whew!!!! 13 years now with Stage IIIC

YATCOMW
YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
edited January 2018 in Stage III Breast Cancer

13 years……

I was diagnosed in 2004 with an 8cm X 6cm tumor that was not seen on a mammogram or sonogram. I had no palpable nodes and yet after surgery at least 17 were positive with cancer with at least two bursting out with cancer. I could not get clear margins….the cancer had gotten into the skin…..it was multifocal….a lot of ILC with IDC and IBC. I had vascular invasion and cox-2+++.

I had two children in elementary school and one had just started middle school. The fear of them not remembering me was all consuming. I adored them. I wanted to raise them. I was going to do everything possible to make that happen despite the odds.

I traveled the country to find an oncologist that might have an idea…..any good idea. I was not happy with my local options in Florida. One oncologist literally cried in front of me when she found out my youngest was 7.

I had the unique opportunity to talk to Nancy Brinker (founder of susan g. komen) and asked her advice. She suggested I see her oncologist in Arlington Tx but she also got me access to the top people at MSK and MD Anderson. In the end I chose the doctor in Arlington. I am forever indebted to her.

I threw the Kitchen Sink at it…a lot of chemo……...had an ooph/hyst and have been on Femara the last 12 years.

I have no other secret sauce.

I worked throughout my treatment and each night after work I would stop at a chapel to pray to Mary ( a mother herself)…..or maybe it was begging. I wanted to finish raising my kids…see them graduate high school……..just let me get them off to college. After that…..I could be at peace with my circumstance. My surgeon said realistically I could maybe expect to see them graduate elementary school.

I saw my second child follow my first graduating college this month. My youngest finished high school two years ago…(he was only 7 at diagnosis)........he will be a junior this fall at UF (We are all part of the Gator Nation). I am now on "BonusTime".

Yes bonus time…..and I am not taking it for granted. Just took my kids and friends to Italy for a week…..I continue to make memories that I hope they will never forget.

YATCOMW....stands for You are The Center of my World......my husband.....who has been joined at the hip with me on this journey....can't say enough about his love and support. I am blessed beyond measure.


For those starting out……I hope this gives you something to hold onto. With the darkest part of cancer there can be light…..there can be hope. I try with each post here to provide it. I clung to it back in 2004. I continue to pray for all of us…..that a cure will happen in our lifetime.

Love you all…….Fists up

Jacqueline

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Comments

  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2020

    .

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  • EWESM
    EWESM Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2017

    Amazing! Thank you for sharing! Congratulations!

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited June 2017

    There were parts of your story I didn't know, even after reading your posts for years, like what YATCOMW meant. Every post helps a little bit, Jacqueline. Thank-you!

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited June 2017

    Jacqueline - when I was first diagnosed, I read some of your story.  You are one of the people who got me through.  I thank God for you and your postings!  I can remember thinking, "If she can live, I can live."

    I never knew the part about Nancy Brinker and your Oncologist and doctors.  My MO is a scientific advisor to national Komen and speaks highly of Nancy Brinker.  Glad to hear your part of the story as well!!

    Keep living, keep praying, and keep inspiring!!   Denise


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  • rlk58
    rlk58 Member Posts: 155
    edited June 2017

    Congrats and many, many more years to yo!Love you Jackie! You have been a light to me during this journey!

    Rhonda

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  • stephilosphy00
    stephilosphy00 Member Posts: 386
    edited June 2017

    Thank you so much for cminfletting us know there is hope! ❤

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  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited June 2017

    you are truly inspiring.

    Thank you thank you

    Mimi

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  • Paisleyskies
    Paisleyskies Member Posts: 24
    edited June 2017

    I really need this today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited June 2017

    "TANFASTIC"

    I'm 5 yrs and a couple of months behind you.

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  • HoneyBadger47
    HoneyBadger47 Member Posts: 98
    edited June 2017

    All I could keep reapeating in my head was "wow!" with each paragraph I read. Well, that is not totally honest, I threw some "Holy &$@&!s" in, too.

    Truly an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing it. Congratulations. I wish you and everyone on here NED.

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  • hopefour
    hopefour Member Posts: 459
    edited June 2017

    Wow…some of what you shared about fighting to raise your kids brought me to tears. Nothing more powerful to fuel a fight then a mom's desire to live for her children. Love the meaning of your name!! Each of your posts are a blessing to me and I am grateful for each of them. Thank you for continuing to come back and inspiring us.

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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited June 2017

    Jacqueline, Thank you so much for your beautiful and inspiring post! Wishing you many, many more years of good health and happiness! Your children have an amazing Mom!

    Hugs and BE WELL wishes to you and to all here!

