does anybody make it, or do we all die of it?

Mausie

Hello to those who have had second or third breast cancers. 

Have you ever heard of anybody beating this disease after their 2nd BC? -  Never ever ever having to get treatment again, i.e., "cured"? Living to an old age without disease?

elimar86861

Any first-person responses will have to come from any 80- and 90-year-olds we have on these boards.  But I am sure you will hear of mothers and grandmothers who had the disease more than once, then lived on cancer-free into old age because I have seen references to this sprinkled throughout the threads.  Certainly possible, and more so in the case where it is a new primary rather than a local recurrence of some initial BC that lived on.

leggo

I know a few who've lived to a ripe old age with a second diagnosis. One of the ladies at my clinic calls herself a "cancer factory", whose had two bc diagnoses, ovarian and colon in the last twenty years. She's still going strong at 70.

Mausie

Thanks to both of you for giving me hope. I haven't read through as many posts as I should I guess, there are so very many!  I appreciate your replies. I am keeping my fingers crossed - now that I have had BC twice - different primaries they think - they are not sure. 

Momine

Not exactly the same, but a friend of mine has had both cervical cancer and breast cancer. Hale and hearty at 82.

bluepearl

Yes. A friend's sister had breast cancer THREE times and after 30 years is still going strong!

megomendy

Nice to hear this. Hoping to hear more examples.

lindacam

My husbands ex wife had 1st breast cancer at 23, second breast cancer 3 years later, after 10 years to all her lymphnodes, then 1 year later to her bones.  It has been in her bones 15 years and had cancer for 30 years now.  Still has great quality of life.

Momine

The thing is that stats are just stats. Even if the stats look terrible, somebody is going to be in that 50, 30 or 5% that survives. Hope dies last.

My mom had ovarian cancer 7 years ago. It was bad, but she did all her treatment and is today happily tooling around on her bike like always. The 5-year survival for the kind/stage she had is 30%. So I refuse to buy my coffin until it is actually time.

Basia

Thank you for asking this question, it has been on my mind for days.  I was originally dx in 2010, had BMX and TCH, 4 years go by and I think I have finally resumed a "normal" life, but found out on Monday that the little scar tissue that has been nagging me has cancer cells in it. Still don't know much, going for MRI today and PET tomorrow.  But I can't help but wonder, how much time do I have left living a healthy active lifestyle and one that will allow me to keep up with my 7 year old twins.  I keep telling myself that I can live a long life, a bit complicated but still have a good life.  I spoke to my friend who has been living with pancreatic cancer for 14 years and he gave me so much hope.

Curlylocks

There is no such thing as "cured" when it comes to breast cancer.  You remain in remission.

I am an 8.5 year now two time survivor of breast cancer.  I was first diagnosed in 2005 at age 41.  I had what was suppose to be a "prophylatic masectomy" with reconstruction in December 2013 due to high risk family history in past few years (two sisters with bc).  They found a new Primary bc in my left breast.  It had changed receptors to Triple Negative.

We all die, whether or not it is from breast cancer or old age I choose to not give cancer the upper hand and live my life.

Michele

sbelizabeth

My 90-year-old momma was first diagnosed with BC in her 60's.  Mastectomy, axillary dissection, chemo, the works.  Then in her 70's, another primary was diagnosed on the other side.  This time they used sentinel node biopsy techniques and she kept her nodes, but had the mastectomy.  

Did I mention she's 90?  She visited over the weekend and went for a ride on the scooter, holding tight to my hubs.  

Yes.  There is hope.

Moderators

sbelizabeth, what a wonderful picture of your mother, and thank you for sharing her story!

• The Mods

jramick

Hi!

