3+ Year Survivor Stories PLEASE!

Hi ladies! I have not been here in a long time, but I just found out that a friend of mine was diagnosed on the exact same day that I was, only 6 years later. So I stopped back in for a visit.

I just hit my 6 year mark from the day I was diagnosed (Feb. 28, 2005). My oncologist said he uses the date of your last chemo as the date he counts from as being clear. My last chemo was in November of 2005 (started rads in January 2006). So basically, I'm 5 years clear, and he has officially declared me "CURED". I know that is hard to accept when it comes to cancer, but he said that the reason why is because the recurrence rate for Triple Negatives after 5 years is something like .00001%.  

I believe if you make it past the 3 year mark, the chance for recurrence goes down to less than 50%, and past the 4 year mark goes down to 10-20%, and then after 5 years, it's very, very rare. He said in all of his years (and he is old) doing this, he has yet to see a Triple Negative have a recurrence after 5 years.

So my advice...hit it hard in the beginning. Do not mess around! If you need a mastectomy, get one! I got my first, and then because I was BRCA+, I got a prophylactic mast on my other breast, only to find pre-cancerous cells in there. My doc said I would have for sure gotten cancer in my other breast. And if chemo means losing your hair, do it! It grows back!! It's a small sacrifice to save your life. You still have the most important part of yourself, and trust me...it's not your breasts or your hair.

In order to survive, you MUST change your attitude. Be fearless. Believe that you will survive. Be positive! I swear, it's the one key to kicking this things butt. Give up your vanity! (I know it's hard, but I'm in the beauty business and work with celebs and models, and I did it!!). And so can you, and you will learn, and grow, and survive!

Good luck to everyone!

Cheeky 

Hi Cheey

Thanks for posting and your experience is uplifting. One question though, when you say after 3 yr mark the recurrence risk drops down to less than 50%. Does not it depend on the stage one was dx though?

 I just had my profilactic surgery of hystorectomy due to the BRCA mutation. Cheey, did you have those surgeries too? I also had profilactic mast.

I came across this site more or less randomly today and saw this and registered just to post. I am an eight year survivor. I had three tumors of varying sizes..one 2.5 centimeters, one smaller than than that and one that was hardly more than a blip on the screen The cancer  had spread to three lymph nodes. It was triple negative. I went through the surgery (uni masectomy and the cocktail chemo) My treatment was six treatments three weeks apart. No radiation.

I've had other  health problems since then (had a majro scare with all the other reproductive cancers- (cervical,edometrial,uterine and ovarian)-they turned out to be negative but I still had to have a hysterectomy and I don't have to worry about them anymore!) but the cancer for whatever reason...Grace of God, lifestyle change...I have no idea has not come back.

I just wanted you all to know that we do exist and we are praying and thinking about all of you.

Three years here - I can go a week or more without thinking about the disease. Feel great - ok the treatment sucked, but it was worth it.

I must have posted this on another thread but want all of you to know there are lots of us out here that are surviving. I’m 5 years out from a local recurrence and 9 years plus outfrom initial diagnosis.

I will never forget, it’s been a blessing and a curse, but I try to live without talking about it every day. It took things from me but it also gave me strength, love, and faith.

I get yearly MRIs but very little other than that. I go to the doctor when something hurts over 2 weeks. I was sure I had bone mets several months back but it was bursitis! Love getting normal aging issues.

Love and prayers to you all. Praying a cure is found soon.