just was wondering if long term survivors use this board?

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Sunflower64
Sunflower64 Member Posts: 166

this may sound silly and maybe i already know the answer. do you all think that there are way more survivors than we see on this board?  i think the long term survivors do not come on this board because it is past them now and they have moved on. so the only people on these boards are the ones going through this awful disease. if this is true isn't that great?  there are so many more survivors out there that we don't even know about. knowing that makes me feel so much better.

what do you all think?

diane

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited December 2009

    well, i vist the boards often; mostly to support newly diagnosed people or answer questions from my own experience.   i will be 8 years out in Feb 2010.  not really really long...but kinda long. lol  i like to see how everyone is doing and also keep up with anything new in the world of breast cancer treatment...etc. actually, there are a bunch of stage IIIers on facebook too; and we all connect there.

    diana50

  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited December 2009
  • maltomlin
    maltomlin Member Posts: 343
    edited December 2009

    I think you're right. These boards are great but people only tend to come when they're first diagnosed, having treatment, or generally feeling fragile.

    I'm now 18 months past dx, 12 months past treatment and am doing great. When you're undergoing treatment BC is all -consuming, and you can't think of anything else, but it does get better.

    Now I can think in the future, plan holidays etc and am enjoying life again. I come back to check on people but otherwise I get on and enjoy life. 

    Mal x

  • coonie
    coonie Member Posts: 7,618
    edited December 2009

    Hey ya'll! I didn't actually come on the boards until I had FINISHED treatment. Well, finished chemo and surgery, but was still doing Herceptin. I was too scared to read or see ANYTHING dealing with breast cancer. My DH was trying to learn all he could about my diagnosis and found this site. I joined in June '08 and have "met" some of the most wonderful women in the world!! I hang around because I enjoy the sisterhood and feel like everyone here has that one thing in common.....Breast Cancer. Plus, my sistahs understand any ache and pain I get, follow along in my purse or back pocket to doctor's appointments, celebrate good news and offer a shoulder to cry on when necessary.....I love the friendships that I have made!!

  • Coltsneck
    Coltsneck Member Posts: 180
    edited December 2009

      It's an interesting question.  I am 3-1/2 years since diagnosis with Stage 1, Invasive, neg nodes and I come to this site about every 3 months just to see how things are going with people.  I used to be on the site 2 to 3 times a day in the beginning.  It was a god-send to me and I know I would have not had even 1/10th of the knowledge and support that I got from this site if it wasn't available. 

    When you are 3 years out you start to get less obsessed (but still very aware of what you may be walking around with) and on some level you want to stay away from the site because you don't want the reminder of the battle.  Of course, at the first sign of something wrong (bone pain for example), this is the first place I go to - before I even pick up the phone to make an appointment with my doctor.  In some ways I feel guilty because I should be there for the newbies just like the 'old timers' were there for me.  Your question makes me realize that I should visit more often to lend support to others and perhaps give a ray of hope that most of us make it through this scary journey.

  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited December 2009

    I am an 8-year survivor and I post on these boards to encourage and help women who are going through the same thing I did.  I've made a lot of friends here too so I also socialize.

  • Sunflower64
    Sunflower64 Member Posts: 166
    edited December 2009

    THANKS GIRLS FOR ALL YOUR THOUGHTS. I WOULDN'T OF BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT WITH OUT THESE BOARDS AND ALL OF YOU.

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS,

    DIANE

  • Brenda_R
    Brenda_R Member Posts: 509
    edited December 2009

    I don't consider myself long term yet, but I check on the boards daily. I don't always post but I do still appreciate this board. It was a lifeline for me when I was first dx'ed. We didn't have any local support groups.  It's still a lifeline for me now sometimes when I need up to date info about Her2 and other things.

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