Grateful! -Celebrating My 3 Year Anniversary as a Survivor

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  • karody
    karody Member Posts: 89
    edited February 2013

    Your story looks identical to mine!  My daughter was reading over my shoulder and she thought I had written your post :).  So I guess I will celebrate three years right along with you!  I have long hair now and am more thankful for it than I used to be.  I am so happy to be still raising my own kiddos!

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited February 2013

    congrats to Charlotte and Heather on 3 years....wishing you many more years of celebrating life!!!!

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  • CharlotteMe
    CharlotteMe Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2013

    Congratulations to all the dear, dear Stage III sisters celebrating anniversaries! We share a strong and invisible bond that binds us together for life. I am truly grateful for each of you and your wonderful stories of hope.



    Charlotte

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  • Baile
    Baile Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2013

    Dear All

    My story is as follows:  In January 2007 I discovered a small lump the size of a peanut.  I went to my GP here in the Netherlands and he said - probably a cyst - it's moveable.  However to be on the safe side I will send you for a mammogram.  I was not worried, as I had had a mammogram six monthly previously and it was clear.  Next thing the result was in - it was a birad 3.  Then came a core biopsy.  The results were to come back on 14 February.  I had told my oncologist that Valentines day was very special for me because I got engaged on Valentines Day many years previously.  He said, well you will either be drinking champagne...or not...

    When I arrived in the office on 14 February 2007, I did feel trepidation.  When the news came that it was cancer, my guts turned to jelly and my heart to ice.  My children were aged 6 and 10.  I was scheduled for a lumpectomy, had the sentinel node biopsy beforehand.  When I came round from the operation I felt great, just a little scar and the nurse said everything went well.  Later the surgeon came to me and said that there were 24 nodes positive - you know I didn't really understand what that meant - I actually blocked the number out of my consciousness.  Then the roller-coaster began.  Scans of liver and lungs and bones - terrifying.  I had TAC by six and 35 plus 4 booster radiation treatments.  Tamoxifen for 2 years and I'm currently on arimidex, with a bone strenghening tablet every week, plus additional calcium and Vitamin D.

    I wanted to write my story last year, because it was five years since my diagnosis, but guess what, I had a broken wrist - not bad news at all, considering I am still alive and kicking! When I was newly diagnosed I came to these boards a lot, looking for positive stories, but hardly anyone had so many lymph nodes involved.  That is why I'm coming here now to tell you that I have not only survived so far, but I am doing great!  I have lots of energy, I have enthusiasm, zest for life and hope for the future.  My children are 12 and 17 and doing great at school.  I try to grasp every moment of their lives and take the time to appreciate and enjoy them (of course it's not like I don't have plenty of rows with my teenage daughter!!), but I even love that normality - how good is "normal" - I want nothing more.

    And guess what - last night - I did drink champagne!

    I wish you all on this stage 3 board (and all boards) the best with your treatment and recovery.  It is possible.  I'm sending cyber hugs (I learned about those on this board) and wishing you the strength to go through your treatment and come out on the other side.  Life is great and I hope and pray we all get to enjoy many, many happy years.

    Love Catherine xx

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited February 2013

    Catherine, thanks for posting. Here is to many more. May I ask which bone-drug you are on?

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  • Baile
    Baile Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2013

    Hi Momine,

    I'm taking aledronic acid, once a week.

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  • jgbartlett
    jgbartlett Member Posts: 112
    edited February 2013

    'like'

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited February 2013

    Catherine, thanks for the info.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited February 2013

    It will be two years this October for me.  I will never forget the feeling of drowning as I left my surgeon's office after going over the path report.  Now I'm looking forward to reconstruction in April.  I feel great, and the cancer radio that played so loudly in my head 24 hrs a day has dimmed to a faint, occasional tune.  Thanks for the support on these boards, and thank you, God!

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  • CharlotteMe
    CharlotteMe Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2013

    Oh Catherine!



    I am in tears reading your story. What an uplifting example to those of us who are also Stage III. I know there will be some desparate, newly diagnosed BC sisters who will find much needed hope and encouragement in your story! Thank you for sharing with us.



    After they were discovered and I was told about them I felt like having multiple positive lymph nodes was a death sentence! I am certain many others have as well. We all need to hear that it is not necessarily the case.



    Congratulations on celebrating 5 years and may you have many, many more precious years with your family.



    Best Regards,

    Charlotte

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  • CharlotteMe
    CharlotteMe Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2013

    Elizabeth,



    I also felt sick after my oncologist went over my post surgical path report. Your description of "drowning" is so very accurate! I went home and stuffed the paper copies into my cancer paperwork binder and couldn't bring myself to look at it again for a very long time! I felt like I was doomed.



    I sometimes think we have been given a tiny glimpse of what our dear Stage 4 sisters must face. It has made me more compassionate and empathetic.



    I am thrilled to know you are doing well. May your reconstruction be the start of a long, healthy future for you! Praying all goes smoothly and your recovery is not too painful. Enjoy your new breasts. I am not yet ready for reconstruction, but starting to contemplate it.



    All the Best,

    Charlotte

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  • hmh23
    hmh23 Member Posts: 306
    edited February 2013

    Thx to all for your well wishes.....it feels so darn good to hit #3!!! Heather

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