For those needing hope...

Lucca06

I have posted in the 5 year thread but thought I would just add this as I know over the last 5 years any bit of hope I could get from other stage 3 survivors stories was a massive boost.

I have just come back from a week skiing in France with my 2 children, thankfully they are now as in love with the sport as I have always been!! The picture is of me with them on Wednesday morning, our last day of a wonderful week with friends. Whilst they were at ski school in the morning I spent the 3 hours skiing powder snow, my idea of absolute heaven! I am a very keen skier having spent several years working in ski resorts in my 20s. What suddenly struck me afterwards was that 5 years ago to that day I was dealing with the side effects of my first chemo treatment which were hitting at full tilt. To be able to be doing what I did this week was a dream I used to shut my eyes and fixate on at my lowest points.....there were many. It seemed so impossible and to be honest I doubted I might ever ski again.

So despite 9 chemos, 3 weeks of radio, 7 operations & too many other procedures to count with my lyphadema sleeve & glove on and ignoring the creaking joints from the Aromasin, there I was flying around in the powder snow feeling more alive and grateful than I ever have!

For those in the midst, shut your eyes and imagine yourself in 5 years doing something you love..........you will get there too.

Denise-G

Oh, congratulations! I LOVE your post and your trip to France skiing with your kids! I am 4.5 years out (also had 9 pos nodes) and amazed by it! I was only able to take 3 months of Herceptin due to a heart attack from AC chemo and valve damage from Herceptin. And my mom and sister were diagnosed after me - my mom Stage 1, my sister Stage 3. It has been beyond challenging during the past 4.5 year, but I am STILL HERE and celebrating each day.

Even with the challenges of Arimidex, I feel MUCH better on it now than I did 2 years ago. My joint pain has diminished greatly. It used to be about an 8 out of 10 on the pain scale, but it is down to a 3. I am so grateful for this!!

Sending hope, encouragement, and best wishes to all!!

Valstim52

Lucca and Denise

Thanks so much for posting. It means so much to those of us 'early' in the struggle to have hope. I comb the site looking for hope when I'm in my 'dark' moments. Thanks so much.

Please keep us updated, it's like a life line

Val

Gitane

You have helped many with this post for sure. Thanks for the beautiful picture of you and your children. You are really in a very exciting place there! G.

mary625

Wonderful! I'm here to second you that there is life after cancer treatment.