Stage III Cancer Survivors...15+ years and out

kiwimum

15 years for me! Diagnosis in 2011 with 12 positive nodes.

My kids were so young and are now lovely, independent young ladies. One is about to turn 24 and is living in London. The other daughter is about to turn 21 and is in her final year at college/university.

Great to see the others popping in here to celebrate hitting 15 years and spreading the hope 🧡

karen1956

Last week marked 20, yes 20 years since I heard those horrid words. I don’t think i imagined then life in 20 years! I’ve enjoyed 20 more years with my best friend and co-survivor - my husband of 48+ years. I been blessed to see my 3 children grow up, graduate University, become independent adult, my two daughters marry and a beautiful granddaughter. I’m still working 4 days/week (though thinking of retiring at the end of 2026), walk 3 times/daily, hike in the mountains when we can and travel to see our children.

Life is not perfect, but it is good to still be here. I do have other health challenges. Some are due to being 20 years older, others are due to bad luck or maybe because of BC and BC treatment. A second cancer diagnosis almost 3 years ago, CKD, osteoporosis, hypercalcemia. I had 2 parathyroid glands removed two years ago. I have lots of “ologists” monitoring me and drawing labs more times than I care to count.

There is life after BC 🎉. Hugs to all.

Hi lkc, jennyboog😀

mpetago

Here for my annual check in, 22 years NED for me and still counting! Hello to all of the other 'old timers' who still post here. I always like to come back and see those names ❤️

sugarplum

Hi Karen - so great to see your post & I'm right behind you! I'll be celebrating my 70th birthday next week, and am also astounded that I'm still here - after BC treatment, 2 hip replacements, defibrillator implant, and systemic staph infection (necessitating a hip revision + lifetime antibiotics). Have worked at the same company for 48 years and have had the same husband for 42 😍

I too have a laundry list of specialists, but am working on being as grateful as I can these days.

Hugs & hope to all -

Julie

nancyd

Hi ladies! Just a quick visit to say I’m still alive. It’s been 18 years since my diagnosis and treatment. I JUST decided to stop my anastrazole on March 1. It was my safety net. Bone density was still good and I really would have stayed on it another 18 years but my joints were starting to revolt. Take care!

lianakalb

I’m not 15 years out… but I’m 7.5 years out and still come back here to continue to look for hope. I was stage 3C with about 15 lymph filled and my supraclavicular node affected with cancer (in your collarbone). I was diagnosed at 24 and I’m 32 now. My Oncologist says they don’t have data for people like me because they generally don’t get this far….. but here we are!!! ❤️🙏🏼

hopefaith1

Sending love and strength to everyone here. This site helped me so much it all started 2007 at 44 years old. I was the girl in the background reading. Today l am typing giving hope and words of hope. This will be 17 years ned for me with Her2 er-pr- we've all have different stories but we are all here together in this fight. Remember you're not alone and embrace the love you have here.

moderators

Hi ladies! Thank you all so much for sharing your stories and for the hope you’re bringing into this space. This kind of long-term hope means a lot to others here.

Warm wishes,
The Mods

ausykaren

Congratulations to everyone here. I’m nine years out and remember many of you and your support when I was first diagnosed. 💕

sammie2018

Hi there,

I need some hope! I was diagnosed may 2025, er/pr+, her2-. 22 mm tumor and 4 lymph nodes affected. My biggest concern is the rcb3 score and having ‘high risk’ the cancer will come back. I have a 7 year old. Are there survivors out there with the same bad response on chemo? Love to hear from you 🙏

moderators

Hi @sammie2018, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We’re sorry you’re facing this fear right now, but gald you found us.

You’ve posted in a very good place for hope. This Stage III 15+ Years Out thread includes many long-term survivors who have been through difficult diagnoses and treatment journeys and are still here years later. Hopefully some of them will see your post and share their experiences with you.

We’re glad you reached out, and we’re sending you a big hug as you navigate these early months.

The Mods

moderators

Also, EVERYONE, if you haven't already, we wanted to encourage those who have made it to 20+ years to post in this thread to continue to share the hope and inspiration!

Stage III Cancer Survivors........20+ years and out — Community Discussion Forums

We always love to see the love and encouragement and celebrations here! Sending big hugs to all!

—The Mods

shanagirl

Hi everyone, i started out with Stage IIIA IDC In Jan 2009 went 13+ years NED CA27/29 remained 25 low for years. Then suddenly jumped to 84 prompting my Oncologist to call me after my regular 6 month followup labs. He said traveling breast cancer cells in my blood and had me com in fo scans, nuclear Med Bone CT/PET & MRI full body scans .The insidious cancer cells hid out in mybones and were confined there becoming bone mets but no progression to organs. My oncologist has had me on Verenio, Fasoldex and Xgeva injections once a month followups since 2023 aand I have benn remarkably stable, no progression or issues with organs. He keeps calling me a miracle. I’ve recently been hospitalized 2 times with very bad Bacterial hemmohagic Pneumonia since May and spent 2 weeks in Hosptitla getting all kinds of bloodwork. I came home yesterday and I also was told by the Hospital onclogy team that they were monitoring my Cancer Antigen 27/29 and when I came in to the hospital last Wednesday my number was low 27, and then the day before I was released it had dropped again to 23. Wow Stage IV bone mets NED??. Now I’m really grateful for this news and no wonder my regular oncologist calls me a miracle dispite my Pneumonia issues… I just wanted to share this with everyone here and all during the last 5 years my mammograms on Right breast show LCIS and they just surveil me once a year diagnostic mammos. So I pray this gives hope to any one here with Breast cancer fears of progression. There are so many treatment meds that have come out since 2017 which give cancer survivors many more years with their loved ones so take heart survivors. Keep kicking cancer’s ass. 💕. I hope @sherri2004 contacts me. I think I know you from way back in 2010 as SherriG. And if that’s the case, hello old friend, sorry we lost touch over the years. BCO has been such a support to me the last few years after Stag IV. Godbless you and congratulations on your Breast cancer survival all thes 20 years. So happy for you.🌷🩵

sherri2004

Shanagirl, it is so wonderful to see your comment and yes, I am indeed the old SherriG on here. I joined in Nov, 2004 when I was first dxed. I sent you a private message and hope to hear from you soon.

sbelizabeth

I've waited a long time to post here. Yesterday, September 29, marks the 15th anniversary since I found the red patch on my breast. With a diagnosis of stage 3 inflammatory bc, my journey was lengthy and intense. Eight months of chemo, 38 rads treatments, 9 surgeries. And I'm here, loving being retired and playing with my grands. Thank you, God.

starbridge

Congratulations @sbelizabeth! I am delighted for you. Your story gave me hope during the dark early days post diagnosis. Your faith, humour and strength shone through your posts and your eloquent writing made me believe that survival was possible and that a normal post-cancer life might be too. Thank you. Wishing you many more years of health and happiness ahead.