Five years out???
 

I've noticed in the past few months many of us posting having reached the magical five years.

I hopefully will celebrate this next month, herceptin had just been approved here in Ireland a week before I was dx in the summer of '05 so I was very fortunate.

It got me thinking, I know it'll be a while yet before we have study results on the change (if any) this has made to the number of people who recurr with her2+, but thought it may be interesting to see how many of us here have (or about to) reached this milestone.

If nothing else, I'm sure those of us who do may give confidence to those newly diagnosed her2+.

I find myself hoping herceptin really has made a huge difference in adjuvant treatment, not just in print but in actual lives. Please post if you're almost five years or beyond with no recurrance:)

Tricia x

Re: Five years out???
 

Happy to report that I was diagnosed in the summer of 2001 and am almost 9 years out with no recurrence! I think Herceptin has made a huge difference and am soooo grateful.

Re: Five years out???
 

Long way from 5 years here, Tricia, but thought I'd chime in that I just had my 2 yr cancerversary on the 9th, nice Mother's Day present for me this year! NED times 2! Hoping for 30 more!

Fun post, thanks! Congrats to both you and Audrey!

Re: Five years out???
 

Congrats ladies! Every year is a milestone now!!

all the best
caya

Re: Five years out???
 

I will be 5 years out from DX next April 2011. So I am on my way to 5 years. I, too, hope that Herceptin was the magic many of us needed.

Tricia...happy for you and your 5 year mark next month. Is 5 years still a "mark?" I am not making a joke....I am just not up-to-date on the terminology. In the olden days, 5 years was always the "good mark" to reach and feel somewhat confident that you could "relax."

All the best,
Catherine

Re: Five years out???
 

Will reach the 'all clear' 5 year mark in November; no recurrence as yet! But I am an anomaly in that I received neither chemo nor herceptin, in spite of being weakly HER2+. Think it was the right decision now, though anxious at the time - the medics thought it would be 'a nonsense' to throw the heavy guns at a strongly hormone positive tiny tumour, in spite of its HER2+ status.

Mcgle (UK)

Re: Five years out???
 

Tricia,
I have been wondering the same thing the last few weeks. I wanted to know the number of women who have been dx. and received hercpetin and have had no recurrence and have reached a milestone such as min. 5 yrs. Then we could also total those 5 yrs. out who have Not had herceptin.

So lets start adding them up..certainly we should see some impressive numbers?


Mcgle (getting close to 5 yr. on 11/10 yea no herceptin)
Catherine (getting close to 5 yr. 4/11 yea - herceptin)


Tricia 1- 5yrs out - herceptin
Audrey 1 -9 yrs. out - herceptin (in trial)
Jean 1 - 5 yrs. out -herceptin

total of 3....min. 5yrs. out no recurrence NED with hercpetin.
.please continue to add onto this number if you are 5yrs +...and no recurrence/and NED...

PS Laurel....Congratualions on hitting the 2yr mark! What a great Mother's day for you. Wishing you continued years of NED....now onto 3,4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 - well you get the picture :)

Re: Five years out???
 

Thanks for commenting everyone, and Audrey congrats to you at nine years!

Laurel, every year is a milestone and I hope you enjoy and celebrate your two years, many congratulations!!!

Catherine, I'm really not sure if five years is a "mark" but it feels like one to me! :) I noticed Steph mentioned in another thread that after five years the risk of recurrance is reduced a little but maybe someone else knows more?

Mcgle, it's interesting to know you did not have herceptin and I wonder if many other's did not have it but still NED...

Jean,I'm sure it's something many of us have wondered about and it'll be interesting to note how many additions we get posted here:)

Re: Five years out???
 

I'm five years out this spring, and looking for 50 more! Big collective hug out to everyone

Diane

Re: Five years out???
 

Hi all: It was 7 years for me April 6, no herceptin. I love these milestones.

Re: Five years out???
 

I am 5 years out this month! Herceptin rocks. NED

Re: Five years out??? 8 years here!
 

Hi - I'm just over 8 years (April 5 2002) - no recurrence and no Herceptin. Doing very well.
Good luck to all on reaching this milestone.
-Marianne

Re: Five years out???
 

Rollin in at 6 years in June....triple pos. Finished initial chemo and did battle for herceptin a year later...YES !! A quote I found: " when Kismet hits you hard, it is life affirming to HIT BACK" !!

Re: Five years out???
 

Hi All: It's 5 years out for me this week! No recurrence! I have my mammogram, and chest x-ray, blood work next week and see the oncologist the following week. I hope to cut loose from the every 6 months exam. I'm feeling great, and it all seems like sooo long ago that I was diagnosed.

