3+ Year Survivor Stories PLEASE!

I am currently goig through chemo, but I have many friends who are 3 years and beyond and are doing fantastic w/ NED. These women were dx before age 40 at various stages and many were TN. They inspire me every day, and have been a great support system. There are many women out there I just don't think many of them  participate in these boards.

Looking at your date of dx you can celebrate being a year past dx...that's fantastic!  

Hi Meggy, now thats an interesting question isn't it.  I have heard both.  I was diagnosised on 11/28/2007 but I had surgery 12/11/2007....but I finished all treatment in 11/2008.  I count from surgery, from when I know they took it out.  I think its really a personal preference, for the doctors too.  My doc counts from diagnoses but I know others that dont. 

Teresa

An ex boyfriend of mine..his mom was diagnosed Dec 31 2004. So she is on her 5th year!!!

Stage IIA triple neg, diagnosed at age 38.  Will be 6 years out on 5/12/09!

Well, I've had two triple-neg tumors. Left breast had medullary in 2005 and right breast had IDC in 2007. So half of me celebrated three years of survival in the fall of 2008 and the other half of me will celebrate three years of survival in the spring of 2010.

Hi Girls,I was dx Dec '03 and am plain sailing it.You'll probably see my details below so I've no need to go into them,but there was so much vascular invasion it was expected back before the end of chemo!! My good luck to you all,xx

I am nearing my three-year mark--one month away.  I had a lumpectomy, four rounds of AC, and 33 rads.  I work hard to keep my weight down, as research shows that helps with hormone-negative.  I also exercise; limit my alcohol; have a daily hand-pressed juice of kale, carrots, parsley, cabbage, and apples (lots of antioxidants and cancer-fighting cruciferous veggies); and pray.  My original prognosis was good--a small tumor (1.1 cm), negative nodes, and clear margins in surgery.  Still, I worry.  It is natural.  That's where prayer helps--and yoga.  I also blog about this at hormonenegative.blogspot.com.  Good luck to you, and enjoy the marvelous survivor stories.  

AHEM:  10 years later and counting!  I am so old when they told me I was TriNeg, I said, "Oh really, how nice!"

They didn't know a thing about it.

Don't worry too much.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann

Pat- I was curious about that too because I am also weakly PR positive. My BS must consider me triple neg because we have discussed the fact that I was. I am curious to see what my oncologist says when I meet him next week. Very confusing. I have been gathering all my reports so I can see exactly what is going on, but I forgot to ask for a copy of my surgery pathology. Duh! Groggy I guess. LOL I will have to back track and get that one for my own knowledge.

Hi I was just wondering something...in the middle of the night because I dont sleep lol.  But is anyone ever just PR+ only?  and if they are what kind of treatment do they get?  Do they take tomoxifin too?  Just curious

Teresa

positiveaboutnegative,

I am like you -- weakly positive for PR.  I agree we are the unusual ones, and like you, I was quite confused/annoyed by the varying interpretations by the doctors.  Sometimes Tri Neg, sometimes not.

Congrats to all the 3+ year survivors.  My mother is 13 years NED. 

My mom's best friend died of old age at 94, 49 years post double mast, & TriNeg.  She kept me going.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann

22 year survivor here....first time 1987 TN,left breast,idc, grade 3,no nodes, just lumpectomy and radiation for 5 weeks, no chemo. Second time to the right breast in 2003, went for bi-lateral, stage 2 and did not have chemo, because I am a stuburn Italian, and said no nodes and 16 years ago with no nodes they did not do chemo. Again I was TN, grade 3, stage 2 becauce tumor was 2c, this time I was a-typical medulary, clear margins no nodes. Just 6 years ago there was no mention of Triple Negative. It was not till my 34 year old daughter was diagnosed 7 months after me, that a red flag was raised. I came to these boards and read all that I could. By the way I'm 62 years old and just got a computer today,so that is why I was never able to respond to tell you my wonderful story of survival and thriving. My dear daughter had breast cancer in both her breasts, 5 years ago in May. she was stage one, tn in one breast and lobular in the other breast that had microscopic invasion. The TN tumor was 1.6c.with clear margins and no nodes, grade 111, and you bet I told her she needs chemo. She had 4 ac but did not have the taxol. She is doing wonderful...We are both doing wonderful. When I was diagnosed I was told by my surgeon, i did not need to see and oncologist because I know longer had cancer. So off I went and never turned back. I did get involved with a support group and met alot of wonderful women that I still stay in contact with. Still all alive and well. So many wonderful stories to tell. I wish I could of responded to you sooner, but i tell you not many of us long time survivors come to these boards. We go on to live our lives.

When my daughter was diagnosed I must tell you, I was devestated. It was then that I realized that this is really serious stuff...It was awful but with my deep faith in God and learning to put all my pain in His hands and to learn to Trust in Him I was able to go on.

For you stage 4 girls, back 22 years ago I became very friendly with one of the girls in our support group who was diagnosed with state 4 from the beginning, cancer threw-out. She lived the most amazing 15 years. She was my rock. and that was 22 yars ago. She was treated with, at that time the new miracle drug, tamoxifin and remained cancer free for 15years and healthy active 15 years.

Two women stage 3, one a neighbor, think she was Tn as she only had chemo but for one year, well that was 34 years ago. Another stage 3, who worked with reach for recovery, was a young women when she was diagnoses and is now 83. I met her 22 years ago and she at that time had quite a story to tell and was then out many years, well she is alive today and looks 70.

Hope this helps and believe me I can go on and on with many more survival stories. Remember the ones who post here are looking for answers and support. I am so sorry that it took me 5 years before I posted. I was a lurker for all those years since my daughter was diagnosed but did it from my work computer and could not respond. I hope I am here for you now. I have learned to love all of you and you have all been in my prayers.

Remember "THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT" May God Bless all of you....

Oh my God...I needed to find this forum soo badly.   I was diagnosed as Stage II, triple negative on April 22 and I have been freaking out about it ever since.  I have so many questions about being triple negative that I don't know where to begin.  I'll toss some out there and if anyone knows an answer, I'd love to hear from you. 

 First of all, what's this I read that in some reports you can be trip. neg. and not on others...should we run the test twice to confirm?

 If you are a triple neg, and have a mastectomy, will future tumors (anywhere in the body) automatically be trip neg.  (once a triple neg. = always a triple negative? ) 

 Does being triple negative decrease our survival rate by Stage?  (For example, I'm Stage and the 5-year survival rate is 92% - does that go down due to being a triple neg? )  And by the way,  why is it alway given as a 5 year survival rate...what happens after 5 years? 

Well, that's enough to get started.  I'd love to hear from anyone who can shed some light on this condition as well as those positive stories of survival. 

Janet