5 years out!

djd · July 2010

Just realized today that I am DONE with my 5 years of Arimidex. Last BC dx was 12/13/2004 and I had my ooph in July, 2005.

It's been quite a journey, and I hope I never come back to it, but my prayers and thoughts will never be far from my sisters who are continuing to struggle and fight.

Peace and hugs to all the dear friends I have been blessed to know through bc.org.

D

bramblewitch · July 2010

djd congrats!

I am right behind you. I was diagnosed the week after you. Today is my 5 year anniversary of my surgery, post chemo. I might be finishing my Arimidex in Sept, but my oncologist might keep me on it another 5 years.

Jenniferz · July 2010

YA-HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Wonderful news! May you dance with NED always!

Jennifer

nowheregirl · July 2010

Hey D congrats! I too had my 5th anniversary of dx last week. It indeed has been quite a journey for both you and me but at least we are alive. I just wish we still had Kari, TheresaPW and many more sisters we loved so much on this earth to celebrate this day with.

So how's your butt doing btw?

xoxo

Z

lexi4 · July 2010

Yay!! Congrats on your 5 year milestone!! I wish you many years of good health ahead!

Congrats to all on your 5 year anniversaries. I am so happy to see familiar names. It makes my heart feel good. You have been a big part of my bc journey. Couldn't have gotten through as well w/out you!

Love,
Lexi

iodine · July 2010

YYYIIIIIIPPPPPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got that nickle and on the way to the dime!

djd · July 2010

Thanks, ladies!

Bramble - your doctor wants to keep you on arimidex for FIVE more years? I haven't heard of that before - I am so happy to be done with it, I hesitate to even ask why it might be recommended!

Z - I agree. I connected with Theresa and Kari so easily, and I miss them dearly. But I still have you ;-) and I hope to see you again soon,as I try to work in a "business" trip to Tokyo this fall! As for my butt, as long as I do my physical therapy exercises, I am okay. However, when I sit on a plane for 4 hours (like I did tonight) it hurts like hell. Good times. [editing to add: Fumi is referencing an injury I sustained almost a year ago when I foolishly tried to go down the stairs with two suitcases and a backpack all at once. I was okay until I tried to cross the "doggy gate" and took a very nasty spill. Let's just say that I respect stairs more than I ever did in the past!]

Jennifer, Dottie and Lexi, it's so good to hear from you! Like reconnecting with old friends.

Here's to more nickels, dimes and quarters for all of us!

xoxoxo,

D

SoCalLisa · July 2010

Congratulations Donna. Taking that last Arimidex pill has to be one of my fondest moments ever...

glad to see you

sushanna1 · July 2010

Congratulations.

Sue

Anonymous · July 2010

Donna and Fumi...CONGRATULATIONS, CHICAS!!! I know that it feels fabulous to have distance from the beast. And the Arimidex...oy! I finish 5 years of Aromasin in October and had thought I'd be in a quandry about whether to take another 5 years. But uh-uh...I'm trusting in the Divine Spirit on this one and totally re-claiming my life!

So here's to 5 years, my friends! Fiesta

~Marin

Scooter-12 · July 2010

Congratulations!! I wish you many, many more healthy, happy years ahead.

djd · July 2010

Wow - so nice to hear from old friends and newbies as well! Maybe we should start a five-year club (thread) for sisters to pop in and share when they pass the 5 year mark.

One one hand, it's difficult to "celebrate", knowing how many wonderful ladies to this damn disease. On the other hand, I think we should briefly savor the moment we pass this milestone.

Personally, I struggled with "when" my five year anniversary actually occurred and finally decided to go with my completion of Arimidex (as opposed to my first date of diagnosis).

Medigal · July 2010

I had my 5 year mark this past January and my Onc has kept me on it for "at least" another 5 years. He feels if it saved me for the first 5, maybe it will do the same for the second. He is watching me very carefully due to the side effects of bone problems. If I have bad bone density tests or severe bone or joint pains, he will probably decide I should stop. My quality of life is the pits on Arimidex but let's face it, at least I still have my life! So I am hoping I can make it another five years especially now it has gone generic!

djd · July 2010

Hi Maddy! Yes I am busy, but generally loving life!

