Would love to hear from some long term Stage III survivors...

I was diagnosed a little over four years ago with very similar stats as you. I've been finished with everything except anastrosole (Arimidex) for some time. My onc indicated he will probably only keep me on the anastrosole for the recommended five years, unless study results yield improved stats before that time is reached in about a year and a half.

I haven't had really bads SEs...I was already experiencing arthritis and other aches from aging (I'm turning 61 later this month), so whatever the AI has added just gets lumped in with the others.

A little lymphedema in my cancer side arm has just flared up, but I know the reason (switched to a laptop at work and have to transport it to between two different offices and home) and have taken steps to eliminate carrying the load. 

Except for swanning around this board, I live my life without letting my cancer interfere very much. Things like the lymphedema might force me to make small changes, but they're not stopping me from doing the things I want to do.

Your future is not as dark as you might think!

at the top of the forum is the 5+year check in.  you might want to read some of those stories.

there are lots of us out there; long term.  i am 10 years out and a good friend of mine is 12 years out.  treatment is effective and some of which is relatively new....taxines...AI's.  when i was diagnosed in 2002, the AI's were just kinda coming into play for estrogen positive cancer.  the use of taxol and taxatere was relatively new.  my chemo was actually a clinical trial for TAC.  so was my friend who is doing well at 12 years...she was in a phase II clinical trial. 

bottom line; keep on...keep on. don't loose hope or faith even on a bad day*

best

diana

Thank-you everyone for your stories!  Although diagnosed with C in Oct.  I just had surgery and received my stage 3 info which was a surprise to all.  My onc. had little positive to say and I thank you all for giving me back some hope!!!!     Maura

I'm w/geewhiz almost to the date.  Just had my 6 month checkup yesterday and got the NED!  Still have some ups and downs but overall doing well 2 1/2 years out!

Sharon 

My diagnosis is very similar to yours and I am almost ten years out.

Hey there! I Don't consider myself a longterm survivor yet, but I'm almost 3 years out.  Actually it was during the month of April that I had my axillary node dissection after having done the mastectomy in March. Peace and Blessings to you.

 Barb

6 years for me too!  40 years old when diagnosed and now 46 years old!  I had 6+ nodes and extracapsular extension (aka-cancer coming out of the lymph nodes).

Hi there!

It was in 2007 that I was told the nasty 3 words. Heavy sigh! anyway my oncologist was never Miss Congeniality and seemed to happily tell me my stats were nasty (gee thanks! needless to say I have a new onc!) anyway just to say that life does go on post the big C !!!!  I even go for day (s) (that's new, it used to be day only) not even thinking about it - I know that seems impossible now, but trust and believe me. it will happen. I'm not an optimist but have tried to learn to be one. All the best

Hey, I was talking to a gal from my mortgage comp. today, calling in my payment......A very normal thing for me now with all my med. bills, I usually wait till the last minute.Anyway, we were talking, and she mention that she had also had breast cancer 12 years ago!!! She was 21, lots of nodes and back then they considered her a stage IV!! She had the full treatments and is still cancer free!!! her words to me were very calm, she simply said, don't worry you will be fine. I promise.............

good stuff!!!

xoxox

Steph

6yrs and 11.5 months from a Nasty bad A** tumor ( so said my surgeon )

Happy and healthy , thanking God daily, and living life LARGE!!!

6 years out, DCIS with micro invasion on the left, ILC and 6 nodes on the right, ER/PR positive HER uncertain...had twin lumpectomies, TACX6 chemo, 33 radiation treatments, six months of Tamoxifen and now five years of Femara.  Doing great, still having regular mammograms, MRI's and visits to both oncologist and breast surgeon.  Lots of us out here - and the best thing is, when I saw the post today about how to make a care package for someone having chemo, I honestly couldn't remember what I might have wanted or needed.  This too shall past...sending good thoughts.

Well - I don't consider myself a long 'termie' in the over all BUT as an IBCer- riding NED at 2 1/2 yrs post DX is good.

I am not stage 3, but I am searching for answers. Could I ask how long it took for hair to grow back to normal. So many of the pictures show ladies with short hair that I'm wondering if having long, healthy hair again after chemo would be possible. I have to make a decision in the next few days and am very conflicted. The idea of losing my long hair is shattering - I know it must have been awful for all of you as well. The thought that I would have short or thin hair for two to three or more years is not encouraging.

My oncologist is leaving the decision about the level of chemo up to me. The lightest would allow me to keep my hair, although it would get thinnner, and give me about 2-3% improved chance of no recurrance, medium would give 4-6% and I'd lose my hair and my self esteem, heavy would add another 1%, so 5-7% improvement.

Hair issues aside, logically, gaining 3-4% over the lightest chemo by taking the heaviest sounds like the best route; however, I keep thinking about a friend of mine who took the heaviest, AC-T, yet had a 3 cm recurrance less than a year later, plus she may have developed leukemia from it - her tests haven't come back yet. She's been told to take chemo again, but is refusing as her first experience was so rough due to side effects, not counting her hair. The supposed extra few percents didn't do her much good, unfortunately.