In those 7 years....I’ve watched my two oldest get married and have children, my middle graduate college and my youngest is now in 10th grade and has his permit! In a few short weeks I will welcome my 3rd grandchild in less than a year....they just make me smile ❤️. All milestones I prayed I would see after receiving my diagnosis. I’ve learned life is about life, not all the “other stuff”....I am blessed and very thankful.
Live, love, laugh and keep the faith!
Katy
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Thanks Katy for giving hope. Congratulations on 7 years.
Karen
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This week, end October approx, is 10 years since my diagnosis. My stats were not good. I eat healthy: fish, chicken and just occasionally beef. Processed food or meat very rarely. Lots of vegetables. No supplements except for omega-3, calcium, and vitamin D. Green tea and a tiny bit of turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon with some pepper and minced garlic daily . And I workout with cardio and weights every other day on average. I did stop drinking except for the rare tiny bit of wine every couple of months, because of what the research shows. At any rate, at 73 I still care for my preschool grandchildren once a week, garden, and appreciate still being here. I think that treatment now is much better then it was 15 years ago for my type of cancer and for many cancers. Best of luck to everyone!
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Thank you evergreen9 & Katy - bad day at work but in the scope of things - a good day to keep on keeping on. God bless all my sisters in this club!
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Ladies
Thank you all so much for posting , next month will be 2 yrs since I found the lump that has taken me to some very dark places. I still continue to struggle with anxiety and fear although some days I now go 3-4 hours and not think about it . Nights are the worst for me . Hubby tends to ignore my fears as his way of coping is if you just don't think or talk about it , it will go away. While I agree a positive attitude helps, its dam hard not to slip and let fear take over sometimes .
It give so much hope when we see long term survivors post it does help calm the fears. When Dx I did not think I would be here today.
Huggs and thanks to all
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CONGRATULATIONS Sbelizabeth, Katyand4, and Evergreen9!!
Today is my birthday and it was an awesome gift to come here and receive all 3 of your thriving testimonies! YAY! 🎉😃🎉. May blessings continue to be with you all, and all of us, for many more years
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December 19th, 2018 will be my 2nd birthday!!
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mamafelice happy Birthday!!!
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Happy Anniversary to you all, wonderful, wonderful to find this site! Jan. 2019 is my 3 year cancer free birthday. In general I feel great! Back to all my favorite activities, with some modifications 😉 No more topless dancing, nude beaches ,etc. Just kidding😄. I am still a gym rat, weight training, biking and boogie boarding at the beach, hiking ,kayaking, basically enjoying my formerly active lifestyle. I was always into health and fitness, so that was my main concern, being able to remain active. And I don't stress about things I have no control over anymore(like politics!😝) And I sort of get a kick over being thought of as "So strong, such a warrior" for going through all the challenges of treatments. Like we have a choice!😂But hey, let's enjoy basking in that!
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Virtual hugs to all, I just hit year number 6!! I am both amazed and thankful! I prepared for less but I am grateful to be here to enjoy life. I was not sure I would meet my grand kids, I now have 3 little ones all since diagnosisand one I will meet in a few days 😁
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Congratulations on 6 years Lafish.
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Comgrats Lafish on your years and your grandchildren (and your newest one!!)! Wishing you many more years!
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Thanks MamaFelice and Ausykaren!
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Twenty three years and counting.
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lottanodes,
wish you at least two multiples of 23 yrs!
p.s. you just lifted my spirits.
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Lottanodes - wow, wow, wow! Congratulations and thanks for the continued hope for so many!
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Congrats Lafish and Lottanodes! Thanks so much for sharing with us!!
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Lottanodes - you make my heart sing! God bless - May there be another 23 ahead x
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Holy Moly! Lottanodes!!!! Bloody brilliant!!! Here's to many more years of good health. How inspiring!! x
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Any tips Lottanodes? Anything you swear by?
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yes lottanodes please share some tips
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So grateful and happy to hear the inspiring stories from long term survivors!
And incredibly thankful to have passed my own 5 year mark!
Onwards and upwards!
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So happy to report today marks 5 years from my surgery. I count the day they cut it all out as my anniversary date.
Other then a bump in the road a year ago, mastectomy, all s still clear. The last 5 years also saw the death of my husband and more recently my retirement. I take encouragement from the recent 23 year survivor and intend to live what time I may have to the fullest.
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I don't think I've updated in so long but wanted all the newly diagnosed to know that long term survivors are out here. I passed the 15 year mark earlier this year.
Hugs to all of you and blessings into the new year.
Ruth
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