Question about my current status

AnnCWG

In Late January after following a suspicious spot on my right breast for three years, they found a second one in my right breast and sent me for biopsies. In mid-february during the biopsies they found a second one in my right breast and biopsied all three. All tumors came back malignant. Shortly after that I had genetic testing done and I did not carry the BRCC genes and was hormone positive. During that week I also had numerous tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, bone scans and breast MRI. The breast MRI show far more cancer than initially suspected and the recommendation was to have a double mastectomy, which I did on March 13. A week later because of my thin skin, the flaps and surrounding tissue died and I went back in for more major surgery to remove all of that. The pathology from the lymph nodes- three removed on one side and two on the other showed microscopic cancer in one on each side. At that point Oncotype testing was done on the largest breast tumor on each side. While waiting for those results, the oncologist said her preferred path since I had multiple tumors, and on both sides, was aggressive chemotherapy once a week for three months. However she did want to wait for the tests to come back to make her final recommendation. Well they did come back last Friday and the oncologist said anything under an 18 would mean no chemo. On one side I was a 5 and the other was a 3. So no chemo but will need to take hormone therapy for the next 10 years. My surgeon said she removed ALL the cancer with the surgeries, and the oncologist is well-pleased with the Oncotype results, both are very very happy. So my question is this...does that boil down to being "cancer-free" and a "cancer survivor"? If so I am incredibly grateful that my journey was so fast and so short. Because of back to back surgeries I do not plan on reconstruction at this time, I may consider it in a year or so but just want to heal first.

Ingerp

I'm not sure the labels matter, but your active treatment is over and your Tamoxifen/AI is to help prevent recurrence. Congratulations on being finished!!

AliceBastable

I don't label myself. If it comes up in conversation, I'll say that I HAD cancer. And unless (or until) it pops back up, it's in the past.