Long term survivors

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Lauren1959
Lauren1959 Member Posts: 2
edited May 2016 in Life After Breast Cancer

I am a stage one cancer survivor since 2007  who is constantly trying to find long term breast cancer survivors (meaning more than 10 years) and it just doesnt seem like there are many out there.  If I could just find a few I would be greatful.  I am just so tired of being so afraid of dying that I cant live my life. I have to be on anxiety medicine because some days it just consumes my thoughts. IS there anyone out there who has been a survivor for more than 10 years with no recurrence?  

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  • NaughtybyNature
    NaughtybyNature Member Posts: 1,448
    edited September 2011
    I am up to 8 years and counting... just a little scare last year but other than that... life is good.  Cool
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  • Beeb75
    Beeb75 Member Posts: 325
    edited September 2011

    Hi Lauren,

    I don't think a lot of people who had breast cancer 10 or 20 years ago hang around on sites like these. But there are tons of examples of very long-term survivors. Just look at the famous people who've had BC:

    * Nancy Reagan had it in 1987. She's fine now.

    * Shirley Temple Black had it in 1972. She's still alive today.

    * Julia Child had breast cancer and lived for 36 more years.

    * Carly Simon had it in 1997.

    There are so, so many survivors! Just look at the numbers -- only 20 percent of people ever diagnosed with breast cancer end up dying of the disease. You really shouldn't worry about it. 

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited September 2011

    Hello sweetie, I,m msphil and I am a long term Survival(17 yrs)Praise GOD, well first of all I know your feelings, we have all  probably felt the same, I cried and then I got mad at the cancer and decided to fight for my life, and with my Faith I prayed for strength to get through all of the treatments and surgery etc, I stayed POSITIVE an refused to give into it, at night I would imagine the cancer being eaten up by the pacman(like the old game). a nurse told me about doing that, I kept HOPE that I would Survive and would always speak POSITVE, like (I will beat this)I will Live, I will be a surviver, try these things sweetie,God Bless Is ALL.msphil(idc, stage 2, 3 nodes involved, L mast, with reconstruction, but my body rejected the implant, it was taken out, I was misdiagnosed a couple times, chemo, rads,  and all while planning my wedding(how about that?so see you can make it thru anything if you have faith and HOPE and speak POSITIVE. 

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  • SharonMH
    SharonMH Member Posts: 353
    edited September 2011

    Hi  My MIL Is a 20 surivivor She is doing very well. She does not remember what stage she was but  looking at her she sure does play a mean game of golf and sure knows how to shop at Nordstroms. She just turned 85.Sure do love my MIL  SharonH

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited September 2011

    to beep75 I,m still here and I,ve been cancer free for 17 yrs and I will continue to be here to help others get through, I believe that why  have survived this long, I won,t this site as long as I,m around I feel a connection to you all, like another family because we have sooooooooo much in common more so then those in are blood family, we can relate and we each know the others feelings, only you, us can know what it is like to hear those words"you have cancer".

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  • LovemyLife12
    LovemyLife12 Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2011

    Hi there-  I am almost one year post diagnosis scared to death to go have my first follow up mammogram next month.  I have had so much confidence that this cancer thing is OVER, but extremely anxious right now!...But to answer your questin my mom and grandmother are both 20+ year survivors of breast cancer.  My grandmother had a mastectomy in 1988 at age 67, no chemo radiation nothing! She died this past May at 91.  She had annual mammograms until age 87 and never a recurrance.  My mom had a lumpectomy and radiation, no chemo in 1991 at age 46!  She is thriving at age 66. I talked to my mom today and she said that she still is afraid before a mammogram. So I guess fear stays with you.  I honestly never thought of recurance until I started reading these boards(which are great for support).  I think it is like the previous poster wrote- 20+ year survivors don't hang around these boards.  My mom I know would never and my grandomother never learned how to use a computer.  Thinking POSITIVE thoughts for us allLaughing

    BTW I am BRCAI &II NEGATIVE

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited September 2011

    Hi....

    A neighbor of mine growing up is now 88 and still does all the cooking and gardening for her family.  A year or so ago, she relented and got help cleaning the house.  She was diagnosed something like 35 years ago.

    One of my close friends is 17 years out from initial diagnosis.

    Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller both were diagnosed with breast cancer and lived out full lives.

    I expect to as well.  I don't worry about breast cancer.  I do worry about needing to get my career relaunched so I can eat good chocolate and not Twinkies. - Claire

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited September 2011

    Lauren, I had so many people come forward when I was dx'd to tell me they'd had bc in the past. 3 of them became cheerleaders for me during my tx, including a friend in Colorado who just celebrated 12 years, a local acquaintance -- also 12 years out, and a cousin who is @ 11 years. Although I'm not sure of their stages, all had invasive bc and all had chemo.  One was barely 40 when dx'd, and had a very aggressive bc.  

    I love the two examples Claire gave. Olivia-Newton John and Nancy Reagan are also both long term survivors.  

    The way I've come to look at the future is -- yes, any of us could have a recurrence.  However, if we worry about it every day, then we're letting bc steal our happiness.  And if it never happens, which it won't for the majority of us, then all the worrying has accomplished is to rob us of the present.

