3+ Year Survivor Stories PLEASE!

angelsabove

Pas.....Thanks so much for posting.....always feels good to hear from the survivors!!!!!!

Titan

Thanks pas!  Your post was very heartwarming..I love hearing these stories...I know we have to hear the bad too...but hearing the good...well..it is just awesome!

And payton..have to tell you about the b-ball game tonight..we won!  The score was 34-22..a high school game!  We held the ball the whole 3rd qtr..we were down one 17-18 and ending up winning..it was thrilling....I'm sure the other team's coach wishes that there was a shot clock in high school!  I wish my son's team could have beaten this same team last year (lost by 2)..but whatever...guess we have to move on..and enjoy the moment! 

5andcounting

Meece- wow, that's an interesting and scary thought. Most of the guys who have asked me out don't know I am going through treatment. One did and that kind of scared me a little...like who would sign up for this when you don't already know someone.

I ended up dating my friend of over a year who picked up the pieces when my ex boyfriend dumped me for having cancer. We started spending more and more time together and one thing led to another and lets just say things "progressed". He told me he loved me last week, I was really happy and so sure he's the right guy and so on and so on. Then last night (and because we have no secrets here and you all hopefully won't think badly of me) he found out yesterday his doctor thinks he may have herpes. It felt about like the first time I got the cancer diagnosis. Another bus running over me. I've never had an STD. He swears he hasn't been with anyone but me since November and God knows I haven't. I mean I am confident and all but bald head and port and breast scars are just not something I want to share with the masses.

I have no symptoms but am going to my onc today to discuss this. I think my middle name may be Job. I'm scared about what this could do to me,my treatment, my prognosis, etc.  I wanted to kill him last night but he was crying about as much as I was.

Chemo today and l will be supplementing with large doses of Xanax. Any words of wisdom of how to handle this......my normally cheerful disposition is not in service right now.....

Meece

Wow, no judgements here.  You don't need any of that at this point.  Your onc might be able to give insight, but we could hope that chemo is killing the bad stuff from herpes (if it is).

5andcounting

Awkward silence....he has no STD's, no prostate cancer either...I think sometimes I get carried away and share too much when I'm worried.  LOL  Things are good with me and I think I need to stop overthinking and worrying so much

Two more txs to go, thank God.

Titan

oh crs...no judgment here..like Meece said....we all worry too much...it's enough to drive you crazy I know...

My son had shingles (he is only 19) and the prescription was the same as for herpes...I was like..oh well..if you have them then this should fix them...

Are you taking taxol now?  How is it going?

5andcounting

Thanks Meece and Titan.  I have two taxols left and I am negotiating with my doctor to take the port out now and let me finish peripherally.  The onc says fine, the surgeon says he can't get me on schedule til April..which will be after I finish but the sooner the better.  The port causes a lot of fluttering for me and I don't like it. Taxol pain is bad 2-4 days but after that is ok. I prefer it to the other. Looking forward to being done, hair is starting to sprout on my head, looks really funny, lone hairs trying so hard in a field of bald...lol..

I was "reported" on one thread for encouraging athesiests, I was actually trying to be positive and say believe in something even if it is nature, the universe, whatever ...and apparently they would rather be negative and complain instead of focus on anything positive. Having cancer or a disability doesn't change our pre-existing personalities.

I promise to come back here at yearly intervals to be encouraging but I think I'm getting tired of some of the negativity..I fight very hard against it and just don't need any more obstacles in my life.

Thanks to all the wonderful, positive people that post on here and Lord knows, we have all got enough going on in our lives to make us legitmately crazy and grumpy.  Hope all are doing well and that chemo is done for all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Titan

Oh crs..please don't leave!  I don't like the negativity also...No..I don't like having cancer but I will be damned if I'm going to sit around and moan and groan about it..who has time for that!  I have always been a happy, positive person...sometimes I wonder if I'm an idiot to go around smiling and happy now....why shouldn't I be happy, I feel good, I like my life at this point...not going to worry about the future and what it may hold...you are still in treatments...but you are still positive..and you should be...I'm 36 weeks out from chemo and I will tell you that except for here...I really don't think much about it anymore...I come here and see how people are doing...from a couple of other threads...we talk and interact...and care for each other...I'm not ready to leave them..or you guys...yet...but at some time I will be like you..just checking in now and then....
!

Anonymous

As often Titan, I feel like you do. Aside from the fear factor, which I suppress through diversive activity, my life is pretty much the way is was pre-cancer. Why would anyone want to let something like cancer rob you of the remaining time you have (whether you are a cancer patient or not)?

Everyone is amazed at how quickly I have resumed "normal" life, but I feel NOT doing so is what would be "abnormal". Why dwell on cancer?

