Some people like to check back in and let people know how they are doing. If you are coming up to an anniversary or milestone, post your update here.
Hi all
Just checking in 2 years post diagnosis. Doing OK so far following SNB, WLE and Radiotherapy April 2008. Taking Tam and had 22 out of 24 Zoladex. Had hysterectomy and oophorectomy March 10 as did’nt want ER/PR running riot after Zoladex ended. Path report showed complex endometrial hyperplasia of the uterus (pre-cancerous changes). The gynae consultant said, based on results,having the operation was a good decision to make.
Still on Tam but no longer on Zoladex. Can honestly say I’ve never felt better
Hiya Valkyrie,
So glad to hear you’re feeling great after 2 yrs - I started a post about being 3 yrs a couple of weeks ago. As you’ll see, things are different but I too am feeling really well at the mo.
Liz (from Morecambe!)
Hi Ladies,
Today is a milestone for me as it is 3yrs ago today that i was DX with BC, and what a 3 yrs it has been , i remember every tiny detail about that day , feeling so very scared and frightened that i wondered whether i would be here in 3mths let alone 3yrs,
Well here i am ,and im doing well after surgery ,8 x Chemo ,and 23 sessions of Rads , im still taking the Tamoxifen but i can honestly say that my life is good again. Its been one hell of a rollercoaster and at times very hard mentaly , but i somehow got through, and although not back to the normal i once knew ,im pretty close damm it, and am determined to grab life by the Ba**s and enjoy every single moment.
God willing i will be back posting on here this time next year.
Love and best wishes to everyone
Linda x
Hi Linda
Good news for you and for us to hear, Well Done, don’t think that dx feeling will ever leave us.
But it is good to read positive posts
Lots of Hugs and Love to you
Sandra xxx
PS Love the picture xxx
I will be 4 years post diagnosis in October. Next year I will have my 25th wedding anniversary in March, my 50th birthday in May and, fingers crossed, the end of my 5 years remission in October. 2011 will be a momentous year if all goes well.
HI everybody
I think this is a really good idea and gives hope to others starting this scary journey.
I was diagnosed and started treatment 3 years ago this July. I had 3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere, a mastectomy, 3 weeks of radiotherapy and a year of herceptin which ran over 1 1/2 years due to problems with my blood which seemed to sort itself out. I have recently had a mastectomy and reconstruction of the other unaffected side as preventative surgery and am still due to have reconstruction of the affected side soon.
Life is good - I’ve just held my first event to raise money for the breast unit who treated me and saved my life. I am back at work part time now - I try and live as stress free a life as possible. It took a while but gradually over time I realised that I wasn’t terrified anymore and those moments when I suddenly had a shock and thought maybe something wasn’t right have become less and less - I don’t think about breast cancer all the time but I do think about it everyday but in a way that it has become a part of my life so that it’s not all consuming - not by any means.
I have taken on a role in my head and that role is to make others much more aware of breast cancer than I was. I no longer want to keep it a secret for fear that people would start judging me and men wouldn’t be interested, I am proud of who I am, how far I have come and what I’ve had to deal with.
In fact I don’t think I have ever really expressed myself like this so thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.
Ruby xx
Hi Everyone
I’m just checking in as I am 4 years past dx. Had a mastectomy followed by chemo and almost 2 years on Tamoxifen. Am now on Arimidex.
The first 3 years weren’t easy by any means as I had to have a hysterectomy and my gall bladder out (Neither anything to do with bc).
Things have definately improved over the last year though and to top it all my grandson aged 21 who is in the RAF came home safely from Afghanistan last weekend so I’m over the moon!
Looking back it seems to have been a long, hard struggle, as it is for all of us but I’m still here, and when I saw all those men come marching into the hanger, absolutely shattered, but home again, it’s all worthwhile.
Love & Hugs to you all
xxxx
I was diagnosed 3 years ago last April and I am celebrating as yesterday I had the results of my annual MRI which was fine. I had WLE and SNB, chemo, 6 weeks of rads and a year of Herceptin and am now on Aromasin. Treatment wasn’t easy as I was very ill on chemo and had to stop after 4.
I have lost nearly 3 stone in weight from my heaviest after chemo, I go to the gym every day and took early retirement in May. I am really enjoying being retired and we have had some wonderful holidays since treatment ended, including India, Croatia, Syria and Jordan. And lots more are being planned.
I feel better than I have in many years, due partly, no doubt, to the weight loss and lack of work related stress.
I hope that newly diagnosed members and those currently going through treatment can take encouragement from those of us posting on here.
