Not 10 years yet but i'm planning to get there... When I was diagnosed in 2012 lots of things went through my mind including my lovely Son would get married and i wouldn't be there. I then started lookig at research on survival stats 5 yr and 10yr (told myself they were years old and before Tamoxifen 'cos i didn't like what i was reading) and when the BC Nurse continuously reminded me on positive days that i was Stage 3 with a large (6.5cm) Tumour. I wanted to punch her. Since then i have seen a different Nurse who I felt was much more appropriate. They have to be honest and i was grateful for that however my Consultant suggested Chemo first as the tumour was large and most likely to have spread. I had 6 x FECT (gruelling) Surgery x 3 then Radiotherapy, I have since had reconstruction and surgery to other side. My treatment took 12 months in all and it turned out to be 6.5cm grade 2 stage 3 with only 1/23 node positive. All nodes removed as tumour was 4cm+ The diagnosis came only 12 months after my first Mammogram, the Consultant was shocked and felt it must have been missed, she requested the Mammogram and it was clear. So Diagnosed September 2012 and i am just coming up to SIX Years Survivor, due to see the Consultant next week and i think she will discharge me. Since my treatment i have had every therapy known to man, i have really struggled. (I work in Mental Health / have been flogging therapies for years). I do need to have some further corrective surgery but have been too busy living life. My Son did indeed get married, i went down to part time at work, looked after myself better (More downtime, better diet, less alcohol, more exercise.....) I am just changing my Job which i never thought i would do and am so looking forward to a new challenge. I can only say that i did used to get very angry and then very sad that nobody could give me time frames and my Consultant still only ever says NED (no evidence of disease). I had a lot of therapy to come to terms with the uncertainty following such a diagnosis. The longer people don't have recurrance the less likely they are still to be on this site so think it is unlikely we will ever get a true picture of the number of long term survivors. I do consider myself to be one and am grateful for every day, it definately changed my outlook and way of life. I am physically high maintenance. The Receptionist in The Beauty Shop is 60 and had Bi lateral Mastectomy 20 yrs ago. IDC in one breast indicators in the other, She did 5 yrs Tamoxifen at the time and now nothing. Breast Cancer Care have really good movng forward courses, my local Cancer Care Centre offered complimentary therapies and there are Maggies Centres everywhere, I found all of this very helpful. Hope this is helpful, please ask anything that you need to know, and surround yourself with kind and positive people. Good Luck with your recovery. Buttterfly xx
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