looking for long term survivors diagnosed young

Stephilosophy: my girlfriend had exactly the same tumour qualities as you have and did nothing but surgery. She is 12 years out and no sign of anything. Having said that, never compare your prognosis with someone else's. 15 years ago is a long time and they didn't measure her2 in those days nor did they have oncotypeDX which may have shown her o have a very high risk of recurrence regardless of her treatments. I think the shell shock is more pronounced in younger women but you will find a stable place as anyone who has had breast cancer cannot be guaranteed a 100% :cure". We have to live with that. And we do. But don't let it ruin today because worry does only that. It doesn't change your destiny, so you eventually learn to live with your diagnosis and hope for the better stats. I know women with stage 3 IBC or even stage 4 breast cancer than would gladly change places with you...or me.....so many of my friends etc. are being diagnosed with really bad things. I consider myself lucky. (((HUGS))))

At your age, the terribleness of facing your own mortality hits especially hard. It is normal to feel as you do. I had a nervous breakdown and not ashamed to admit that and I was 60!!! So, I can appreciate where you are coming from. There is an article I shared with another young woman about a new up and coming cancer vaccine that, in mice, kill off 87 out of 90 tumours and with a second treatment, got the rest. Originally tested on lymphoma clinical trials with mice, this vaccine has the potential for ALL cancers and human trials are beginning this year. Always remember that research isn't static.....it is moving right along especially with genetic research, so if and when you might re-visit breast cancer (that Ki67 is really low and I read an article just recently that grade 3 tumours with low Ki67, do very well) there will be new and better treatments, perhaps a cure too. You have done aggressive treatment and by all accounts, should do well. I suspect you are focusing on your age as a negative prognostic factor. Focus instead, on the good ones! I hate that such young women face this disease...HATE it. ((((HUGS))))

Ladies...I am finishing my year of Herceptin next week. Started Zometa a week and a half ago to hopefully prevent bone mets. Would feel more like celebrating the end of Herceptinbut my Mom was diagnosed in January with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. She is only 61 and is my world. She moved in with me and my children last year while I went through chemo and rads. Nursed my Dad back to health from a heart attack last spring too. She is so many things to so many people. Wishing for a miracle

I was diagnosed when I was 40, 2 kids, one just graduated from high school, the other starting, it was 25 years ago, I wanted the most aggressive treatment possible, had a mastectomy, 18 lymph nodes removed, none positive, but one dosent know how many nodes are.

At that time there was not many treatments, I had chemo at home on a Friday of metaxestrate, 5FU, cytoxan , slow dense by vein, the following Friday I would get a booster, the 3d week I would be sick,low platelets, etc.4 week again ,I had 10 months treatment.

Never once I thought I was going to die,not even when I went because I am a devout Roman catholic, to the Mass for the Sick and had the holy oils blessed and put on me.

My support group gave me strength, I becomed a volunteer in a cancer center.

I took tamoxifen for 4 months, it made me too moody and too many side effects.

My oncologist told me I had a 70% survival, I always see my cup half full.

Saw my kids grow,graduated from college,get married.

I have a very good follow up, have had several biopsies, microcalcifications removed from my chest wall behind my reconstructed breast.

Few years back a benign tumor was removed from my real breast.

I had 2 different types of breast cancer, the second was found when I had the mastectomy, it was invasive.

Try to be positive, get medicine if needed, I took xanax during my treatments.

Dont listen to negative people.

My philosophy is ,it can be back and I will deal with it. There are more and better drugs.