Stage III Cancer Survivors ...Five + Years and Out.

karen1956

Shelly....I endured and I mean endured 3 1/2 years of AI's with way too many side effects that were affecting my quality of life.  The benefits that the AI's might have provided were no longer worth the damage they were doing.  I started on Arimidex soon after finishing chemo and within 5 months I had developed severe CTS in both wrists including the beginning of nerve damage.  I had surgery on my right wrist, the worse one and while waiting to do the other wrist, I switched AI's to Femara which was worse than Ariimidex...after a month, I tried tamox.  While on the tamox the CTS went away in my left  wrist.  Tamox was awful. So after a couple week break I started on Aromasin....during the course of a year, I developed bilateral deQuervanes tendonitis in both wrists that necessitated surgery.  So 3 surgeries on my wrists, thanks to AI's.  While on Arimidex I also had horrid joint pain, insomnia and night sweats.  On Aromasin, the insomnia, night sweats, depression, anxiety, cognitive issues to name a few of the wonderful side effects.  I was taking Rx after Rx to just function!!!  Finally after 3 1/2 years, I said enough is enough!!!  My oncologist gave me a 2 month break....when I went back after 2 months, oncologist walked into the office and said to me, "you're not going back on them are you" (or something like that).  And I said you're right!!!   Next month is 4 years since I stopped the AI's.  My onc asks at every visit if I want to try them again and my answer is always a resounding NO!!!  Life is so much better off the AI's....I'm not taking all the Rx....insomnia has gotten so much better, function so much better cognitively, not as depressed etc.  I've made peace that I've done everything in my power to beat the beast!!!

Sorry to be so long winded...but I'm just one of the gals that the AI's caused too much collateral damage!!!  Thank G-d, I've been NED for so long...I see my onc next month and will get confirmation then if NED is still my best friend.

Oh yeah,....I'm one of those that count from day of Dx!!!

Hugs back at you!!!   Karen

Anonymous

Karen - you sound like you're truly going to be NED forever now.  WOOHOO !  Thanks for your input on the AI's.  I'm pretty much ok with doing tamox for now, but if the Arimidex & Femara are as ugly on me as they were for you, I'm going to reconsider.  Stay strong !

Shelly

katyand4

Congrats on 5 years.  Wishing you continued good health and happiness.

Delvzy

hi Karen congrats I count mine from dx as well. I have just finished up after 5 years of Tamoxifern onc want me to go onto 5 years of Al's I have said no my body had had enough Judy 

karen1956

Hi Judy!!  Congrats to you as well!!

caaclark

Just  popping in to share that I have just celebrated 8 years of survival after a stage III diagnosis.  I was diagnosed at age 40, no family history, small lump that was not picked up on mammo (only 1.6 cm) and 6+ lymph nodes with one or two of those having extra capsular extension.  At the time I was diagnosed my girls were 4, 6 and 8.  My oldest is currently looking at colleges and learning to drive.  I NEVER thought I would be here but here I am!!

Bec65

Carol, congratulations, and thank you SOOOOOO much for sharing your news!  It means so much to those of us in the middle of treatment.

Maggs09

this is so amazing that ladies who are staying healthy over many years past stage III dx do find a time to stop in and share their good news. 

It gives so much hope to all of us!

Thank you!

peacestrength

Thank you for coming back and sharing, Carol!  So grateful for your words of wisdom.

Tomboy

everyminute, wow what a great face for drawing you have! i might, if its okay with you. ver pensive. congratulations on five years everybody.

karen1956

Carol....congrats!!!  yes, its hard to believe how big our kids are getting!!!  my youngest is the same age as your oldest!!!  Wishing you many more years of celebrating life!!!!

Alyson

Just came by to say its 7years since Mx and even though I have had a couple of nasty scares I got the all clear today. I love NED so much.  Karen great that you the same, yeah.

Hugs to all

karen1956

Alyson....YEAH...doing the happy dance for you  NED....I see my onc next month and look for confirmation that NED is still my bff

Bugs

Alyson and Carol, congrats!  So good to hear

Delvzy

congrats girls fantastic news 

gardenbird

Just logging in to say that I am 7 years from diagnosis on 14th February.  When I had my lump biopsied the surgeon said "you will have the results on the 14th (of Feb).  I said "Oh that's the anniversary of my engagement".  He said "you will be drinking champagne then....or not".   Well I wasn't.  Diagnosed with 2.5cm lump and 24 nodes cancerous.  Terrifying indeed.  Well let me tell you all, this year on the 14th February, 7 years after that scare, I went back to Dublin to celebrate my engagement there 27 years ago and I did drink champagne last Thursday!!  Hoping for many more years for me and for us all  (I'm still scared though).

mpetago

Ten year anniversary today!! Wanted to make sure I got on here for THIS one!! I was 35 and my son was 8 when I was diagnosed; now 45 and 18 Wow, never thought I'd be here to say that, my tumor was HUGE and extremely aggressive, but here I am.  Congratulations to all the women celebrating their milestones here!!!

Bec65

Congratulations, Alyson, irisheyes, and mpetego!  Thank you so much for sharing such good news!

bejuce

5 years today, hooray!!!! I've dreamed of writing this post often.  This thread gave me so much hope during my journey and I'm thankful to all of you for sharing your stories.  I had times where I thought I would never get here and yet here I am doing well.  I had neo-adjuvant chemo for a large tumor and woke up from my double mastectomy with the surgeon telling us "it was a battle in there".  The tumor was gone in the breast at surgery but I had traces of cells in 11 lymph nodes! I sure thought I was doomed.  There's always hope with the power of medicine, exercise and a supportive community. I can't wait for the next 5 years to write a 10 year post!!!

Holeinone

bejuce

Mpetago

Irisheyes.

CONGRATULATIONS !!   I love to hear your wonderful news, give me hope.   

Denise-G

I so much APPRECIATE all of you coming back with this great, encouraging news!

Sending hugs and best wishes!!  YIPPEE!!

peacestrength

Wow - thank you ladies for spreading hope!

Fitzy

Awesome news everyone. Irisheyes, it is so fabulous that you can celebrate 10 years and an 18th. I celebrated my 9th last year with my eldest turning 18 a few months later, it is such an awesome feeling. Well done everyone.

Moderators

We're delighted to read such great news from so many of you - congratulations!

Delvzy

Thank you ladies for hope and such good news Bejuice and Mpetago did you also do hormone therapy?

Anonymous

Delvzy: from what I see, Mpetago took tamoxifen. I just think it's great that it's been 1 years !!

Shelly

Anonymous

Supposed to have said "10" years !!!!

hopefour

Thank you all for the stories of HOPE!

Bugs

Congrats bejuce!  

13kkan

Just wanted to join this discussion.  I have to give my decision to my MO in two weeks regarding AI.  I already have pain from arthritis, and very fine thin hair that bearly covers my head as a result of chemo. Daily pain from my surgery 11 months ago.  I fear that taking AI will further reduce my already sucky  QOL.  *sigh*  I don't even want to "just try them" for fear that any side effects I might have will not be reversable.  My self esteem is in the toilet as it is.  I am in therapy as a result of my BC diagnosis.  

Now I will get some cheese to go with this whine. 

Kerry