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  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 2,753
    edited June 2017

    Wow, incredible story. So very happy you beat the odds that I'm sure you were told weren't good. What an inspiring story. Here's to many many many more years for you! :)

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  • sugarplum
    sugarplum Member Posts: 318
    edited June 2017

    Jacqueline: you are the center of OUR world here on the Stage III forum. Thank you for your grace and style, and for leading us onward. The future is uncertain for all of us, but having you along on our journey gives us a bright light to follow.

    I walked my first Komen race 11 years ago - when I was in the middle of chemo - and have been one of their top fundraisers ever since. Amazing to hear that part of your story!

    Hugs & hope to us all - Julie

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  • Goincrzy8
    Goincrzy8 Member Posts: 387
    edited June 2017

    It is women like you that keep this place real. It is nice to see ladies who have been thru everything, to be here for all the new ladies going thru what you have gone thru. A true Sisterhood.

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited June 2017

    Dearest Jacqueline,

    You were/are a very important lifeline for me. Back in the early days there seemed to be so little hope for us.Now, here you are 13 years later , enjoying life and living in gratitude for the gift of raising your little ones and a steadfast loving hubby at your side.

    I can not express how grateful I am for your posts throughout the years

    Wishing continued Blessings to you and your dear family.

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  • RebzAmy
    RebzAmy Member Posts: 322
    edited June 2017

    That is amazing - so pleased to hear this. Are you planning on remaining on the Femara? Sounds like it's something you should do.

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  • Kathleen26
    Kathleen26 Member Posts: 210
    edited June 2017

    You helped me a lot when I was first diagnosed and going through treatment and the point where the bottom seems to drop out when "active treatment" is over. I also learned more interesting things about you from this post--your story is compelling. I'm so glad that you continue to do well.

    Keep those graduations coming!

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  • reflect
    reflect Member Posts: 576
    edited June 2017

    Thank you so much for sharing your story. I also want to make great memories with my family (youngest 16 now) and have really shifted my focus to them. I am trying to cultivate gratitude for every moment together. Your message is inspiring.

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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited June 2017

    Jacqueline, you mean so much to many of us! I'm thankful that you continue to come back and post on bco. Hugs to you!



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  • victoriasecret
    victoriasecret Member Posts: 333
    edited June 2017

    Another light in my journey 8 years ago ...Congrats to you

    I see many of the stg 3 old timers commenting thank you with much love

    Cheryl

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  • SSInUK
    SSInUK Member Posts: 245
    edited September 2017

    I don't know what brought me scrolling through the pages to this thread - but I needed to find it. Having a dark day when survival seems impossible. Crap 3C DX, then screwed thyroid, big weight gain, insulin resistance - seems hopeless. Your post is so beautiful and allows me a path through the tunnel. I too am desperate to raise my kid - 4 at DX and now still only 7 - and with no loving husband all she has is me. She's the most sensitive barometer of my private fears and mood and tonight asked 'you won't let anything part us mummy?'. I too beg for high school - get her safely through my care. But in my heart I don't believe it. So for now praying not to be the 2.5 year recurrence. Thank you though for leaving this shining little gift on the boards for dark hours.

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited September 2017

    Jacqueline, even though you are not as far out as me, I hang on every word you write here, and always feel better having read your posts. Great admiration, weesa

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  • katykaty
    katykaty Member Posts: 29
    edited September 2017

    Hi Jacqueline - thank you so much for sharing your story. I've just finished radiation and now just herceptin for the next 6 months and today I just couldn't shake the fear of recurrence. Seeing your post makes a world of difference. Enjoy every minute with your beautiful family - you clearly deserve it!!

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  • Debbieb2652
    Debbieb2652 Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2017

    I have just the same path report as you! Loved reading your post

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  • gwendolendenise
    gwendolendenise Member Posts: 9
    edited September 2017

    Thank you so much for sharing your story. This is what new comers need to see more of! It gives us so much more hope and especially after all you see are "statistics". My youngest just turned 7 in July and my oldest will be 9 in a few weeks. All I want is to be here to raise them into good men and to stay cancer free for them. Again thank you for posting! May God bless you with more!

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  • Newnorm
    Newnorm Member Posts: 100
    edited October 2017

    Thanks for posting Jacqueline. Stories like yours are inspirational for all of us, particularly when you have young kids and are so desperate to fight for life to be able to give them all the mothering they need.

    Please keep coming back. I love reading from survivors.


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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited October 2017

    beautiful and inspiring

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  • milenamj
    milenamj Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2017

    Thank you so much for your post. I'm on treatment for stage IIIC and sometimes I ask myself if my boys (8, 5, 2) will have their mother around...

    You give me hope and this has no price! Thank you!

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  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited December 2017

    Thank you for this thread! 1 yr 11 months after recurrence with 10/14 nodes. Scary shit. We keep each other afloat some days!

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