IDC LONG TERM SURVIVORS?

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  • juli0212
    juli0212 Member Posts: 1,415
    edited June 2009

    Am 3 years out of diagnosis of IDC/SND/EST+...full chemo/radiation/tamoxifen presently.  Was pre-menopausal at age 47, now post-menopausal at age 50.  Onco may be changing meds from tamoxifen to an aromatase inhibitor due to post-menopausal now.  So, I'm not a long-term survivor, in fact, no prognosis at all yet...tumor was against the chest wall, removed after 2 surgeries, one lumpectomy/second partial-mastectomy.  Sentinel node disease as well. 

    Will continue to go for my every 2-month checkups/bloodwork/tests, take the tamoxifen, enjoy the post-menopausal effects (like ugh)...I wish you all well...keep up the stories, we need to hear SURVIVORS!!!   LIFE IS SO WORTH IT is my motto!    ~juli

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  • rdrake0
    rdrake0 Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2009

    Kaidog,

    Loved your aunt (and uncle) 's site!  It has a lot of stuff on it.  (http://crazysexylife.com/)

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited June 2009

    I have just turned the corner on my third year out of IDC. Will have tumor markers in July, but so far am cancer free.  I have an aunt who is a 50 year survivor of bc.  She was in her late 30's or early 40's when she was dxx (doesn't remember, bless her heart), and has just turned 91. She had a radical mastectomy. I hope my body patterns itself after hers.

    I hope the same for all of us!!!

    Jennifer

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009

    My mom had  a different kind (ILC), but wanted to say she's a survivor of over 22 years now without a recurrence.

    Anne

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  • pattycat
    pattycat Member Posts: 9
    edited June 2009

    I'm a long term survivor, diagnosed at 30 years old , not 57 and cancer free.  I had invasive ductal ,colloid type. I have gone on and had two children 18 years old and a 14 year old.  There is life after cancer, Yeah

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited June 2009
    Pattycat...You are an inspiration for us all...
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  • dood
    dood Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2009

    To everyminute:  I am a stage 3-a, grade 2, Her/Neg. I had 4 positive lymph nodes.  I am scared to death, would love to hear from some long term stage 3 survivors!!

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited June 2009

    Hugs dood..I am sure someone will be along shortly...In the meantime please accept my hugs and well wishes!........

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  • Annie51
    Annie51 Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2009

    Hi , did they advise a mastectomy or was that your choice?

    Thanks Annie

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  • dood
    dood Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2009

    They first did a lumpectomy, then 19 days later I had a mastectomy because the tumor was only 1m from the margin, she did not feel confident, so did a full mastectomy.  After completing the mastectomy, it turns out that she did get everything initially,  but that is fine with me, just as well clean up everything and have that confidence.

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  • Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Member Posts: 4,869
    edited June 2009

    Hi, there!! I am almost 5 years out with bi-lateral IDC breast cancer, stage 2b in left and stage 1 in right breast. I had very aggressive treatment, 8 rounds of chemo, 37 radiation treatments, double mastectomy and a total hysterectomy. I have been taking Aromasin for 4 years. Life is good!!!! You will survive this disease!!!! God bless you, Kathy

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  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 1,755
    edited June 2009

    A woman who works for me told me of her mother who had some sort of bc back when she was in her early 30's. She had mastectomy and nothing else. That's all they did back then. She just passed away in the winter shortly after her HUNDREDTH birthday (and not from cancer,either)!  Now THAT is an inspiration!!!

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited June 2009

    I just saw a friend last night who is 4 years out from stage 3 - 4 positive lymph nodes and I have another friend who is 9 years out - 5 positive lymph nodes. 

    Why not us!?

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  • dood
    dood Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2009
    Prihode, you are amazing, both breasts affected, did they put you on taxotere and cytoxan?  I was placed on both of those, tolerated it ok
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  • dood
    dood Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2009

    Everyminute, that is encouraging, I agree, why not us...I guess it is the unknown, whether there are still cells in there that could come back with a vengence.  I dont think that anyone ever completely relaxes after a cancer diagnosis.  I am glad for this site, when I go for treatments, I see more repeat cancer patients than even newly diagnosed ones.  That is discouraging...

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  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
    edited July 2009

    Hi, I was post menopausal, having had a total hysterectomy just two months before they found my breast cancer.  I am a little over two years out.  I had IDC, 1.7 Cm, Stage 2, Grade 3, er/pr +, her2-, BRCA negative, one node that not only was positive, but had an actual tumor in the node, that was 1.4 cm, almost the same size as the original tumor.  I had a right mastectomy, with node removal.  I had 4 DD rounds of AC, 4 DD rounds of Taxol, no radiation, due to Lupus.  I now am on Arimidex, and have been on it for about a year and a half, and so far I'm clean.

     I hope and pray every day that they will find the cure for this disease, and although we dont' have a cure yet, we are getting very close.  I have a neighbor who went through treament the same time I did, she had stage four, second breast cancer after reconstruction, and she's clean.  Another friend who was stage four when she went in for treament, she's three years out and so far is clean.

