How often do you think about recurrence?

I’m about three years out and I think about it every couple of days. I have another cancer that’s more likely to recurr, but I guess I accept that, while with breast cancer the if’s and when’s of recurrence seems concerning. I had a nipple sparing mx without radiation, and the pain and irritation I feel in one area where I had wound healing issues causes me to worry there’s something going on.

depends I think on life. I’m three years out but my sister died of cancer in Sept. ovarian. She was 48. We were diai6 months apart. I feel like I still live in the shadow of cancer. So much of my life is intertwined with cancer. Grieving my sister while trying to pick up the pieces of my life. When life is good, probably not as often. When life is difficult, like now- I’ve had some other health issues that I was terrified were my cancer back. So now I think of it everyday.

It was seemingly a hourly thing when I was first diagnosed in 2022. I wondered if I would ever feel happy and at peace again. I will say that the smartest thing I did at that time was get a therapist who I still see intermittently today. I worked through the feelings trusting the process and at my two year anniversary date coming up Friday I can honestly say I'm pretty happy and at peace. That doesn't mean I don't think about recurrence because I am well aware it's a possibility for all hormone positive breast cancer patients up to thirty years. But it's no longer something I actively worry about. At least on most days now :)

I had DCIS in 2014. Given that seven members of my family have had breast cancer twice, I felt fairly positive if I lived long enough I would likely get it again. I didn't expect it to come again this year, but it is what it is. I have agreed to 16 rads treatments, and have lots of sick time accrued at work, so no worries there. And I signed up for an exercise study for those going through treatment and I'm excited about that. I also agreed to hormone treatment and that has me more worried.

I was diagnosed in 1998 at age 43. I had 3 young children and worked. I had a Lumpectomy and radiation. My Dr. felt I was so young to be put into Menopause and the other risks that would happen, so I did not take any medications. I worried about recurrence a lot and kept up with all of my appointments. I was told had I been diagnosed a few years later I would have been put on medication. Another sister had breast cancer the year before me at 50 and another sister got Pancreatic cancer in 2007 at about 70. I was tested for the known genetic risk BRCA in 2009 Negative. I retested this year with all the new known genes and negative.

26 wonderful years later, March this year I got a recurrence and I wasn't even thinking about it anymore. My kids are now supportive adults and I will get through this detour and on with our 51 years of marriage and fun. Just do the best you can and take good care of yourselves….life goes by so fast, try to enjoy all the good days and move on from the bad days. Best to all of you 🌺

I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to respond - got wrapped up with work. I started on amaridex about two weeks ago, but took someone else's suggestion and took them every other day instead of daily. This week I'm alternating a whole pill and a half - next week I'll move to daily. So far no noticeable side effects, except loss of sleep, but I've had that for years. Rads start in two days.

@artwish this is beautiful thank you for sharing