I'm taking my pair and carriage driving tomorrow along the water. Life is Good!

Meece

I have run into some negative people, or ones who have alterior motives for being here, but I have chosen to stay away from those threads.  I hope that I can encourage more than I need encouragement.  It makes me feel good.

Titan

Yes..the thing is to stay away from some threads....if it is being in denial..well so be it...plus everyone has different views about things..you have to go to where you feel comfortable....I'm not going to freak out about studies and stats anymore..one thread someone talked about chemo as being a poison put into your body..well maybe..and it is scary but I sure wouldn't not have gone without it..but that is my opinion.

I have gone a little overboard though with the vitamins...I recently added thistle and folic acid and flax seed to my regime..my dh said can't you just buy one pill?  I said that would be HUGE!   He thinks we look like old people with our vitamins sitting in this large bowl on the counter...funny stuff..it doesn't bother me! 

Oh..didn't mean to hijack this thread...

Keep those 3 years stories coming!

I'm one year from surgery today!   I'm excited about it...realizing that one year ago I was a the hospital...naked..under my gown!  and waiting for the show to begin....!   Glad to be at work today

Meggy

Ah, my wonderful, wonderful sisters.....just read all your posts since late February.  To my sister who met her boyfriend while already having cancer...that is a wonderful love story.  To my sister whos BF has herpes, I say use a condom and take precautions.  Maybe figure out later whether he's a keeper...for now you are number one.  Whatever makes you happy is all you should have to worry about.  Don't worry about revealing too much...if you read my posts, I've sure given up some private info...but who else can we tell?

I got engaged 9 days before I found out I had cancer.  Wow what a nice 9 days it was (after single parenthood for 5 yrs).  My new hubby had also had cancer (a really easily cured type) so I think he always assumes I'm cured.  He's not perfect...simply ignores the cancer issue it seems.

Sometimes I get scared that lots of the survivors on here are node negative (so any node possitives please chine in!)  I'm at about 2 1/4 years since diagnosis.  My oncologist said use diagnosis date.  I did an isht load of chemo because my son was only 7.  

I know what you mean about sometimes thinking not to be in here so I try to check in now and then but not everyday.  I am stage 3 but I have never gone into the stage 3 section.  I get too effected by reading about recurrences.  I guess I have to float along with a bit of denial to keep me going.  Not so much denial though to let me eat a bunch of fat and drink too much (although today I broke a few rules).

How do I post wedding photos?  There is one that doesn't show my mom-belly, and makes me look so dang good.  Not bad for no boobs and a wig.  

tibet

Bump.

We need more sucess stories. I am again a bit scared and this feel is on and off. I just want to grow old and tell me I can and those long term TN survivors, please come out and encourage.

lmc1970

I was diagnosed with TNBC in 2006. I've had a tough time of it and am on chemo now-but I am still a survivor and still a warrior and plan on being here for many more years to come...

katkel

I'm still here!!

Diagnosed 7/2006.  Stage 3- HUGE tumor, BRCA1 positive. 3 positive nodes.  I am over 4 years out and am loving life!  Five Years seemed sooo far away a few years ago- but now it is right around the corner.  It CAN be done!!   :-)  

Fighter_34

This energy feels good ladies. I have 27 more months to go before I can start smiling a little more.....

PinkPeeCA

31 months and counting and thank you ALL for sharing.  My thoughts and hopes are with you, K

Meggy

I will hit my 3 years from diagnosis this Februrary 2011.  Wow!!!!!  Feels good to be so close.  I am almost 33 months!!!!

Raj20

Hi ! I am Snehlata Rajkumari from Guwahati (India), 52 years Old. I was 46 years old when Breast Cancer had struck my life. 