      

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  • Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Member Posts: 4,869
    edited July 2009

    Yes, dood, I was given taxotere and cytoxin. I had the chemo first, then surgery. I really think the chemo first did the trick. Hey, you are amazing. We all are, right?? this disease will not get the best of us. God bless you, Kathy Prihode

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  • Aliceann
    Aliceann Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2009

    Am a seven year patient with stage IV BC and have been taking Herceptin for about 4+ years. My particular type is mucinous adenocarcinoma.  Still hanging in there and I have infusion once every three weeks.  Today, I had X-rays taken of shoulders and hips due to some uptake of dye from a bone scan earlier this week.  Hoping that this is just a false sign, but I am always cautious.  My word of advice to all the people with BC is to always stay vigilant.  If you have an irregular or suspicious test (no matter how minor), get things looked at and have some additional testing.  Don't take anything for granted.  I have had so many vague and minor items that have turned out to be major problems.  Stay on top of your symptoms and listen to you body as it tells you what you need to know. 

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  • Bono
    Bono Member Posts: 40
    edited July 2009

    It is awesome to read all these stories of survival. It is just that, survival, we are fighting a war with cancer and it is wonderful to read so many encouraging words. Sometimes I get to feeling like I may not make it; why should I survive when some don't? Reading all these makes me agree with EVERYMINUTE's post, why not us? I look forward to posting many years from now when I can help to ease someone else's fears. Thanks for the thread.

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  • Dawnbelle
    Dawnbelle Member Posts: 696
    edited July 2009

    I went to my first oncologist appt. Monday.

    I met a woman there who was Dx with IDC in 1999 at stage 4, she was ER/PR-& HER+. She looked fantastic & made me feel more comfortable about being at this HUGE cancer center alone. Really, she was an amazing woman. I just realized, I don't even know her name. That's ok, I'll never forget her.

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  • nene2059
    nene2059 Member Posts: 270
    edited July 2009

    Hi everyone.  I posted this before on the success stories topic but it definitely needs repeated.  My grandmother had BC in 1968 and is now a healthy 88 year old.  A 41 year survivor with just a radical mastectomy, no chemo, rads, meds.  I hope my story follows hers.....I hope ALL of our stories follow her path! ( I am about two months out from chemo and three weeks out from bilateral mx so I have a ways to go before it is my story!)

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited July 2009

    Hi everyone...

    I am almost a nine year survivor...I had stage 2B with a positive node..

    I had a lumpectomy, chemo ,then a mastectomy and five years of the combo of Tamoxifen, and Armidex..

    finished up over three years ago now...

    hugs across the miles to everyone...

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  • susan_CNY
    susan_CNY Member Posts: 276
    edited July 2009

    I am almost 6 years out from IDC, just had a scare but benign!  My Grandma was dx at the same age as I was (52) she had mast and cobalt treatment,  she also had oral cancer a few years later, only treated with surgery, she lived another 20 years and passed from heart problems.

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited July 2009

    SoCalLisa,

    Would it be too personal to ask why you had a lumpectomy and then following your chemo you had a mastectomy?  I am curious because now that I have celebrated one year and finished my tx of lumpectomy, chemo AND radiation my onc is now pushing for a double mastectomy to prevent future cancers.  He says, in his opinion, I have cancer making breasts since I had two separate primarys in the same breast and I have some atypical cells in the other breast.  He has really thrown me a curve ball.  Other than that, I am doing great, feel great and starting to look great.  I have also been on arimidex for 3 months so far.

    Thanks for any insight you can give me.

    Caren

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited July 2009

    Caren...after I finished chemo , the radiation oncologist questioned how my mammos had been read and suggested I have them redone...they found another lump that had been there all along but had been missed with the ultrasound....so the mastectomy was necessary...later they found atpyical ductal hyperplasia in my remaining breast., I had a lumptectomy and only hyperplasia was present...so I opted NOT to have the other mast...who knows if that was a good decision or not...

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited July 2009

    Lisa,

    Thanks for your  answer.  That is part of my problem that through an MRI we found a second primary in the same breast in another quandrant two months later.   Now I am thinking they didn't get as concerned then as they should have.  I probably should have had the mx then, but of course we can't redo things.  I feel they should not have let me go forward with my tx..............sometimes they leave too many choices up to us.  Maybe they should go back to telling us what to do?  I was led to believe that my choice was going bring positive results,and it did...................but what will happen in the future?

    Caren

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  • pod1257
    pod1257 Member Posts: 262
    edited July 2009

    You never know. - My mom had what I would say was a probable bad prognosis, with a large 6.2cm tumor. She only had a mast and no other treatment. The tumor was encapsulated and apparently a "gentle giant" as she is thankfully, alive and well 30 years later at 85. I had a stage 1, er+/pr+/her2- br cancer. I am 3 years out and hoping to make it to my 80s and beyond, just like her. Dxed at 48, now 51.



    Hoping we ALL become "old ladies."



    Julie

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  • smallworld123
    smallworld123 Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2009

    Pod1257 That was a great encouragment for us all. Are you doing the same thing? mast. and no other treatment? Would like to know. I had a mast. and no treatment, but will be seeing a naturlist.

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  • Aliceann
    Aliceann Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2009

    Seven year survivor thus far, but many ups and downs on the way with chronic BC.  Just hanging in there living each day the best way I can.  Sometimes quietly and sometimes in celebration.  I travel whenever I get the chance as I have a lengthy Bucket List.  AA

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  • pod1257
    pod1257 Member Posts: 262
    edited July 2009

    Smallworld,

    No, I didn't do exactly the same treatment. Even though my cancer was in only one breast, I opted for a bilateral mast. I am not BRCA positive but with a family hx with mom, maternal grandma and aunt, I asked for and was also advised to do bilat mast. Turns out there was some atypical hyperplasia in the other breast. Although no guarentee, personally I feel much safer having virtually no breast tissue.

    I did not have chemo due to a low oncotype of 10. I did opt for the anti-hormone therapy with tamox. So far so good.

    Julie

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