Hi ladies,
Tomorrow its two years since I was diagnosed … Tonight I am reliving the two years that changed my life, Major operation, radiotherapy, physiotherapy on my arm, being frightened of the word Cancer, recovery and learning to live with the thought of what if it comes back, so many fears, so many tears…
I am on arimidex, as I had such awful side affects from tamoxifen…Two weeks ago I saw the oncologist and she said all is ok, I don’ need to see her until next october… So, most of the time I put my positive hat on and present my brave face to the world, but it isn’t always the way I really feel, but two years on, here I am, not thinking that after two years ago tonight my life would be changed forever. I am back running my bed and breakfast and I no longer think of Cancer every day. So ladies, We are a very brave lot… Sending you all my love and best wishes … Caroline
Hi Caroline
Well done on getting through two years and being back working in your B&B.
It was 2 yrs for me too on the 14th Oct quite a milestone.
It sure does change your life. I have odd thoughts at times like ‘can i pretend i haven’t had this disease’ rather stupid but sometimes i think its the only way i can move forward and not imagine every pain is cancer.
Keep trying to be positive but dont give yourself a hard time if your not i dont.
Wheres your B&B somewhere nice?
Rx
Congratulations Caroline and Liverbird on reaching your 2 year milestone. It’s v encouraging for those of us who have still to get there to hear of your achievement. I’m glad to hear that you can sometimes forget about BC at least for a little while, but I realise that it’s always going to be with us all forever.
I hope you raised a glass of something nice and bubbly to yourself today, Caroline.
Sarah
XXX
Hi there.I have just joined the forum.
Well, in a few days I will be on my 2nd year of diagnosis…9 Nov 2005 to be exact when i was told that I had breast cancer.I was only 41.I found the lump on 31Oct05 and then we have a story to share.Now, I have the courage to join the forum.I managed to go back to my employment since Mar 12,2007 after my treatments since 13dec 2005 for the operation, chemotherapy for 6 months then 25 sessions of radiotherapy.I joined the Breast cancer Haven in London whilst having my treatmetns and it did me good and had support too.I am gaining confidence and being stronger everyday.I feel that I become a stronger person having survived the ordeal.Since my last chemo in July 2006, I had no drugs to take.I know for a fact that a friend I met during our treatment days had to take tamoxifen for years.I hope that you all are feeling okay and as much as we suffer,there is always a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Congratulations to you both .
The 2 year anniversary was quite an important one for me too .
I just wanted to reach that safe haven for some reason.Its long enough away from active treatment for it to begin to (almost) fade into the background and for most of the side effects of treatment to have lessened.
I now have 3 years under my belt and have now begun to tentatively plan for the future.
Im raising a glass of some nice cold Pinot Grigio in your honours
Wynn
Hi Wynn.Thanks and enjoy your cold Pinot Grigio.As much as time has lapse,i still feel tears in my eyes when i see breast cancer support and awareness programs.It think it is good to let it out.Its nice to feel to be able to plan the future again.The last 2 years had gone so quick and i felt it was a different world of survival to live in. I learned to live day by day, calm down as i was so hyper then.I think i become a new person…for the better of course.
Rose
Hi, all,
I am looking forward to writing on this page in 2 years time - I have just finished my rads (September) and, I guess, like so many people, the first week of ‘no more rads’ made me feel very hopeful and I had energy, I felt I had finished the race… I didn’t realise there was a mountain to climb before I reach the other-side! However, on this site, I am not climbing it alone, and that’s a wonderful feeling, as I did feel alone until I joined it this week :o) so thank you all and WELL DONE WITH THE 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, as I am novice here, I have no idea (at the moment) why 2 years is significant? It would be nice to know the mile stones ahead whilst running up the mountain :o)
Big hugs, Caroline (TIGGERLESS) - re lost my bounce :o)
Hi TIGGERLESS. For me, i think the 2nd anniversary is important.As this is the year when you can look back clearly on your journey,miles and mountains and all.The first anniversary seems a blurr as wthen focus on the treatment which almost cover the first year.Then the Second year is a realization of how we managed to battle it and still be able to look ahead,start planning the future again,managing normal routine and do the things we never had the chance to do.It is a start of a newer life.We can only take a few steps day by day and then we realize it has been 2 years.Take care everyone.
Rose
This month will see my 2-year anniversary too, and I do see it as a significant milestone. My partner recalls me commenting in 2005 how pleased I would be to reach 2 years, and tho I don’t actually recall saying it, it does remind me how utterly uncertain everything felt at that time.
I heard or read somewhere, I’m sure, that 2-years is the first point where it is reasonable to claim there is a statistically significant improvement in your chances long-term survival. My prognosis wasn’t brilliant at diagnosis. In my head I decided my chances of 5-year DFS were something like 66% (which was probably optimistic at the time - but it was a figure I decided I could live with). With 2 years DFS under my belt I definitely plan to bump up that figure a little (just as soon as I’ve seen the surgeon later this month anyway). I might even try and prise a new number out of him, but I doubt he will provide one now, because he didn’t at diagnosis.
I don’t think I will ever fully relax, but 5 years and 10 years will both be the same for me. All being well I’ll keep revisiting that percentage and celebrate being able to nudge it upwards towards the 80 or 90 percentile mark. At 5 years I’ve definitely read at least one report that we probably all stand the same chances of staying NED, and the differences in prognosis are no longer significant. I’m not entirely sure I believe that - but in spirit I will surely be celebrating it, if/when I reach it.
Thankyou ladies for all your replies,
It is great to know, that there are lovely people out there, we are a special group which only each one of us knows what cancer and the treatment means… I salute you all…
Liverbird, My b and b is on the sunny english riviera, Torquay, cold here today…
Love and best wishes to you all
Caroline x
Hi there.As mentioned on my email a few days ago this is my 2nd year of diagnosis,amd is actually TODAY!!!..to be exact…at 2pm this afternoon.We can all look back and reflect and more importantly,it to look forward in to the future without forgetting the past and our present.
Well, I celebrated with my husband and close work colleague, who had supported me through out,last night,just to mark the year.We hope for many more to come.
Regards to everyone.
Rose
Congratulations veeluz - I will second the toast to many more years.