Calling long term survivors

Calling fellow survivors, anyone there doing well after 10 years of more? Come and share your stories. Give us your tips and advice what works for you. Did you change your diet, what supplements do you take now, are you more spiritual or anything else. We want some encouragements and shares tips with those who are newly affected. 

As we all know being diagnosed with the cancer certainly impacted upon our mental and physical well being, the trauma & the stress. Most of us soldiered on with the treatments and the harsh side effects and hoped for the best. Time went on, tears dried and wound healed. Many of us are still here today. 

My cancer was first diagnosed in July 2008, 12 years ago. I remember the shock and the tears, not knowing what would happen to me as I lost some friends to similar thing. The waiting time for the biopsy result and the delayed operation is tormenting.

Life moved on after the surgery, full of positivity until 2014, 6 years ago when I had the recurrence. The shock and the trauma on this second episode is more frightening, I did not know how long I would have left. It was stage 3. More surgery and harsh chemotherapy regime that punished my body to an unbelievable level, I thought that I wouldn’t survive it. Time moved on again, tears dried, my body healed, I saw my daughter got married and a lovely grandson was born. I am so grateful each day.

I would like to share what I am doing. Everyone is different, I read a lot of interesting scientific health issues now from reliable websites like PubMed, Medscape, etc. What have changed? My diet, now mostly vegan, wholesome, but still eat occasional organic eggs and wild caught fish, lots of fresh and organic vegetables, pulses whole grains and a many cups of teapigs green tea every day. Items that I delete from my diet:  meat, dairy, sugar, processed food, preservatives, chemicals. I like green or carrot juices. Supplements that help me: Vit D3, sublingual Vit B12, liposomal Vit C, Omega3, Magnesium, Vit K2, CoQ10, probiotics, minerals without iron. Herbs? Trans resveratrol, high bioavailability curcumin, sulforaphane. I am grateful everyday single day and I am forgiving. Life is precious. 

What are your tips? 

Hi Diana,

Thank you for your post and starting a new thread.

I am hoping my response will help our members to see your post and share their experience and tips.

Sending you our best wishes,

Zoe

Would love to see more responses here as I for one haven’t been able to come to terms ( physically & mentally ) about my breast cancer.

It’s 2yrs since I was diagnosed & still feel not much further on in any way.

I’ve held back commenting, because it feels weird to call myself a long-term survivor while I’m facing a new, recent diagnosis! But yes, I suppose I am. I was first treated for cancer 30 years ago, 20 years ago for the first breast cancer. So it is survivable! 

Not sure I did anything special. Mainly, just tried to live my life as normally and as well as I could. That said, another (new) diagnosis did shake me and make me wonder if I should have tried harder with exercise and healthy eating. I think balance is key, though - no point in making yourself miserable.

I have just posted on a different post so similar subject but wanted to add on this one that 9 years down the road from diagnosis, I am (touch wood!) healthy and happy and have just stopped taking Letrozole this week …  I fell and broke my collarbone, so that may have swung it and I have to have another bone density scan but am pleased to be looking forward.   The worry will still stay with me , however I’m determined to live a full and healthy life for as long as I can.  Take care everyone.