Here's a very pleasant surpise: It's been almost one month since I stopped the Arimidex, and I have been inexplicably dropping weight - close to ten pounds! I "knew" I had gained weight while taking it, but I refused to let myself dwell on that aspect. I also seem to have more stamina. My bone density tests have been quite good while on Arimidex, but I just don't want to go back on *any* hormone therapy at this time.

Makratz · July 2010

Congrats to you!!!!!!!!!!!

ginger2345 · July 2010

Congrats, Donna! I, too, passed the 5 year mark last November. (DX date) So glad to hear from you and on such a positive occasion.

Medigal · July 2010

Can anyone advise me what is the connotation of the "five year" mark? Does it mean if it has not reoccured in five years we are much safer from a reoccurance?? I just wonder how they ever came up with the "five" year thing. I have luckily passed it on Arimidex but I don't feel any safer for some reason. I still have the same fears now that I had in the beginning. Any information you can share to help me understand this will be appreciated. Thanks so much!

ginger2345 · July 2010

I believe the phrase started back when almost no one survived most cancers for 5 years. Truly a benchmark of survival then. Obviously with better dx and treatment options these days, it's more symbolic. Most breast cancers do recur before the 5 year mark, but with slow growing types of bc, we're not really out of the woods completely. But, yes, I believe we are safer, if not safe, from recurrance. I'm glad you've got 5 years behind you too.

iodine · July 2010

well said, Ginger.

Sierra · July 2010

Hi Donna:

Congrats to you

and nice to see you here

I always think of your beautiful cat

that you had..

she was elegant!

Now, if I could only remember her name

Sierra:)

dottysue · August 2010

DJD

I finished my 5 on arimidex about 3 weeks ago. I'm really curious to see what - if any - difference I will be able to feel. After all, even though I'm wa-a-a-y past menopause, if I needed Arimidex to block estrogen production, there still must be some estrogen being produced that needs blocking.

My doctor says he never heard of any estrogen surge after 3 months off the med, but it seems to me there should be some slight effect. I'm hoping for less joint pain, which has been my only bad side effect.

Hope I can lose pounds as easy as you. Lucky girl.

iodine · August 2010

We produce estrogen in our brains and body fat. That;s why taking out the ovaries doesn't do the trick.

sam52 · August 2010

Donna.....way to go!!

5 years is significant mentally, even if it is more or less an arbitrary number. It is true that most recurrences occur in the first 5 years, and especially in the first two if it is very aggressive.It is also true that for ER+ bc recurrences still happen way down the line .But we can still say after 5 years : 'so far...so good!'

Dotti - we produce estrogen in our brains?? I knew about body fat and also the adrenal glands where an enzyme converts androgen(?) into estrogen.Please enlighten me!

Marin - I just stopped Aromasin last month after 7.5 years of endocrine therapy (2.5 years tamoxifen, 5 years aromasin).......and I am feeling ambivalent about it. On the one hand, a bit nervous, on the other.......moving on!! BTW - still doing good with t/b; hope things are stil great for you.

Here's hugs to all of you,

Sam x

So nice to see many familiar names posting here.

iodine · August 2010

My bad: you are absolutely correct! I don't know what I was thinking! And I cannot even claim chemobrain!

hopeinfitcher · August 2010

Donna,glad for you! Keep posting,who you fell after done with Arimidex.I will be only 1 year -in November.

Zina

nygirl1951 · October 2010

Don't come on here much anymore, but I celebrated my 5 years this past Mar. It was my 2nd DX and was diagnosed 2 days before my birthday.

Congrats to all the "nickle" survivors! I see many familiar names here, who helped me back then more than you could ever know!

Thank you

iodine · October 2010

Great big huge congrats for your shiny silver nickle!! Come on back now and then before you reach a "dime". OK?

Harley44 · October 2010

YAY!!!!

allisonphoenix21 · October 2010

Hello everyone.

My name is Allison, and I am doing a column for my high school paper about breast cancer. I was just wondering if you could give me a starting point, someplace that will really make people understand the importance of being aware. I learned two weeks ago that my grandmother has been rediagnosed after 11 years, and I want everyone to understand what exactly happens.

iodine · October 2010

Hello Allison,

Perhaps a good starting place is one that you know best: with a family's involvment and concerns when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer.

Best wishes,

Dotti

5 years out!

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