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Question about 5 year mark

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Posted 6/2/2009 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hello my beautiful friends,i havent posted in a long time but i still read the posts.Its been 4 years since my diagnosis.can someone tell me,do i count the 5 year mark from my diagnosis date or from my last chemo date ? Tammy (possitive)
Posted 6/2/2009 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I count mine from my diagnoses date. I did not have to have Chemo, but I would still do it that way myself. WELCOME BACK!!

Gail
Posted 6/2/2009 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
I use my diagnosis date. I don't even remember my last chemo date, partly because what I thought was going to be my last chemo date wasn't. I had the unusual number 9 chemo treatments, and I thought I was only going to have 8. Needless to say, I wasn't too happy when I found out that number 8 was only my NEXT to last! In retrospect, it wasn't such a big deal, but at the time, it really burst my bubble.

Good to see you post!

Hugs...
BEV
Posted 6/3/2009 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Oh good,counting from my diagnosed date makes me closer to the 5 year mark.I want to have a pet scan at the 5 year mark just to kinda have some closure.Do you think its a good idea ? Tammy
Posted 6/4/2009 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I count from diagnosis date, and I am at 4yrs 7 months. I believe once you get through the shock of the diagnosis, you are a "survivor". Although I will be at 5 years in November 2009, I must continue with Arimidex treatment until Aug 2010 since I started  it in Aug of 2005.

Judy 

Posted 6/4/2009 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
I've never had a pet scan. I do have bone scans every couple of years, chest ct every year, and blood work every 4 months. This is after 15 years. I'm just curious what other people do???

BEV
Posted 6/4/2009 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
They dont do blood tests or anything but press on my armpits and check my scars and i feel i should at least have a blood test or scan sometime before my 5 year mark.What do you think ? Tammy
Posted 6/5/2009 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
My SIL and I both still see our breast disease surgeon. I understand for most of his patients he cuts them loose after 5 years. We were told we would be kept on his active patient list because of special issues. We also have to go to the onc for blood work. It has been over ten years for me and I am still going and always feel better after a good going over. I remember we had lots of talk here about when do you say you are NED. I am with everyone else, I know your not NED the day you are diag. but lets face it.... that is an hour,minute, and second in a day you will never forget and like everyone else here I remember it all to well. In August I walked out of my last chemo and rads, but I would have to stop and look that date up, but of course we always can use chemo brain for a reason for not remembering that date. I do remember sooooo looking forward to that date and now I find it almost funny I can not remember it. So I agree with everyone else and use my diagnosis date. Lots of good wishes Joyce
Posted 6/6/2009 2:03 AM (GMT 0)

The ongoing debate....was it the chicken or the egg? In my opinion, it depends what you are counting exactly...but I use my dx date to count anniversaries. My onc would count chemo (and the surgeon would count surgery!)...if I want to discuss how long I have been a survivor, I mention dx date. It was the first date I knew I had cancer and also the last known date I had cancer. But if my onc wants to measure progress for statistics or protocol, he'll measure time out from chemo tx.

Whatever it is, any anniversary is good!!

Im coming up on TEN for diagnosis, which is just mind boggling! Congrats to you too!

Posted 6/6/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all of my friends for your good info as allways. Tammy
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