walking away from trouble or marching towards disaster??
walking away from trouble or marching towards disaster?? I first used this site just over 3 years ago when I was first diagnosed. I was shocked and terrified and some of the posts on this site unwittingly scared the sh***t out of me.
With everything I read, I do wonder on a daily basis , if I’m walking out of trouble or forever heading towards it. I do wonder if there are 20 year survivors out there (who have survived high risk,node positive, aggressive disease), without any further trouble - I search for them endlessly.
Anyway I did promise myself that if I got through the first two years I would post again,so for any of you that are right at the beginning of your personal “journeys”(I hate that phrase , but can’t think of a more approriate one), give yourselves time emotionally -it does get better.-despite what i’ve written above!!
Has anyone with a BC diagnosis and a dodgy prognosis found a way to manage the uncertaintiy about the future problem?
postive story Hi,
We have a strong family history of grade 3 aggressive breast cancer. I found mine fairly early but my aunt had a greade 3, 4.5 cm tumour with 7 out of 10 lymphs involved. She is also er- same as me. She is now a healthy 8 and a half years down the line and doing great. I think people who are doing well probably have moved on from the first anxious stages and don’t get involved with the website. My mum had a grade 3 on both sides and had a double masectomy 13 years ago. she is now 71 and in good health.
You are doing well - there is a fantastic book which is totally positive and inspiring which has helped me - Uplift - edited my barbara Zelinsky - you can get it on Amazon. It is filled with survivor stories - many with initial bad prognosis who are all doing well.
Hope this helps.
for hughsie/BRACA ladies -Thank you for this, I think your’re right that people move on and away from the website. I have done that myself but every now and then I get very wobbly, can’t always put a finger on why my mood drops (I’m not even near a “diagnosis anniversary”, or check up time -both times which normally get me going!)-but anyway it does help to hear positive stories -and I had forgotten that it can be helpful to “chat” on this site.
-Hope you dont mind, but on the subject of BRACA genes-I was seen by genetics because my BC was pre-menopausal, my maternal g’mother died from ovarian cancer and 2 of her sisters died in their 30’s with “gynaelogical” cancers. My mother is not affected though she had bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy and hysterectomy in her late 30’s thereby greatly reducing her risk of developing disease.Counsellor says she may well still carry gene therefore she feels family history is strongly suggestive of gene fault and has recommended testing. I’m so indecisive about whether i should have this done.Since I already have disease -if I tested negative, would I believe it was correct -how reliable is the test? , and if it was positve -I would have to make all sorts of choices about whether to have bilateral mastectomies, oopherctomy etc -when metastatic disease might finish me off anyway (what a bundle of joy and happiness i am!!)-only reason I can see to be tested is that I have 15 year old daughter-and 17 year old son come to that).How long does it take to get results back? any pearls of wisdom from you better informed ladies would be greatly appreciated. Thank -you. Cherry
I had an aunt who was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer over 35 years ago. At that time it was pretty much a death sentence I think and the treatments were horrible; she had a mastectomy and I remember at the time she had to undergo high levels of radiation treatment. She was brave enough to take part in a trial for one of the early forms of chemo for BC. Her mother and sister both died from BC.
She had no re-emergence of the disease and worked until retirement, after this she led a very fulfilling life. Sadly, she died last summer, but by that time she was an old lady in her 80s and death was purely due to the effects of her old age. I only ever remember her as happy and laughing and keep her picture close by as she is my inspiration at the moment. She never really spoke about her illness much, she just preferred to move forward and get on with things. This is what I am aiming for and it is because of her memory that I remain positive.
For gillya Hi gillya
I hope you don’t mind but I have started a new topic titled arimidex for you, so your post can be seen by more users.
Kind Regards
Forum Host
Breast Cancer Care
Cherub… Always gives me a lift to hear these sort of stories -rather than the “drama” in the media -though I would in no-way demean the enormous sadness and anxiety anyone with advanced disease must have-all too aware I might one day join that branch of the club as well!
I would be very pleased to last another 30 years -despite the aching bones and the arthritic thumb (courtsey of Arimidex I think!).
Thanks, Cherry
Thanks Helen Crikey, I had no idea it could take so long -I wonder why? I thought it took long enough to get aminocentesis results for both my children (4 weeks-if I recall), and they were looking at genes then -but perhaps not quite so many. Think I’ll ring the gentics again and have another chat! Regards Cherry x