All the best to everyone
Anne
Hi Anne,
Another name from a while ago that I recognise. Glad to hear you’re doing well and enjoying your retirement with lots of travel and nice things!
Don’t know if you’ll remember my retirement that was a bit of a saga and that happened Feb 09. The rest of last year was a bit of a nightmare with family illness one way or another and I struggled to come to terms with no longer working. Anyway since Nov/Dec I’ve been much improved and am absolutely loving retirement - had trips in this country and Europe.
I count myself so lucky that even with secondaries I have had this opportunity to spend time with my OH and parents that I otherwise would have spent in the office! And that I’ve been able to afford to do it. My treatment is ongoing and always will be but I intend to fit hols etc round appointments for a good many years yet.
I hope that this thread really gives hope to those newly diagnosed with primaries and/or secondaries and it’s great to be able to say that 3 years ago at diagnosis, I never thought I would be here and feeling so well.
Liz
Hi Liz
Yes I do remember you and how pleased I was to hear you managed to get early retirement. I will PM you if that’s ok with you.
Anne
hey all
Just checking in…its coming up for 4 years in December - but its 4 years today that I saw the gp with a lump…then had to fight with the hospital to see me as naturally women at 29 dont get breast cancer (and cue big stick to consultants head).
Anyway, all surgeries done…off with the old boob, on with the new boob, a hoik up for the remaining one, chemos, rads, 2 years tamoxi all done…just arimiwotzit to take (can never spell it but you know the one i mean). Alls well so far, which is always good. Good to see there are some names I remember. Anyway, my big fluffy tartan jammies are still going strong x so will speak to you all soon
Hi Buttons
How funny that you should be on here, I was only thinking of you the other day (glad the tartan jammies are ok, my tigger ones went in the bin!). Hope you’ve not moved house again!
Hi Ladies
I’m also 4 years post dx in Dec. Grade 3, Triple Neg and doing fine. Hair longer than it’s ever been and, to be honest, it seems a million years ago, funny how things just trot along and, before you know it, 4 years have passed.
Hang on in there girls, you can do it.
Julie x
erm…actually…erm…yeah I did move house again lol. Weve got our own place now lol. But I was good for this move lol (didnt do it the week before chemo starts lol.
Shame about your tigger jammies, you shouldve got tartan ones…they last longer lol.
Glad your ok and doing fine x
It was 2.5 years ago today that life changed forever. Life now has a new normal and every day i still think of bc. Now almost halfway through tamoxifen. I am so grateful to still be here watching my sons grow up, and i appreciate things so much more.
It is so encouraging reading all of your posts. Thank you.
Can I ask AnneG how she manages to get an annual MRI scan? Is it private? I have just had my first anniversary mammogram but as I had lobular bc, I feel an MRI scan would be better.
Ann x
Hi Ann04
I have a MRI scan because although my invasive cancer showed on the original mammogram, there was also DCIS which didn’t and was only found after the lump was removed. My surgeon felt that it was therefore very important that I had the MRI. The first and second years I had both MRI amd mammogram but this year my oncologist said he couldn’t see any point in having both.
All the best
Anne
Anne - That’s very reassuring for you. I had an MRI after diagnosis last year to determine the extent of the lobular bc, as it is difficult to see on a mammogram. This year I was only offered a mammogram, which shows “no worrying features”. Good news, as far as it goes, obviously.
I haven’t seen my actual surgeon since the day of the op, so I have no idea whether he is involved in deciding whether an MRI is necessary. I have had checks with other staff and I mentioned my concern, but I was told that they should be able to tell by comparing the two mammograms. Well, as there is a lot of scar tissue, I am not sure how reliable that is.
Sorry for hijacking this thread, by the way - and I love your profile picture!
Ann x
Ann - there seem to be so many differences in follow up treatment. I see the surgeon every year and the oncologist every year so I see someone every six months. I can’t fault the care I have had at all.
The picture was taken in Croatia the year before I was diagnosed when we had a week on that boat. Both the sea and sky really were that wonderful shade of blue!
Anne x
Anne - Sorry, I didn’t mean to mislead you. I wasn’t saying that I hadn’t had follow-up appts. I just meant that I had not seen the consultant surgeon I saw at the beginning and who performed my surgery. I have had four-monthly appts, alternating between one of the surgical team and the oncologist. My last appt was with some sort of consultant nurse, a post I had not heard of before. I think that next year the appts will be every six months.
Are you planning another holiday in Croatia. It looks wonderful!
Ann x