Stage III Cancer Survivors .... 10+ Years and Out

Fourteen years ago today I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Breastcancer.org was my lifeline throughout my treatment and reconstruction. I learned so much from those with the same diagnosis, the same chemo regime, and the same reconstruction. Today I recommend breastcancer.org to those who are newly diagnosed. I come back once a year, on or near the date of my diagnosis to offer encouragement to others. Life is good. The only lingering affect of treatment is the neuropathy in my toes. Treatments have changed a lot in the last 14 years. There are going to be a lot more long-term survivors in the future. The thing I worry about most now is COVID-19, not breast cancer. Next year I get to move up to the 15+ group. Stay strong and go wash your hands.

Congratulations @DATO !!! Breastcancer org has been my lifeline too. Thankful for inspiring stories like yours

I'm proud to say I'm now part of this group. I never thought 10 years ago that I'd be here today but here I am. It has not been easy, especially at the beginning, everyday got better and better. Before I knew it the years kept passing until they became 10 years. I don't come here much anymore but I had to drop by and share that it can be done. Keep the faith and hope, you can do this. Thank you BC.org for getting me through and all the info!

Congratulations, Jennyboog! You helped me put one foot in front of the other when I was first diagnosed. Here's to more decades of kicking cancer's butt!

Congratulations Jennyboog and thanks for coming back to share your milestone. It still gives me so much hope to see these posts, as it always has since my entry on this BC journey. Here’s to the next 10

Congrations Jennyboog!!

Dear Survivor Sisters,

Today I had my regular oncology follow up appointment. And today I celebrate being 10 years out from the end of active treatment - BMX surgery, 7 months of chemo, and radiation, followed by Femara.

Happily, I am still on Femara, 10 years of it so far and at least one more to go.

I am nearing 11 years since my initial diagnosis. So, depending on whenever you count survivorship from, I am squarely in the 10+ years survivors' club now!

To those just starting this journey, I encourage you to take comfort and find hope in the stories of long-time survivors here. I certainly did! As I would read, then re-read over and over again the stories of those survivors on this forum who had graciously shared their journeys of survival they gave me some fragile hope that my Stage 3 diagnosis might not be a death sentence. Early on I was still terrified, but many times I hung onto those stories to make it through the day. Thank you, Stage 3 Sisters, for giving me the gift of hope!

Yes, as you know all too well, my cancer could still return. But today I feel eternally grateful for the 10+ years I have been given as a Stage 3 survivor!

Keep Hoping,

❤️ CharlotteMe

Thank you @CharlotteMe ❤️ Inspired by you and praying I get to make the same announcement in 9 years ☺️

I was ten years out in July. I had a 4 year old and an 8 year old at diagnosis. Now I have a freshman in college and a 15 year old!

Congratulations, Kathleen!

Congratulations Inthelight! You’re a strong woman. Here’s hoping to decades more

That is AWESOME inthelight!!! Here’s to many, many more!

Congrats MaxineO!!!!!! So very happy that you are at peace from all the worries that our diagnosis comes with. May God bless you with the gift of health.

Thanks for posting, gives me hope:)

Congrats MaxineO. Ten is a nice round number. Now let's go for 20!

will be 11 years out from stage 3a in Feb. I do have radiation induced heart disease from treatment, (diagnosed 4 years ago), & have had open heart surgery to repair a damaged heart valve. My tumor was on the left breast, at the 3:00 position. All is good now though...wondering if anyone else has had any long term side effects?