2 time survivor.

Newly59

I posted this on IDC but also wanted to post it here and since my second diagnosis was triple negative.

Hello everyone!

I am a two time breast cancer survivor. I just wanted to say a few words about my diagnosis to encourage those who are recently diagnosed or in treatment.

I was diagnosed with Stage 2B in 2007 at age 47. My cancer was grade 3, ER PR positive, Her2 negative. I had extensive vascular and lymphatic involvement plus positive nodes. I had lumpectomy( mistake!) chemo, radiation and Arimidex. Right at 5 year mark, I had recurrance. Mammogram was negative and thankfully I insisted on getting an MRI,which showed the second cancer on the same breast. Grade 3 and this time triple negative. I had bilateral mastectomy, and I had to get another 6 rounds of chemo. I didn't think I would be able to complete it, but I did. After chemo I asked my oncologist if there was any way we could rebiopsy my breast tissuee that was taken out during mastectomy to see if it would confirm the triple negative diagnosis as the original MRI guided biopsy results did. He agreed and thought it wad a good idea. Results came back slightly ER positive but still PR and Her2 negative. He said that slight positivity qualified me to go on Tamoxifen. I am not suggesting that this may be the case for everyone but in my situation, it changed my diagnosis from triple negative to ER positive.

So here I am 10 and a half years later, doing fine and am cancer free despite having scary path reports. The journey has not been been easy, but it was doable and I did it. Hope my post will encourage those who are in a similar situation as I was. Take care and here's to many cancer free years!

VL22

Newly59 - thanks for posting! Gives us all hope. So happy you are doing great!!

bluepearl

Congratulations! So glad you are doing so well after the rocky road!!! Keep on hiking!!!

7of9

Thanks...you are 8 yrs a ahead of me. 2 time survivor here also - 2 yrs NED. ER+HER- hoping ovaries (still working per gyn surgeon ) out and switch to AI keeps it gone for good. And to think when I went in for my follow up after surgery, the rad onc just stared at her screen biting her lip. 2 years later her back up (she had a baby) was BEAMING at me because "look at you...it was caught in time and we cured you". What? I don't use that word even on my best day...but it does make me smile to hope...

Keep on keeping on girls...