Stage III Cancer Survivors........20+ years and out
I was waiting for someone else to start this…..but I guess it will be me:))))). Oh how I wish there was this thread when I was diagnosed. I had a huge tumor…8cm… with at least 17 nodes positive….some with cancer just bursting out of them….and a bit in my skin. My prognosis was poor and as I traveled from oncologist to oncologist it just seemed no one had any hope for me. I tried to find others like me and finally found one…….she was 13 years out at the time. I hung onto to that thought….if she could be out that long….maybe I could too. This May I hit 21 years.
I was told I probably would not see my two youngest graduate elementary school. Well…… I have seen all my children graduate elementary, middle, high school, undergrad and grad school. I have seen two get married and one gave us a grandchild last year. Life has been good.
I hope this post gives you hope on the down days when things seem so hopeless. Know that God's plan is not always what the doctors tell you. There are others that are out this far and I hope they chime in as well.
Hope is a beautiful thing. Fists up!!!
XOXOX
Jacqueline
YATCOMW
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Wow, @yatcomw, thank you so much for sharing your story. What an incredible milestone and such a powerful reminder of hope. Your words will mean so much to others on the hard days. Thank you!💖
The Mods
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Congratulations YATCOMW!
What an incredible uplifting post and an amazing story of survival.
Your story really helped inspire me when I was first diagnosed 4+ years ago. The image of you sitting outside a church praying after you were diagnosed stayed with me and helped me hold onto hope. Even knowing one positive outcome and believing survival may be possible for a few seconds is when we start to recover from this upending of our lives.
But 20 years - a grandchild - graduations aplenty - wow - to infinity and beyond!
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To answer if I did anything special with diet or supplements…..I would have to say no. I did have an aggressive chemo treatment but if I were to guess….I would say that Femara was my silver bullet. I stayed on it for 15 years. For sure treatments are better today than 20 years ago. I hope we will see the cure in our lifetime.
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Congratulations Jacqueline, I remember you so well. You were always available to give me hope when I believed there was none. Stage 3C too and out 8 and a half years. Thankyou 🥰
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@ausykaren I remember all our messages back and forth when you were first diagnosed…..thrilled to see 8 1/2 years!!!! You go girl!!!!!
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Hi Jacqueline,
I came here to post my 20 years out from my diagnosis and was so happy to see your post! I’m so happy you’re well and all the milestones you’ve enjoyed!
it’s been just past my 20 year mark from my stage III, her2+++ hormone negative bc. I’ve been overall healthy and no recurrence. I don’t come by often but when I do I get such a wonderful pang in my heart when I see familiar names from when I started this bc journey. I hope me posting will encourage someone who is going through it too.Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi
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Lexi and Jacqueline, these are wonderful posts! When I was diagnosed in 2019, I clung to posts like these, but I was just looking at 5 and 10 years then…I am beyond happy to have the 20-year thread up and going. I look forward to making my own post one day.
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Jacqueline, I remember you from waaay back! I was diagnosed in Nov of 2004 and came here looking for a lifeline. I think my original name here was SherriG. It is so good to see this remarkable update from you and I am so happy you are living large! Congratulations!!
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@sherri2004 Yes……I remember you under SherriG. I would always look out for you as we were diagnosed the same year. Always figured as long as you were doing well I could do well;)))))). Glad to see your post!!!!!
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Jacqueline! I just checked in for the first time in ages, and am so thrilled to see your thread. You've been a shining light ahead of me for the past 19+ years - I couldn't be happier for you. And it's so wonderful seeing other long-timers showing back up!
My heart is always warmed when I see your username, because I remember back when you told us what it means😍! I'm working on 42 years of marriage myself.
Hugs and hope to us all - Julie
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hi there long time BC friends. Great to hear from you
I’m now 20 yrs out of a stage III C. hR neg , Her 2 pos, 12 out of 14 pos nodes, auxiliary and sentinel nodes broke through. Blah blah blah
I’m loving life large and thankful everyday
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@lkc I was so hoping you would find your way back here to post on this thread!!!!!!! Congrats on being in the 20+ Club. So happy you continue to do well!!!!
@sugarplum Thrilled we will get you posting here next year!!!!
XOXOXOXO. Jacqueline
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thank you ladies. See you back next yr!
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First of all, congratulations to those 20 years out! You most likely have escaped cancer's rath.
I'm 11 years out and saw in my portal files a letter from my Oncology office back when I was diagnosed. It stated that the longer I go away from diagnosis without a reacurrance, the more likely I will be cured. I never saw this until I went to see my oncologist last year and told her about it. She agreed with the letter and said she was confident I am going to be ok.
I was on Arimidex for 10 years instead of 5 and had Red Devil chemo, so maybe that's why she was so positive on my prognosis going forward.
I have never seen a professional use the word "cured".
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Yes there was a BMJ study confirming this a couple of years ago - I posted a link to it at the time if you search through my previous posts you will find it. The risk of recurrence goes down every year including for HR+ cancers. There were other encouraging findings too. So glad to hear you're doing well. Have you stopped your Arimidex?
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Yes, I stopped taking it in December. My bones rebounded nicely too so no more prolia shots every six months. I remember fighting her over taking Arimidex for 10 years. We kind of agreed on 7 because there was another study that stated 7 was as good as 10 without compromising your bones. I'm glad I went 10
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I'm here too ! 21 year out this past February .Hallelujah !! A lot of changes on these boards since I Iast posted in '24.
I'm continuing to do well with N.E.D. I went off my Aromasin which I've decided that I used as my security blanket after almost 15 years . That was about 3-4 years ago. Although I did really well on that AI ..once off for a period of time I had no idea of it's impact on how I felt. I'm thankful for it but am so glad it is done.
I see a new doc who has made a few changes . I now go every 6 months rather than once a year so as to work in a rotation of Breast MRI and Mammo/US . She is very involved and I feel that she cares for my welfare.
I follow no special diet ,walk about 2 miles most days and probably drink too much wine : ) .
Looking back, never would I think I would be where I am today but an excellent oncologist and breast surgeon and GOD made it happen . Thinking of you all as you make this journey ..there is light at the end of that long dark tunnel !
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