I have a family member who has had breast cancer twice over the last 14 years.  She was diagnosed with a 3rd but I just know she will be around another 14 and many more after.  It also helps that the medical community is developing new promising drugs all the time. I always said if I ever got any type of cancer, I hoped it would be bc because it is survivable and gets so much support and research.

njmae

I had melanoma (low grade, no treatment beyond excision) in 2001; Stage One, low grade tubular breast cancer in 2011; and, then in January I was diagnosed with DCIS, high grade ER+, in opposite breast.  I knew when they called me that if it was anything other than benign, I was having a BMX.  Surgeon said she could do a lumpectomy.   I was having none of that.  Had them both off on 3/19.  Well, what do you know, the breast with the 2011 cancer had another high grade DCIS, ER-, undetected by mammogram.  I have had bad anxious days, mostly before the surgery, wondering about the possibilities of invasive cancer, whether it was in the nodes, etc.  Gloom and doom.  Both mastectomies had huge margins at the chest wall, so I am hoping for the best.  Four cancers and I hope never to hear that diagnosis again.  You know I ate all the right stuff the last several years, got plenty of exercise and had hardly any wine.  Still the DCIS popped up.  Maybe my good living helped.  Maybe not.  I can't obsess about it.  I for one do not think of my cancer as being in remission.  As far as I know I am cured.  What good would it have done me to think of being in remission from melanoma the last 13 years?  Can a cancer return? Of course.  I hope not but I want to live big without worrying about every ache and pain.  Worry cheats you out of valuable time.  I remember feeling terrified when I was 14 because my mother said she had a feeling she would die young.  She was about 50.  She died at 95.  She was wrong.  We all die of something but none of us really know what "it" will be.  Enjoy your time.

Mausie

Hi Basia, 

So what happened with the PET and the MRI that you talked about getting soon? I am hoping it is all okay for you. 

I too had an initial diagnosis of ER/PR neg with HER2 positive and it was 7 years before I got another BC that was ER/PR positive, with HER2 negative. Did they give you any Herceptin? 

Basia

Hi, Today I go for pre-op testing..yay. The PET and MRI found 2 spots on my breast and a node.  My dr.'s aren't concerned with the node, but it will be removed along with the 2 spots on the scar tissue.  Once that is all removed, they will send it out for full dissection and then they will tell me what they recommend.  I am pretty sure its going to be radiation and chemo (again). For some reason, I have calmed down about all of this. I was hysterical for about 2 weeks, all doom and gloom. But, I have a feeling that this is going to be alright.  I am hoping this is the last time I hear those awful words, "you have cancer". My doctors are all in a state of shock over this, believe it or not, my plastic surgeon seems to have taken this the worst.  He cleared his schedule so that he can open and close me next week, and be on standby incase the BS needs help.  I know I am in good hands with him around.  I have a lot to live for, so this isn't going to get me down.  I have my beautiful little girls, a wonderful husband and an awesome family of brothers, nieces and in-laws, all willing to do whatever needs to be done to help me get thru this.  

Mausie, yes, I had Herceptin for a year.  Since your receptors changed, are they calling this a new BC or recurrence? 

I am really hoping that I can just do a targeted therapy and not go thru chemo again.  

Mausie

Hi again Basia!

You asked "Since your receptors changed, are they calling this a new BC or recurrence?"  and the answer is they are not sure, but I am now taking Tamoxifen, because the new cancer is ER+, so regardless of what they call it, they are treating it like a new cancer. Thanks for asking.

But I am doing fine - the question is, how are YOU? Have you had the surgery yet? What did they decide for sure, about what treatment you would get?

It sounds like you are much younger than I, since you are speaking of your little girls - my goodness, my heart goes out to you. I, on the other hand, will be 72 y.o. this year, and have had a wonderful life, though I am not done with it yet (laugh). My desire to live is strong, but not as strong as when I was young. Now cancer is easier to accept I think. Of course if I were really looking imminent death in the face, I might feel differently, being such a coward as I am. (laugh) 

I wish you the best of everything, and hope you recover quickly. These little girls need you!  

Mausie 

Basia

Hi Mausie,

I am still waiting on the pathology report.  This waiting is killing me, I am on line too much and reading horrible horrible statistics! Driving myself crazy!  

My little ones are 7 years old, they have been taking great care of me this week.  I'm 43, way too young to be going thru this a 2nd time.  I don't understand how this could have happened. I did all the "right" things, went for the recommended treatment, I just don't get it.  I work out, I eat right I try to live as "green" as possible and yet here I am.   

I need to know what is next. 

