Calling all Stage III Survivor's

Hi Tricia - I'm not stage 3, but my surgeon's nurse was...15 years ago.  She's doing great.  No recurrence. 

i will be 10 years out feb 2012.  lifestyle changes; i exercise daily; cycle at least 1 hour and half aday.  i think the exercise changes the environment in your body.  i try to eat good; veggies and fruits ....meat...calcium.  i see my onc every 6 months for blood work; no scans.  (except mammo and breast mri)  i don't get ahead of myself as far as the cancer returning; i really just take one day at a time.  so far; it has worked for me.  i also take a multivitamin; calcium, vit b complex and fish oil.  that is about it.  i really think the bottom line is significant exercise.  it is like doing chemo every day. 

Hi Tricia,

I am coming up on six years since diagnosis - IIIa thanks to 6/16 positive nodes.  I am doing very well after bilateral lumpectomies (I had DCIS with a micro invasion in the other breast), TACx6 chemo, 33 radiation treatments, and Tamoxifen followed by Femara.  To be honest, I haven't changed much - others will have other stories and approaches - and I'm one of those who truly believes that the chances of recurrence are either 100% or 0%, so best to just get on with life.  Congratulations on making it through the chemo regimen - I hear that's a tough one too.  Sending good thoughts.  Leigh

Tricia.....I feel the same way that JPSGirl does....its 100%...either it won't come back or it will....JPSGirl and Bugs and I went through Tx at the same time.......I was Dx 2/3/2006...bilat mastectomy, TAC chemo, rads, ooph and AI's (only took them for 3 1/2 years).....I am currently NED....5 years and 9 months since Dx.....

Hi, Tricia,

Like caaclark, I exercised and ate right, too, prior to my diagnosis (which was almost 4 years ago now). I took vitamins and melatonin and never smoked. BC came a'knockin' anyway. Everyone gets something at some point in their life. I can't say I've made big changes since cancer...I still exercise daily and eat right. I still have a few drinks a week and love cookies and ice cream. I do eat less and less meat, though, but for many reasons.

I've mentioned several times my boyfriend's Aunt Evelyn, who was diagnosed with stage III bc in the late 1960s when she was in her mid-40s. Evelyn had a mastectomy, and that's it. No chemo, no radiation, no antihormonals. Most of those things didn't exist then. Evelyn lived into her mid-80s, eating a Denny's-style diet and not exercising. She died last spring from basic old age ailments following a broken hip. Her breast cancer never returned. Evelyn's story is one of the things that kept me sane and gave me hope during treatment. I hope it helps you, too.

Here's my advice for completing your treatment: have a goal. Dangle a carrot in front of your nose. It can be taking a vacation, going back to school, learning a new skill, whatever motivates you. Mine was to once again hike in Hickory Nut Gorge. This will help keep your head in a good place. It helps you to think FUTURE, which is something I lost sight of for a while during treatment. It helps you to remember that there's life beyond cancer.

Hi TMetz,  I am 6 years out from diagnosis of Stage IIIa and finally stopped Arimidex this summer.  I lost 25 pounds and did "pet therapy" (let my kids get a dog), otherwise little lifestyle changes.  I rarely think about cancer now.  Basically, I follow my onc's recommendations.

Not quite at 5 years yet, but I am fast approaching.  I haven't changed my eating habits dramatically because, like others have said, I ate pretty well before diagnosis.  Was training for my first marathon a year before this storm and had added swimming to my exercise regimen as well.  Actually flagged the lymph nodes under my arm because it felt like a sore muscle after a hard swim.  I have tried to keep up my exercise since diagnosis.  One of the biggest changes we made (and that means the entire familly) was to switch to ALL organic products.  It really doesn't change what we eat, but we are getting rid of all of the chemicals, genetically modified, and preservatives.  We also purchase from a farm nearby so we gain the local protection element as well.  Pricey, but we eat at home more often so we tell ourselves it balances out.

 Right now you are in the scariest part and I wish there was something to say to make the worry go away, but....  So that being said I want to assure you that after 5 years of following this site I have seen a lot of success stories and I am planning on hearing you say the same to someone else online in another 5 years!