Here is my story... It was  in Dec,2004, when I was rush   to dress up for my office,  I found  a hard lump in my right breast  which was  lying intact  in one place and other  2 lumps in my  left breast which are moving  here and there. I just press the lumps but there was no pain.  I was neither in panic nor told any body even my husband. I just took it casually that time as I did not have any idea about   breast cancer and even not discuss with any doctor. I was very healthy with heavy lot of office work so I never intended to visit a doctor for the matter.  But , on 15^th March,2005, I found  little bit  of thick water comes out  from my nipple  and  dimpled  in my right lower breast. I told about this to one of my colleague she had instructed me to show it immediately to a Doctor. So Next day I went to a nearby hospital along with my husband just to discuss about the matter. The doctor checked thoroughly and put me to the OT for Biopsy Test.  It was a nightmare in my life, the pain of the dissection was damn horrible.  It was done only with local anesthesia; I must say the process was really barbaric. My goodness! I will never be able to forget the incident.   On 26^th March, 2005 I got my report with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in advance stage. For some time my whole body got numbed and unable to utter a single word to the doctor. I did not know what to do. So I told my husband just to leave the hospital. On the way back home, I had picked up one magazine "Good housekeeping" from the vendor.  We did not talk much on the Breast Cancer topic; I just tried to be normal. Unfortunately, I must say I was very lucky to have that magazine as there was an article written by a Breast Cancer survivor about her experience on fighting  the disease. It was very interesting, I had gone through it repeatedly after that I had decided to go on for my treatment. Immediately, I took some advance from my office and rushed to All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi. I did all the tests once again in Delhi for confirmation. So I met Dr. SVS Deo ,Surgeon  & Head of Oncology  who had  planed  for  breast conservative  operation with mini LD Flap using my own muscle from the back side. On 16^th April my operation was successfully carried out as per the plan set. When I got conscious I was very uncomfortable with so many tubes, plastic bottles hanging around my body.  The pain killer injection every 3 hours was quite painful. In the evening, doctors came to my chamber and told me not to worry as lymph nodes got dissected during the operation. I stay under observation till I got released on the 21^st day from the hospital. I took 33 cycles of radiotherapy with booster in Delhi and after that I took 6 chemos without any break. The experience during the chemo session was really tough time for me to manage the time    as I had to attend my office on the next day.  I took my chemo without any difficulties  till 2^nd Chemo but  when I saw my  hair   falling off  during  the period  I felt very upset and unable to bear  seeing myself half bald   in the mirror  so I had to save. I did not have any problem for my food as I am used to simple food habit since childhood. But I had  taken lot of  antioxidant  in the form of  supplement  during the entire period  of  my treatment.  After administration of   6 chemos, I took Tamoxifen -1 mg for about 2 years followed by Arimidex -1mg till date along with mild exercise in the form of meditation, Yoga. As I am staying in the 4^th Floor  I used to  take  the step  up & down  which  is also benefited me.  There are  so much untold  problem during the treatment  session, I had to  handle my case  tactfully  by myself so to avoid   any of my family members  gets  worry  about  me. My will power  and  positive  attitude  borne  a new life in me  after  I had undergone  such a terrible  incident  in my life.

I must say that we are borne in a day and death occurs only once in a life time. It is in our hand whether we can survive longer or short. I wish all the breast cancer patients to take it positively and fight the disease with strong will power and positive ness.

Snehlata,

Breast Cancer Survivor (5 and 9 months),

IIB, with Mini LD Flap & Arimidex.

NancyM

Hi, I rarely come online anymore but wanted to stop in and say that May 2011 will be the SIX YEAR anniversary of my diagnosis.  KEEP THE FAITH LADIES!!  I might die of something tomorrow (accident, heart attack, whatever...) but I'm alive right now!!  YAY!

5andcounting

Hello to all my triple negative sisters. I am now almost 14 months cancer free. Chemo and radiation are a distant (albeit still scary) memory and I am resolved to live every day in the present. I feel fantastic, have hair, and am training for a mini marathon. Not only surviving,thriving. Cancer is NOT a lovely gift. It did help me re-evaluate my life and I am learning to live each day, no matter how many there are. Love and hope to all. I will try to check in once a year but I now know why there are not tons of survivors on here. We are out living and I do not wish to think about breast cancer any more than I have to!:)

Luah

NancyM:  Thanks for posting.  We have/had pretty similar pathologies, so you are an inspiration to me!

Meggy

Loving_mother, here are a bunch of success stories.

Anonymous

Meggy - 5 yr. comming up, Mother's day...DX'd May 06, 10x14cm tumor, been through quite a lot and I should probably have thread of my own..LOL, warrior, fighter, advocate, mother, sister, friend, lover, partner, x-spouse, artist, clown, biker, business woman, physical fitness junkie, humanitarian and SURVIVOR!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!!...and don't LOOK BACK!!!  :-)

Meggy

I am now officially 3 years out from diagnosis.  I had at least 5 possitive nodes...maybe more.  Hoping to roll along like this forever.

kmartin

3 Years this week! thank you to the universe!

Kathy

Titan

Yay..Meggy and Kathy...love to hear the triple negs going 3 years plus.!!!!  Awesome!

I'm 2 years out on 3/20/11...love to hear these stories! 

Titan

And one tough woman...even though you aren't triple negative..good, good, good for you..looking at your stats..well...I think you are awesome too..good stuff!

Meggy

So happy for you Kathy....can't wait for next year!!!!!!!!!!   And Onetoughwoman, you rock!

tibet

Kmartin and Meggy

Congrates for your 3 yrs. Mine will be this Sept., how much I hope this half yr can pass so fast that it will be 3 yr for me too.

It means for TN, after 3 yrs, the recurrence is close to zero for stage 1?