Long term survivor examples.
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Hi everyone. I am just checking in to let you know I am over 14 years from diagnosis and doing well! I am a bit overweight (about 25 lbs😂) but am working on getting that off. I started Dragon boat racing over the summer for a breast cancer survivor team and it gave me a good jump on improving my weight reduction and cardiovascular health. I am continuing my studies in Psychology and grateful for the many years of good health that I have had. Make it through the tough times ladies and know that a whole world full of possibilities awaits you once the hard days are done! You all can do this!!!
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Thank you for checking in. I was diagnosed this year. My surgeon had told be I was stage 2-ish but my oncologist just told me yesterday that I was really stage 3B. I already finished chemo. And will have surgery #1 on 11/11. I have been having bone pain and high blood sugar (just since yesterday). Been feeling really low yesterday and today with these new bits of negative info. I thought I would be happy to be done with chemo and on to the next step but I just feel blah. And the fears are creeping back in.
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Hi Amandapaul42. I am so sorry you are going through this. My thoughts are with you. The first five years are the WORST. I am sure having chemo before surgery is very difficult. When I was diagnosed I had the surgery first and then I did not start Chemo for almost 13 weeks after my surgery. I had a lot of time (probably too much…) to recover. I was Stage 3A (with 4/11 involved lymph nodes) at surgery. Chemo definitely makes you feel blah…
Take a deep breath. This is a terrifying time in your life but know that you are doing everything that you can to help yourself. I will be honest it will take awhile before you are not scared of every pain that comes up…but I have met more than a few people (one person on my dragon boat team) who had stage 3B (inflammatory breast cancer) and they are doing well years out from their diagnosis. Just do what you need to do to get through the day and know I am sending you good thoughts.
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I've not been here in so long that my "bio" page and everything is now gone. They must have updated the site. That's how long it's been since I was here! Okay, you want to hear from a survivor… well, I AM one… going on 16 years.
I was diagnosed in September, 2010. I am BRCA2+, cancer was triple negative. I was stage 1. I had bilateral MX October, 2010. Surgery went well. 0/3 lymph nodes, no lympho/vascular invasion noted, and the only thing left in the left breast was .9 x .8 cm DCIS.. no residual invasive cancer found. I'm a Christian. When I asked my surgeon why they found no invasive cancer, he began rattling off something about the stereotactic needle, blah, blah. It was God, not a needle, who took that cancer. Moving on. I had 4 rounds Taxotere/Cytoxin beginning the Monday after Thanksgiving, 2010. I lost all my hair. I had chosen tissue expanders / exchange for implants. I had my exchange surgery 2/28/2011. I also had bilat ooph due to increased risks being BRCA2+.
I'm still here. My hair did grow back. I'm doing well! I am still NED and my oncologist cut me loose, saying I was "healed of that particular cancer", several years ago. I feel great and have had very few issues. The main thing I have been watching is osteoporosis. I fear my endocrinologist may want me to start some kind of meds this year. I'm 59, small framed. I really don't want meds, so I'm trying to figure out what my options are. I had been taking a handful of vitamins every day including D3, K2, and calcium. Last couple years have been difficult with family issues so I didn't take it like I should. Looking into possible bioidentical HRT, which I was told in 2011 was a definite NO. I've no clue if anything has changed on that front.
Either way, I wanted to give HOPE to those looking for survivors. There are MANY MANY MANY of us out here! Do not doubt for one moment that we exist. OP is right. Most of us don't come here much. I did for a while but decided I needed to LIVE my life, so I did.
I had no family history of BRCA or breast cancer. None that I knew of anyway. I believe the gene mutation must have come from my dad, who left when I was a toddler. I have a half sister I found, who was also diagnosed with breast cancer at the same age as me and began chemo the exact same day I did (weird), but to her knowledge, she doesn't have BRCA.
One of my daughters tested positive for BRCA2, the other one negative. I have a son who hasn't been tested. My daughter who is positive has now had prophylactic mx. Everyone is doing well.
Have faith… be blessed! There are many survivors of triple negative, but make no mistake, cancer sucks and it continues to suck even after they tell you you're "healed". The after effects are many and I'm pretty sure they continue for life in some way or other. Take your vitamins, especially D3. You want to keep that level higher than normal women.
Don't be afraid to LIVE your life. Yes, death is out there and it takes some of us, but we can be killed from so many other things besides cancer. Cancer changes us forever. It brings us together as fellow sisters (and brothers), part of a group we more than belong in, but one we never wanted to be in. Final words… Have HOPE and Just LIVE
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11 year survivor, diagnosed triple negative and BRCA2 at age 41. Chemo, mastectomy, and hysterectomy. I have three daughters and only one over 18 who chose to get tested, she is positive. So much has advanced even since I was diagnosed. My aunt died at 42 with TNBC and my cousin is battling her second go around. My heart goes out to all who are battling and I pray one day our children will have a better chance of long term survival then we have had in the past.
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Hi, everyone, I haven’t posted here in years. But when I was diagnosed, I made a promise that I would periodically come back as long as I was alive to try to give hope to others. Today marks my 10 year anniversary with stage 3/stage four triple negative breast cancer.
10 years. 10 years on this hamster wheel.
In 2016, I was diagnosed with stage, three triple negative breast cancer, and had a mastectomy, AC/T, and then radiation. Within three years, the cancer came back twice. More treatment, surgeries, and immuno therapy ensued. After the second recurrence, I was diagnosed with metastatic triple negative and had to go on disability. but for 3 1/2 years now I’ve been stable, with no evidence of disease, and every day I count myself lucky to be alive.
I know the despair. I know the grief and the sadness. I know the pain after surgeries, the vomiting, the weakness, the hair loss, the worry that you’ll never see your children or your family again. I know the job loss. I know the loss, even ofsome friends or family members along the way, people who couldn’t handle your disease or who just drifted away. It’s a life-changing diagnosis.But after all this time, what I want to tell you is that there is the afterlife. You won’t be the same person but you will be here. There is hope. there are people like me surviving 10 or even more years now. I haven’t done anything special, I never ate a special diet or took special supplements. What I did was, I always took the most aggressive conventional treatments offered, I have kept my BMI at about 25%, and I exercise , about five days a week. Otherwise I eat mostly healthy but yes, I drink the occasional soda and have the occasional cake. There is nothing special or unique about my habits.
If anyone out there is struggling or sad, or worried, just know that you are not alone in this diagnosis. You are a warrior. You are a sister. Just take one step at a time and look at that asshole cancer in the eye.
I wish all of you so much healing and strength in the days ahead. Big hugs all around.
love,Jojobird
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@jojobird Congrats on 10 years, great news!!! Thanks for sharing your story and positivity, we all appreciate it !
I am MTNBC also, mets were to my lungs and Xeloda is keeping mets quiet for a little over 2 years now. I also maintain a healthy diet and have exercised my entire life. Hoping I can continue on Xeloda to keep me stable!
Wishing you continued health🌷
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@christawcu , welcome, and thank you for opening up about your experience and your family’s journey. The thoughtfulness you show for your daughters and family is inspiring. We’re really happy to have you here.
@jojobird , it means a lot that you came back and kept your promise to share your updates. Ten years through everything you’ve faced is incredibly powerful. The way you speak so openly about both the hard realities and the hope on the other side is something many members truly need to hear.
Thank you both for sharing again and keeping this conversation going!
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