3+ Year Survivor Stories PLEASE!

Meggy,

I just posted to deb on another thread. I am 22 yrs out. stage 3 tumor as large as an orange,  20+ positive nodes, so ALL nodes were removed. Brutal 1 yr Chemo regimen, admitted to study at NIH in Bethesda MD for new protocol, radiation.  I chose not to have reconstruction.  I'm toying with the idea of doing it now. Hey, girl. Let me pass some hard earned/learned wisdom, if I may.....

1. Breasts do not make the woman. Character makes a Zena.

2. Trusts your INSTINCTS.

3.  I dare to say, there is not a living human being who has no scars.  Its just that they are not all  visible to the eye even fully naked... and if one is a human being in this world, it is almost impossible to get by, or through it with out them.

Also 22 year survivor, first time 1987 in the left breast, then 6+ years in the right breast. Both times triple negative. First time stage 1 second stage 2. My daughter was diagnosed at 34 with triple negative also, now she is 5 1/2 years out. WE ARE BOTH DOING GREAT. BELIEVE ME THERE ARE MANY, MANY SURVIVORS. I was 39 the first time now a 63 year old noni of two and loving life. Remember those who are here are just diagnosed, and those who are in need of support. Many women just get on with their lives and don't turn back. So coming here, although a great place for knowledge and support, it can be a downer at times. Remember 1 in 8 women get breast cancer, if we all died the population would be drastically reduced, many, many more women live with breast cancer then die with the desease. I can tell you so many stories of women I have gotten to know threw my breast cancer walk that are alive and doing great.

6 year 8 months Today Triple Neg survivor!  Friend facing lung cancer right now and very discouraged by the lack of survivor stories on the net,  So I decided I should post mine to give all you TN's a boost of hope!  stage 2, 2 nodes pos, lumpectomy, brachyradiation, 3 rounds of epicuberin/cytoxin.  Bailed on the last chemo because my gut feeling was it was gone.  So far so good.  It is a head trip but get as positive as you can as fast as you can and take care of yourself.  I went to psycotherapy and Dr. taught me to imagine sheep grazing in my breast and nodes eating any leftover C cells.  It was very relaxing.  Expect a MIRACLE!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to post.  I'm a relative "newby" - diagnosed April, '09 at age 45; finished chemo in September; surgery in October.  Now, I'm just learning how to live without fearing that every ache and pain is mets.  Just had an MRI last week, because of some back pain.  It turned out to be arthritis!!!   Let's hear it for being old and arthritic!  

Thanks for the encouragement.

Janet

If the FEAR is good for anything, its to act as a reminder not to wait until 13 o'clock to live. 

Othewise, chuck it. Its a negative emotion and will act as an imuno depressant.  

Out 22 yrs now. .  

Violet- Bernie Seigle (sp?) is a surgeon who wrote Love, Medicine,and Miracles. He shares true stories of how attitudes and mind/body connection helped heal patients that were not supposed to do so well.

Thanks for the book recommendation, I haven't read it but will plan on getting it. Hope things are going well with your treatment. I go today for my first one, hence the being up at 2:48 a.m. LOL

I am AC (4cycles every 2 wks) then T (four cycles every 2 weeks) 

Won't this be the most beautiful summer ever!!

Good Luck CRS319.  You can do this!  I am 4 weeks PFC.  TAC every 3 weeks for 6 TX.  May I make a suggestion to you that helped me?.  Keep a daily journal of your side effects.(mental and physical)  Helps your Onc know how you are doing and helps you remember what to expect after the next TX. 

Let us know how things go.

Oh and on a positve note..I had a post chemo PET scan on 12/21 and I am Cancer-free!

Navy

crs319,  True.  You know, just having any hair at all when summer rolls around will probably be spectacular.  I just put an immune system meditation into my iPod Touch yesterday by Bernie Siegel.  Thanks, because I wouldn't otherwise have known of him.  I'm going to get to the bookstore soon. 

It will be 5 years this coming May for me! Stay strong girls.

Thank you for sharing your stories of perserverance and survival, I feel like I CAN conquer this disease but the label of "triple negative" lets doubt creep into my head and I have not found a ton of support from any one area.  I have 2 little girls and live for them.  Thank you!!!!

ki67 that is...

Its how fast the tumor grows during s phase of division, chemo kills fast growing tumors best.

But no one wants a fast growing tumor....I've got to get it off my mind.  Have to stay positive but it is hard on some days...I feel like my whole world has been splintered....I'm sure each of us have that feeling at times...

Violet-are you hanging in there?  My first chemo was "icky" for about four days. Then I felt much better, have gone back to work, and feel pretty good in general.  When I was diagnosed in November, my "boyfriend" of a year, decided this would be too difficult.  It was actually a favor, I have a date tommorow with a very nice guy that I've know for some time and he wants to be around me.  Soooo...counting the blessings instead of the curses for now.

My onc told me that side effects would be similar throughout the chemo (if I'm doing ok now, I should continue to do ok) but that the fatigue will get more pronounced.  I was also told that the nausea should diminish with the Taxol treatments. 

Just thinking about all of you, prayers, good thoughts and encouragment.  We will get through this. It's snowing here, at least the wigs will keep my head warm!

Yes, what's Ki67?