    There are also proven things we can do to exert some control over the situation --  like getting a good amount of exercise and eating healthfully.  Of course, these won't always prevent a recurrence; but if we believe that bc is a combination of both genetics and environment, as I do, then anything we can to do tip the scales in our favor is worth doing, partly because I think it also helps to conquer the fear.   (((Hugs)))    Deanna

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  • Fighter_34
    Fighter_34 Member Posts: 834
    edited September 2011

    Deanna well said. Thank You!!

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  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited September 2011
    My dear neighbor is a survivor. She is now 99 years old and was diagnosed when she was in her early 40s (mastectomy with chemo). She was a great support to me when I was diagnosed. How about that for long term survivors Wink
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  • MaryinIllinois
    MaryinIllinois Member Posts: 13
    edited September 2011

    I am a nurse, and I see LOTS of older patients (70+) with history of breast cancer, but no cancer now. In other words, they had it, it's over, and they are still here!

    I'm coming up on 1 year of diagnosis, hope I'm one of the really oldsters!

     Mary 

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  • Veryhopeful
    Veryhopeful Member Posts: 35
    edited October 2011

    I'm 7 years out. 

    Went through surgeries, chemo, rads and tamox.  I was a member of this site then (under a different username because I could not get back on the boards after a few years away)  I like to visit the boards every now and then just to see how everyone is doing.  I also like to keep up with everything new going on with BC.

    I don't think about BC a lot like I did the first couple of years out.  But I still feel a bond with the boards.

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited October 2011

    I know lots of long term survivors, but they are not likely to frequent boards such as these. Am piling up the longevity myself. Stop worrying, you are screwing up your today's!

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  • deedeebug
    deedeebug Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2011
    I have been a breast cancer survivor for almost 25 years.  I was 22 years old when I was diagnosed with stage 1 BC ...I underwent a mastectomy and chemo.  There is no question it is a scary journey.  There are many long term survivors.  I agree that most long termers probably are not on this site.  Smile
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  • rrs
    rrs Member Posts: 614
    edited November 2011

    I'm 10 years out -- wondering what everyone else does for their follow up. 

    I've been having physical breast exam, mammography, ultrasound and MRI -- haven't had blood work done in a couple of years.  After recently moving, looking for a place to have the same follow up in the Seattle area.  Any adivice?

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  • rrs
    rrs Member Posts: 614
    edited November 2011

    I'm 10 years out -- wondering what everyone else does for their follow up. 

    I've been having physical breast exam, mammography, ultrasound and MRI -- haven't had blood work done in a couple of years.  After recently moving, looking for a place to have the same follow up in the Seattle area.  Any adivice?

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2011

    My surgical nurse was a thirty plus year survivor. My aunt who was diagnosed in the 1960s just died a couple years ago at the age of 88.....never had a recurrence.

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  • sam52
    sam52 Member Posts: 950
    edited November 2011

    I am 10 years out too...........so far, so good

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  • dreaming
    dreaming Member Posts: 473
    edited November 2011

    I was considered a young woman, now 20 years later I am in my golden years. I get nervous when I have a new pain, go for mammograms,MRI,etc., but after I am done I do not think about getting a recurrence, I am aware that can happen, and if does I will deal with it. I know several long term survivors,it is not rare.

    Working has helped not to think so much in my cancer, I work in a cancer center and it keeps me busy, I started as a volunteer as soon as I was diagnosed.

     Maybe helps that I never look back, and I am a very positive person, and avoid negativity around me.

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  • Awnooo
    Awnooo Member Posts: 85
    edited November 2011

    i like this thread :)

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  • Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Member Posts: 4,869
    edited November 2011

    Hi, everyone!!!! I just celebrated my 7 year anniversay(had a party this summer to celebrate early). I had bi-lateral breast cancer with one positive node, stage 2b. I am doing great and my husband and I just move to CA to be near our sons. I also just celebrated 6 1/2 years of aromasin and my oncs told me I can off that too. Yippeee!!!! I like this thread, too. I wish everyone, many, many years of NED!!!! Kathy

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  • Honeytagh
    Honeytagh Member Posts: 483
    edited February 2016

    bump

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  • enlm20Erica
    enlm20Erica Member Posts: 216
    edited February 2016

    love this thread, been feeling a little down and very concerned about any and everything...reading this makes me feel so much better.

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  • BLS
    BLS Member Posts: 31
    edited April 2018

    Hi Philly! Hope ur.still on here! I'm a Pittsburgh area gal, im only one year and two months out and.hope to be around for a long time. Your stories keep me.hopful!

    God Bless!

    BlS

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  • CancerThriver
    CancerThriver Member Posts: 14
    edited May 2016

    Sisters, I wanted to chime in from the recurrence perspective. I am an 8 year survivor. First diagnosis was 2008 with stage 1. Then 2012 with metastatic. 4 years after metastatic diagnosis, I feel good most of the time, grateful, full of life, and creative. Even when on chemo, full of gratitude, full of life, full of creativity. In fact, I often ride my bike to my chemo appointments.

    So, include stage 4/metastatic sisters in the long-term survivor stories. Some of us live 10, 20 years and more. And have a good quality of life. That's the key.

    With love.

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