Mausie

Hi again Basia,

I just want to write a quick note wishing you all the best. I hate cancer, especially when it hits the young, like yourself. 

I wish there was something I could say that would alleviate your pain, stress, and worry.  I offer an imaginary hand to hold. 

Wishing you peace and health!

Mausie 

GardenWalker

We make it and grow old!  Four different breast cancer diagnosis and I have been traveling this journey since 1999 , I turn 62 in September 2014. In those 15 years my children graduated from high school & college,  kids got married, terrific husband and I celebrated our 35 year wedding anniversary. Great life!  Every minute, hour, and year is a survival. Best wishes, hugs, and prayers. 

Luvmydobies

Basia, stop googling! It only increases anxiety and stress. Sure we try to do the right things like exercise and eat right BUT nobody knows exactly what causes cancer to come back or even why it occurs in the first place. Everyone has theories as to what causes it, but they cannot tell for sure. If it were from certain foods or lack of, or not exercising enough, etc., then most people would have it. The healthiest people in the world get it, along with other diseases. I'm telling you this so hopefully you won't beat yourself up over it. I get frustrated too so I understand where you're coming from. I'll pray for you and know we are all here for you. 

K51

Hi Everyone!

I agree, please stop beating yourself up about this- I know that each one of us has different emotions- but this has taught me to just live life,  we have to just make the most out of it. I am going today for my biopsy, and I will do my best to fight and live on for as long as I can...

Meow13

My 97 (wait she's about to turn 98) year old Aunt says she doesn't have cancer anymore after her tumor was removed when she was 60 years old and another tumor removed at 65. I don't think she had any chemo just radiation no hormone therapy (didn't have it then).

I never knew she had cancer until I was diagnosed. I would say she has made it.

smass6

Hi Mausie and everyone,

I don't know why I've never joined this forum.  I'm a two-time survivor; I had a mastectomy R breast at 40, chest wall recurrence 17 years later.  More surgery, then radiation.  I underwent LAT surgery 2 years ago, and it was a bad decision because I'm left with lots of pain and stiffness and general uncomfortableness.  The 2nd time around was never attributed to my first bout.  The original surgeon had retired, and my hospital records were unattainable.  So no one knows if it was mets or a new cancer.  I'm on Tamoxifen for life which makes my life miserable, aside from the pain.  But I'm here!  I don't plan on any new breast cancers, and I am able to live without worry.  I trust my doctors and have received good care.  FYI:  I'm almost 61 and hope to be around for a while! 

Moderators

Hello Smass6, sending you a warm welcome to the community from the moderators, and thank you for sharing your two time survivor story! We're really glad to hear that you are happy with the care you are receiving. 

You might also like to check out the Hormonal Therapy Forum where there are quite a few active threads on Tamoxifen.,

DivineMrsM

A friend of my sister had bc a number of years before me. She lives and works near where I live. I knew that she'd been diagnosed, knew she had chemo, knew she lost her hair, had a mastectomy. But it was at least ten years ago and happened before mine when I knew so little about bc, so I don't really remember much else about her story from that time. Then about two years ago she had a reoccurrence in the other breast and more surgery; things look good now. She continues to work, travel and help out with her many grand kids. I'm so impressed by her. She is in her 60s and doesn't seem to let anything get in her way of living life.

smass6

Hi again and thank you to the moderators…

I will check out the forum you mentioned about hormonal therapy.  There are many other threads I'll read as well.  

Just like TheDivineMrsM's friend, I help out a lot with the care of 2 of my grandchildren, and this is great therapy for me!

5andcounting

I'm a year and a half out from my second diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer. Feel great but having an MRI to investigate some tissue displacement. I made it 3.5 years before 2nd diagnosis. Hoping to not join the 3 timer club. 

didevro

Hi Mausie, a lot of us just keep going. I've had three rounds of invasive breast cancer over 18 years, plus two malignant melanomas. Still going strong!

Best wishes to all of you!

april485

A friend of mine has had two breast cancers, one in each breast (now she has none so hopefully that will be it) and she is still doing very well. She was stage IIIb the first time and stage IIb the second time with 11/15 nodes positive or something similar. Her last BC was in 2007. She is doing great!