Any long term lumpectomy survivors?

Ivylane

I had lumpectomy in 1991,  stage 1, no positive nodes, 6 months of CMF and rads...

No problems till 15 years later... Dx'd with  stage one in other breast, no positive nodes,  Bi-lateral mastectomies, AC/T, Herceptin and Arimidex 

Tested negative for BRCA1 and 2....go figure.....2 years out (17 years total) and doing great. 

Linda54

Hello everyone

nice reading about all the survivors!!

At the age of 31 (24 years ago this month) I was dx and had a lumpectomy with radiation.  3 years later I gave birth to my first (and only) child.  Just 2 scares in all those years and had biopsies that were neg.  In March 08 I was dx with DCIS in the same breast.  I was told that it could not take more rads so I went with a bilateral mx  with expanders and 6 weeks ago had my exchange to silicone implants.  I am very happy with my decision.  I do wonder why I ended up with cancer 2x's in the same breast.  No family history!!  I do not dwell on it because I am ALIVE and my faith in God has got me through all this.  Love to all!

Linda

karol61

 In 2007,after my 59th birthday, after suspicious cells were seen on mammo, I had  a core biopsy on the left side +it was DCIS, I had 33 radiation treatments, am now on Tamox. Have had no evidence of disease since. I pray I will be a long term survivor!!!

Karol 

donnamf

I was diagnosed in1992 at the age of 31. I found a lump when I was 28 but the doctors would not take me seriously until I demanded a needle biopsy. I had stage 3. I had 22 lymph nodes removed with 19 positive for cancer. I immediately had to have a complete hysterectomy because of positve steriod receptors. I had no children so no chance now. I chose a lumpectomy with radiation. I went through 7 months of severe chemo. I was put on Tamoxifen for 14 years. (no one wanted to take me off) I am on Femara now. Lots of weight gain with Tamoxifen but I have a handle on it now. Hard to deal with "surgically induced menopause". The hot flashes got extreme with the Femara so the doctor put me on Paxil and it seems to work. All mammograms and blood tests and such show no sign of cancer, to this day. I don't know how long I will have to take the Femara. Again, no one wants to say. I had no family history and no drugs or alchohol or smoking. I was very young and very healthy. By the way, the doctor told my husband that I would not live 3 years. He didn't tell me what was said until I had survived 5 years! Now, it has been 17 and I still feel good. I believe God and Christian people praying have saved my life. My oncologist was great too but he has retired. Hope this helps some-one.

IllinoisNancy

Hi Donna,

I love reading success stories like yours!!  It gives a lot of hope to BC survivors.

Thanks,

Nancy

donnamf

Nancy, you are welcome. I just found this site and I have read a lot of encouraging stories. I know there is a lot of bad news out there but it is great to hear the good news. I have a neighbor who is 35 and she just had a double mastectomy with re-construction this week. We are hopeful for her long survival also. It continues to amaze me how many younger women have had breast cancer. Good luck to you all and NEVER give up!

longcoolwoman

10/05 had a lumpectomy after a mammogram showed calcium deposits...also had a s. node biopsy, and radiation. Doing well....three years out....cheers!

MarieKelly

Had a lumpectomy with very wide margins and removal of the biopsy track in 3/2004 at the age of 49 and already in natural menopause since age 48.  Beautiful cosmetic results - can barely even see the scar anymore.  No chemo, no radiation, no tamoxifen, no aromatse inhibitors...no nothing. So far, so good!!

Catherine8718

I realize this isn't long term - but today is my "cancerversary" for being 3 years out.  Diagnosed @ 40 on February 20th, 2006.  Lumpectomy 3/16, 2.2. cm, micro metasteses in 1 node, er/pr+, her 2-, grade 2, stage 2b, re-exicision on 4/6, oopherectomy on 4/7 - Rads - started Arimidex 9/06.  That 3 years ago seems like a lifetime.....

Sierra

Hi Gals:

I am a long term thriver and in and out

of this club, met a lot of really nice

sisters here (not a young one however)

Anyway, had a 3.5 lump.

er-pr-.. node pos..  Grade 3

here at 9 years

very ... lucky

My best to all of you, as you continue

You will do fine, one day at a time

and

I enjoyed reading all of your stories ..

Hugs, Sierra

feel free to PM me if I can help

rica4

Thanks for the encouraging words. I was diagnosed in Nov 2007, Lumpectomy, Chemo & Radx complete June 30 2008

1st mammo on Jan 3, 2009, No sign of cancer.

Anonymous

my mom had ILC--lumpectomy, radiation, and tamoxifen and is now a survivor of over 22 years without a recurrence. She's still doing well, even though she's had colon cancer twice since.  I have LCIS, had lumpectomy and just finished my 5 years of tamox and am doing well

anne

katgirl

Six years for me as of December 24th.  Yeah I know, lousy Christmas gift.  I was stage 1 and have NED.

Kat

grama5

Hi

I wonder how many survivors out there that didn't do rads or hormone therapy. I really need to know I am at that crossroad of making a decision. I didn't need chemo but after reading all the long term se's of both rads and hormone therapy I'm not wanting to take a chance of loosing my QUALITY of life. I am 65 and had less than 1mm of idc. My BS said it is my choice and i don"t HAVE to do either and reaccurence is 20% with nothing but I did the the cancermath calculator and without therapys it is 9.1% and with is 8.9% It seems hardly woth the chance with those #'s.I see one on here with no therapy are there more. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Eibra

bum

ruthbru

Lumpectomy, chemo, rads, 5 years of Arimidex.......10 years out in February. No long term SEs from any of the treatments. In fact I am healthier than ever, and have a better quality of life than ever, because I modified my lifestyle (a little), started exercising (a lot) and started to take more chances (try out activities that had always been on my 'bucket list', travel more, take more time for myself, have more fun etc.). Grama, with the anti-hormonals, any time at all on them will reduce your recurrence risk, and if you find them problematical, you can always just quit. I would, for sure, give them a shot. I didn't have any trouble with rads either, and I wanted to do everything I could the first time around to minimize the chance of EVER having to deal with it again (65 is young nowadays!). Best of luck with your decisions.