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I need to hear some possitive survival stories

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Posted 4/9/2006 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ladies,its been 8 months since my chemo treatments,and my mind starts to wonder sometimes.my tumor was 2cm with 1 node possitive.Can someone share their journey with me.I just have been thinking about that 1 node possitive and micro invasion,i have alot of faith in god that the chemo got everything.  Tammy
Posted 4/9/2006 5:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Tammy,

Just wanted to give you a word of encouragement. None of us ever know if we are finished with cancer for good. It's hard not to let our minds get the best of us sometimes. This month is my 6 year anniversary. I had a large tumor and 2 positive nodes. I'm still here going strong!

A positive attitude goes such a long way when dealing with challenging situations. I wish you the best on your continued journey..

Hugs,

Julie

Posted 4/9/2006 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Tammy, I know there are other long-term survivors here, but I will share my story. It will be 10 years (!!!) on April 11 that I heard the words, "It's cancer." I had a lumpectomy (neg. nodes), 6 1/2 weeks of radiation and took tamoxifen for 5 years. I am still here, and so far, so good. In that 10 years I have seen my DD graduate from college (on time in four years), get married and have two children of her own. Just focus on living life one day at a time. Best wishes, Lauri
Posted 4/9/2006 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still pretty new at this cancer thing -- Diagnosed and surgery in Dec 2004. Had 2 cm tumor with 5 positive of 14 nodes, 2 rounds chemo and 7 wks radiation. I feel good and did so through the whole experience. I have decided to "live" life rather than let fear guide me through emotions. I take Arimidex and will for five years. I am doing and have done as much as I can do. As long as you've done as much as you can to ensure that all the cancer is gone, I believe you should be comfortable with your prognosis. After all, all we've got left at the end of this treatment is our faith and we really need to put that faith to good use every day of our lives.

Oh, and by the way, I do have my moments of doubt that I have to work through. Maybe that's what happening to you now.

Judy
Posted 4/10/2006 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Tammy, we all experience the ups and downs and what ifs in between....hang in there! Some people with teeny tiny tumors and negative nodes get recurrances and others with giant tumors and positive nodes live out their lives disease free. No way to know. Statistics try to predict, but cannot say for sure what will happen to you. I had a 2.5 cm grade III tumor, negative nodes...April 11 marks the 6th anniversary of my LAST chemo treatment, and in June, I will have been off Tamoxifen for a year. Keep in mind there are a lot more of us out there who are NED, but they are not posting here, they are living and enjoying life and have dealt with the cancer in a different way.

L&H,
Lori
Posted 4/10/2006 12:47 AM (GMT 0)

Tammy: Each of us has moments when we wonder if the cancer will come back. I am one that had a recurrance after 3 yrs. I took chemo for 2 yrs, weekly, and this Jan got an "all clear" again! I have told my story several times. But I will share the stories of my grandmothers. In 1959 my maternal grandmother was diagnosed w/ bc. She had a mastectomy. Back then they removed all of the lymph nodes, muscles, etc. They grafted skin from her hips, thighs and legs. She was bandaged from chest to her toes. It was a horrid operation. They didn't have chemo either. She was only 4'5". But she lived to be 89 (1983.) She never gave up. We caught her sweeping her kitchen floor, using her one good arm, and holding the dustpan inbetween her toes.(she didn't have indoor plumbing or running water) Whenever I get down, I remember the courage and strength that she had. My paternal grandmother was 81 when she called me and said that she was going to have a double mast the next day. I stopped her and got an opinion from an oncologist that I trusted. She had radiation for 6 weeks (had to travel 90 mins each way) She never complained. She died of natural causes when she was 98.

So don't be afraid of the doubts that creep in your mind every so often but remember that there are many survival stories of brave women that beat the odds.

Hugs....Deb

Posted 4/10/2006 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
Deb,thanks for sharing that. It really is the kind of story that makes women so very special. I had a 5 cm tumor, nodes,and issues plus cancer going down the nerve in my right arm. I was fortunate to find a doctor that not only was ahead of his time but worked with a team outside the box and came up with a treatment that worked for me. I had chemo first and then I had the surgery and then had chemo and rads. I had my surgery the day after my DSD's shower for her first baby. Today I went to her 3rd childs christening. I have done 5 years of Tamox and am now on Femara. I can still remember that awful feeling of being told I had cancer. Going through all the things we do but, something no one put in the brochure was that feeling you get when you get told that your treatment is complete and you only need check ups. I walked out into the sunlight and was so mad at myself for allowing that feeling to infringe on what was supposed to be a very special day. Cancer free is nice to hear but always remember your check ups. Hugs Joyce
Posted 4/10/2006 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
I can share two positive stories. First I am a five year survivor, yes it creeps in the back of my mind often, but I do my best to push it out. I just learned that a temp in our office is a 10 year survivor, she was 23 when dx with a large tumor and multiply nodes positive. She did a bone marrow transplant, chemo and rads. Now that was a long time ago and so much progress has been made since my dx and especially since hers. So keep your faith strong and try to enjoy life. Take it a day at a time and always look to the future.

L&H
Sara
Posted 4/10/2006 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning Ladies,Thank you so much for sharing your stories.All of us need to hear survivor stories,it sure made my day.Deb the story about your grandma is Touching,Bless her little heart.Thank You all,    Tammy
Posted 4/19/2006 10:05 PM (GMT 0)

Tammy- I'll add two more positive survivor stories to the list... my aunt was dx in 1998 with 11 nodes positive and as a Stage IV inflammatory cancer... and she is still here today, having fun chasing after 4 new grandchildren all born in the last 2 years.  I am a 5-yr survivor, dx in 2001 with a 4.5cm tumor, Stage IIB and 5 of 49 lymph nodes positive.  i'm here and other than my darn left arm (lymphedema) needing massage and wrap occasionally, I am doing ok.

hang in there!

hugs stefanie

Posted 4/20/2006 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
stefanie,those are encouraging stories,Thank you for sharing them with me. Tammy
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