Encouragement Thread - Let's hear your survivor stories!

It's nice to hear so many positive stories.  Makes me feel a bit better.   

EVERYONE  - Thanks so much for sharing your stories!  This has really cheered me along when I had been feeling a bit down.

Massive hugs to all!

Just wanted to add, although Triple Negative is frightening, it tends to respond best to chemo and after 2 years of no recurrence, you have a significant reduction in recurrence.  This isn't my opinion, but the opinion of John Hopkins experts.  Maryiz

I am over 15 years from diagnosis, had mastectomy and chemo, I was very ignorant about cancer, never met anybody that had it, my Degrees do not have nothing to do with medicine or Science.

I immediately signed as volunteer in a cancer center, I am like sponge, have to learn and be educated on what was happening with me.

I had support from my son then in High school, my daughter just had her first baby and did not have the time or whatever to give support; my husband decided to have his middle age crisis and refused to accept I had cancer.

With my son and my support group I battle in all fronts, never I thought I was going to die,and my culture is the type where we never look back,and we fight with patience, I did not get angry,took medicine to help me emotionally, I decide that my life was not going to change, I cooked almost everyday except the day I had chemo and the booster at home and the next day because my vomiting could not be controlled. I was part of the original women that founded National Breast Cancer Coalition that with YME were the first to aproach  the Government for money , Laws, etc.

I was asked in the Cancer Center to became a professional in the medical field and they help me to get trained, certified,etc.

I am an advocate and activist for the undeserved population, because we are all 2 or 3 paychecks to be homeless and with no insurance , I believe that working people have the right to be treated , that charity starts at home,that Insurance or the Government can not choose what treatments or tests we need.

My divorce was harder on me, than cancer I was married 25 years and took for  ever , I am a practicing Catholic but also believe that one has to live with dignity and never accept situations that are bad for the family.

I had many friends that showed me to the last minute their love for others and even when dying they were consoling us.

Cancer can bring the best in people and then we know who is really family and friend.

I am for ever thankful to my son,my friends and my Church , specially for the Mass for the sick and  the Last Sacrament I had.

I believe that everyday is a gift, I do not bother with petty things or negative people that have only horror stories to tell.

I love my work and my patients.

BrendaLea-

I am curious what type of chemo you had. I was 30 when dx as stage 2, now 33 stage IV mets to lungs. I found hope in your post, doing well 3 yrs after dx stage IV lungs mets.

Thanks,

Beth

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Scoobydoo,

 First of all I love that name.....lol

NED stands for no evidence of disease..

Hope that helps ya

Hi All, I was diagnosed Dec '03. I had a 2.4cm lump with so much vascular invasion they expected the cancer to return before chemo finished .I had WLE and aux clearance followed by 4xFEC,4xTaxol and 6wks rads. I was given 35-45% chance of five year survival. Luckily I got on a trial to have Taxol as it was not licenced in the UK for primary BC at the time. I went dairy free - which I suppose is as good as cutting down hard on fats (being vegitarian I'd eaten an awful lot of cheese) and I took up power walking. I'm coming up to 6yrs down the line and I'm still fit and well. May my good luck rub off on you all...Josie xx

Josiemarie,

Thank you for your post. We do all need to hear the positive. I was reading where you said you had so much lymphatic invasion. Is that the same as lymp nodes being positive. I get so confused on the WHOLE pathology thing. Mine actually reads Angiolymphatic invasion  present. It does not say how much. I was just curios, any help would be appreciated...

May God Be With Us All

angelsabove

I think Angiolymphatic invasion present means they saw in the path original tumor there was vascular invasion and lymphatic vascular invasion. Maybe I am wrong, then someone else with more knowledge can correct. 

But with 17 positive node, it would not be stage 2 but stage IIIc if no mets were found.

I was diagnosed at 33 yrs old, Stage IIIc, 28/31 positive lymph nodes. I worked all through chemo and radiation supported my husband (who was not legal to work in Canada) and 2 year old child. Did 6 mo chemo, 5 weeks radiation. Following treatment I  was able to put my husband through flight school this year. I just bought my first condo and am very proud of what I have accomplished. Hubby is now a licensed FAA pilot and things are looking bright. Everyone has been telling me how great I look. I've been rollerblading 3-5 times per week and eat well. I hope and pray next year will be our best yet. I truly hope to be the example for all triple negative ladies out there with multiple positive nodes that it can be done. I am 1.5 yrs since diagnosis... the little one is singing now. She's the light. 

I just logged into the boards after many months.  I was dx April 2002.  Seems like a lifetime ago.  I was TN, no nodes, 2.5cm, grade 3.  Lumpectomey, chemo and rads.  I'm doing fine.  Some days I forget I HAD cancer.  Sometimes.   I Still go for yearly checks to oncology clinic and will forever.  I was 55 when dx and six months later my daughter (30) was dx.  What a year 02 was.  WE are both doing well.  Good luck and good health to all my bc sisters.

I have two friends who are both 6 years out from TNBC, one with positive nodes who had lumpectomy, CT and RT, the other without positive nodes who had very large tumor, bilat mastectomy with reconstruction, CT and RT.

Both are doing great.

I am 2 1/2 yrs. out.

Kathy

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