Topic: Stage III Cancer Survivors .... 10+ Years and Out

May 12, 2020 12:46PM DATO wrote:

Fourteen years ago today I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Breastcancer.org was my lifeline throughout my treatment and reconstruction. I learned so much from those with the same diagnosis, the same chemo regime, and the same reconstruction. Today I recommend breastcancer.org to those who are newly diagnosed. I come back once a year, on or near the date of my diagnosis to offer encouragement to others. Life is good. The only lingering affect of treatment is the neuropathy in my toes. Treatments have changed a lot in the last 14 years. There are going to be a lot more long-term survivors in the future. The thing I worry about most now is COVID-19, not breast cancer. Next year I get to move up to the 15+ group. Stay strong and go wash your hands.

May 12, 2020 06:27PM Francesca30 wrote:

Congratulations @DATO !!! Breastcancer org has been my lifeline too. Thankful for inspiring stories like yours

Aug 2, 2020 04:03PM jennyboog wrote:

I'm proud to say I'm now part of this group. I never thought 10 years ago that I'd be here today but here I am. It has not been easy, especially at the beginning, everyday got better and better. Before I knew it the years kept passing until they became 10 years. I don't come here much anymore but I had to drop by and share that it can be done. Keep the faith and hope, you can do this. Thank you BC.org for getting me through and all the info!

Aug 3, 2020 06:20AM sbelizabeth wrote:

Congratulations, Jennyboog! You helped me put one foot in front of the other when I was first diagnosed. Here's to more decades of kicking cancer's butt!

Aug 10, 2020 05:19AM Newnorm wrote:

Congratulations Jennyboog and thanks for coming back to share your milestone. It still gives me so much hope to see these posts, as it always has since my entry on this BC journey. Here’s to the next 10

Aug 10, 2020 05:39PM Flo80 wrote:

Congrations Jennyboog!!

Sep 17, 2020 02:48PM CharlotteMe wrote:

Dear Survivor Sisters,

Today I had my regular oncology follow up appointment. And today I celebrate being 10 years out from the end of active treatment - BMX surgery, 7 months of chemo, and radiation, followed by Femara.

Happily, I am still on Femara, 10 years of it so far and at least one more to go.

I am nearing 11 years since my initial diagnosis. So, depending on whenever you count survivorship from, I am squarely in the 10+ years survivors' club now!

To those just starting this journey, I encourage you to take comfort and find hope in the stories of long-time survivors here. I certainly did! As I would read, then re-read over and over again the stories of those survivors on this forum who had graciously shared their journeys of survival they gave me some fragile hope that my Stage 3 diagnosis might not be a death sentence. Early on I was still terrified, but many times I hung onto those stories to make it through the day. Thank you, Stage 3 Sisters, for giving me the gift of hope!

Yes, as you know all too well, my cancer could still return. But today I feel eternally grateful for the 10+ years I have been given as a Stage 3 survivor!

Keep Hoping,

❤️ CharlotteMe

Sep 18, 2020 05:43AM Francesca30 wrote:

Thank you @CharlotteMe ❤️ Inspired by you and praying I get to make the same announcement in 9 years ☺️

Sep 21, 2020 04:31PM kathleen1966 wrote:

I was ten years out in July. I had a 4 year old and an 8 year old at diagnosis. Now I have a freshman in college and a 15 year old!

Oct 8, 2020 04:05AM NancyD wrote:

Congratulations, Kathleen!

Oct 24, 2020 12:36PM NorCalS wrote:

Congratulations Inthelight! You’re a strong woman. Here’s hoping to decades more

Oct 30, 2020 02:20PM beeline wrote:

That is AWESOME inthelight!!! Here’s to many, many more!

Dec 3, 2020 04:04PM cookie54 wrote:

Congrats MaxineO!!!!!! So very happy that you are at peace from all the worries that our diagnosis comes with. May God bless you with the gift of health.

Thanks for posting, gives me hope:)

Dec 4, 2020 05:24AM NancyD wrote:

Congrats MaxineO. Ten is a nice round number. Now let's go for 20!

Dec 5, 2020 06:52PM amanda6 wrote:

will be 11 years out from stage 3a in Feb. I do have radiation induced heart disease from treatment, (diagnosed 4 years ago), & have had open heart surgery to repair a damaged heart valve. My tumor was on the left breast, at the 3:00 position. All is good now though...wondering if anyone else has had any long term side effects?