Nine Years from Stage IIIC!!!

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lkc
lkc Member Posts: 1,203
edited September 2015 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi ladies,

I am writing this with enormous gratitude that I have reached this 9 Year BC anniversary. I've recently returned from my 6 mos check up, and finally had the nerve to ask my sweet Onc if he thought I would make it back then. He smiled and told me if anyone would, he thought it would be me. You see back then it was a recent development that an additional classification  of C was added to the Stage 3  cases.There was only Stage III A. and B then. This  meant for me  that had I been diagnosed a few years earlier I would of been classified a stage 4 and would not have been a  candidate  for surgery, or the treatment I received.( My onc was part of the team at MD Anderson that pushed for this additional classification to provide an option of CURE for cases like myself) Anyway,  to throw another ratchet in, I was also HER2 positive and when he  told me that he looked really disturbed. I was actually happy since I knew I would probably get the newly approved Herceptin and just maybe it would work for me. He told me he had seen HER2  cases(before Herceptin) to be the worst BC  prognosis and did not have any long term data for a case like mine. However, my dear Onc, held out his hand to me and said 'We're going for the Cure for you" I remember telling him then  to throw everything he could at me.  You see, I had just lost my Mom to Met BC and he was also  her Onc. and we all had  walked the long road of metastatic dx together.

That was 9  years ago and I am well. Living Large!  I don't let a day pass without thanking God for my health and blessings I have in this life. I am blessed to share  my life with a wonderful man who stood by me, while some members of my family ran for the hills. I have 2 beautiful girls  and  healthy happy  grandchildren and a new baby boy coming in August! I am blessed to have  my faith , and have  truly long time  dear friends. Upon my return home I went back to my career in research, but it would be Breast Cancer Research this time. How cool is that to be able to do that?! So many new treatments and lots of good outcomes.

Anyway. I am  posting this to say hi to my old timer sisters  on this board and also to  let the newer sisters, know my story. There are lots of us out there.

I wish all a gentle road on a journey no one wants to go on.  

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Comments

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2014

    lkc, congratulations on your nine year anniversary, and best wishes for many more years of living large!

    • The Mods

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited May 2014

    Wow.

    I'm speechless. How inspiring.

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  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited May 2014

    Congratulations....

    It is great that you continue to update here....it provides comfort to both the new and the oldies that we can beat this....HOPE is a beautiful thing.

    Just thrilled for you!

    Jacqueline

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  • AryaS
    AryaS Member Posts: 131
    edited May 2014

    Awesome post.  I read it out loud to my husband.  I am very happy for you. Congrats!


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  • RebzAmy
    RebzAmy Member Posts: 322
    edited May 2014

    Really inspiring LKC and congrats on the 9 nine years. I had a similar diagnosis it sounds like and am 6 years 11 months since diagnosis.  It was terribly scary getting the diagnosis but like you my oncologist told me he was considering the treatment he was giving me to be curative treatment and I held on to that.  Makes me feel so grateful for the Herceptin I received and all the treatment which I was given and the dedication of my medical team.  I really didn't know what the future held ....

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  • wirdgirl118
    wirdgirl118 Member Posts: 231
    edited May 2014

    thank you for the dose of inspiration! You sound amazing, as well as being inspiring!

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited May 2014

    lkc, it is wonderful to read your story which gives hope to so many. May you continue to be well! God bless, Racy in Australia.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited May 2014

    Fantastic thank you for taking the time to inspire us....and keep on trucking!!

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited May 2014

    You rock! Keep the faith. You are certainly an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your journey with us!

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  • inks
    inks Member Posts: 746
    edited May 2014

    Congratulations! And thank you for taking the time to inspire us, especially the newbies like me.

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  • yogamama
    yogamama Member Posts: 39
    edited May 2014

    Thank you so much for posting.  I feel hope, thanks to you!

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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited May 2014

    Thank you for sharing and giving hope!  

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited May 2014

    Goose bumps reading your post.

    Congrats and may you have many, many more years!!

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited May 2014

    Wow!  What a journey it has been for you.  Congratulations on another milestone and thank you for your words of inspiration.

    Sharon

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited May 2014

    What a wonderful post. Congratulations!

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  • cider8
    cider8 Member Posts: 832
    edited May 2014

    congrats!  And thank you for sharing!  I was lamenting today about IIIC.  Will I actually make it 1 year past active treatment?  Slow recovery is frustrating.  The regular pity party stuff.  You being 9 years out is very encouraging!

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited May 2014

    Absolutely incredible lkc! 

    Thank you for posting and insiring us!

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited May 2014

    well, i am so thrilled for you and all your loved ones.  proud of you too.  this is a huge milestone and continue to live large.  where is the LOVE button?  ThumbsUp

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited May 2014

    lkc, 

    Very cool, the sweet news of inspiration....

    Continued good health to you !

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  • Octobergirl
    Octobergirl Member Posts: 334
    edited May 2014

    great news....Thanks for posting!

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited May 2014

    Hi LKC! You are about 6 months ahead of me and I remember reading your posts when I was diagnosed in 2006 and thinking that if you could survive maybe I could too!!   So glad you posted today!  You know how some days you just want to read a success story?  Well, today was one of those days so thanks for posting!

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  • sugarplum
    sugarplum Member Posts: 318
    edited May 2014

    From one oldie to another - loved reading this today as I've been having a pity party lately myself. My onc also mentioned the word "cure" which I hung onto for dear life. I didn't know right away how close I was to Stage 4 (probably just as well) but the more I learned, the more grateful I was that I got the most complete treatment regimen they could throw at me. I wish you nothing but the best and many more years to come - I'm right behind you!

    Hugs, Julie

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited May 2014

    You are so very kind to come here to share your experiences with us.  I'm sorry you lost your mother and followed into the BC experience, too.  Life asks so much of us, but it gives us so much, too.  It inspires us all that you are going strong.  I'm a bit behind you time wise, and love to hear from the "old timers".  Big hugs!

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  • Annaanne
    Annaanne Member Posts: 190
    edited May 2014

    Many congrats!  I also just had my nine year check up, and all continues to be well!   Also her2 pos, and also

    was greeted by a lot of sad faces 8/9 years ago from by docs and nurses who didn't think I'd make it.   Here I am, 

    still working like a maniac, running,  traveling, enjoying getting older with my husband and kids.

    Love to you all.
    Annaanne

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2014

    That is so inspirational. Thank you so much for posting!

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited May 2014

    Thanks so much for this. I also am IIIC, HER+, just finished chemo, about to start radiation, will be on herceptin for another 9 months.  I have many days worrying if all this treatment is worth it, was even thinking, do I really need to do radiation, will it really make a difference ? Your post made me feel so much more positive and hopeful.

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  • Hope40
    Hope40 Member Posts: 26
    edited May 2014

    Thank you for sharing your story! I really needed this. I am one year out dx 3a her2 positive. I have finished chemo, radiation and about five more Herceptin treatments. I have been really depressed and needed a lift. Thank you for inspiring all of us..

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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited May 2014

    Bump...for hope today.

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  • pip57
    pip57 Member Posts: 12,401
    edited May 2014

    LKC

    Thanks for your post. 

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited June 2014


    Yay you!  Great post, thanks for posting.

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