Re: Five years out???
 

Re: Five years out???
 

I am nearing 6 yrs with no recurrence!

Re: Five years out???
 

hello, all! I, too, am about to be 5 years out and NED! I was diagnosed July 2005. I didn't think I'd live. I'm so grateful to God, and all the fine doctors and nurses. Onward, everyone! kate

Re: Five years out???
 

Me too! 5 years in June and no recurrence.............

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I love hearing all this good news. All of you are truly wonderful. Thanks for the encouragement.

Amelia

Re: Five years out???
 

Thanks to everyone for your replies, I can't remember all the names but whats coming across here is so many of us surviving even after five years, with and without herceptin:)

That has to be great news to all reading this, and a special mention to Susan celebrating her five years this week!:) Many congrats Susan !

I had a feeling when starting this thread there were many of us out there, I'll give it a few days and count the numbers and see what we get to! Thank you again to everyone.

Re: Five years out???
 

I refused herception, chemo and radiation. I will be NED sept 2010. Just add to your stats.

Re: Five years out???
 

I celebrated 5 years in April. I am doing well (no recurrence) and am really convinced Herceptin is responsible. Yea Herceptin!!! I guess I need to change my signature.

Re: Five years out???
 

Tricia
Congrats early on 5 years...it is a great milestone...I think this shows the value of the early Herceptin group....although I passed my eight year mark, I didnt get the adjuvant Herceptin and I have had to fight for 8 years......may you be blessed with 50 more!

Re: Five years out???
 

5 years ago this month I was diagnosed, and on June 14th had bilateral mastectomy and consider that my "Cancerversary"

Re: Five years out???
 

Thanks for keeping score, Tricia! I am so thrilled to be added to the list. I was diagnosed with BC in 1985, treated only with bilateral mastectomy,( no chemo), then mets to spine in 1990, (again no chemo, but psychonueroimmunology, self-hypnosis and vegetarian diet). Cancer-free for 15 years then her2 nodes in lungs were found after a heart attack in 2004. I was treated with 15 months herceptin, with navelbine added the first 6 months. That will make it 6 years in June this year since first her2 diagnosis. Be sure to post the accumulated score for all of us to rejoice in! What a blessing her2 has been! Hugs, "The other TriciaK"

Re: Five years out???
 

I'm 6.75 years past diagnosis. I had late Herceptin.

Re: Five years out???
 

I was 5 years out in February. They were not giving Herceptin for early stagers at that time. After mets were diagnosed the following year, I got Herceptin. Still waiting for NED...

Re: Five years out???
 

Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to reply to this thread.
I'll give it a few days and we should have an idea of how herceptin has made a difference to us, although I'm thrilled to see a few ladies who did'nt get this drug still NED:)
Many congrats to you all!!!

Re: Five years out???
 

I just celebrated my five year mark last weekend!

Re: Five years out???
 

Many congratulations Lori!!!:)

For anyone keeping a watch on this or simply curious, so far we have the tally below-

18 Had herceptin (no recurrance)

3 No herceptin (no recurrance)

Huge congrats to everyone still NED, and hope other's will add their comments as we need quite a few more to get an overall view. however, it's inspiring to see so many early stagers still doing well either with or without herceptin:)

Thanks everyone for posting !

(Thanks Sheila for your good wishes too!)x

Re: Five years out???
 

I, too, am five years out with no recurrence. Diagnosed in Feb. 05 at age 45, stage IIIA, 6 mm tumor, 3/6 nodes positive, HER+++. Had bilateral mastectomy, Herceptin and the usual concoctions of poisons.

I just had my annual oncologist visit this week and I asked her about the five-year mark and what it really means. She hedged a bit, but said it's great to make it five years with no recurrence because most recurrences do occur in the first five years. But she also said, in not so many words, that reaching the five-year mark doesn't mean I'm "home free."

Like all of us, I think about every symptom and ache, but I continue to try to just live my life. I have two teenagers and I pray every day that I will be here for them for a VERY long time.

It's nice to read about so many no-recurrence survivors ... may God bless all of us (no matter where we are in our journeys) on this wonderful board.

Re: Five years out???
 

Re: Five years out???
 

I'm 6 years out, diagnosed in Jan. 2004. No chemo, no herceptin, but still NED. (I'm assuming the spot on my nipple that will be tested this Thursday is nothing to worry about... )

Jacqueline

Re: Five years out???
 

I am just one year out, but thanks to all the wonderful people in the medical profession, and on this board, I plan to be here and let everyone know when I hit the five year mark! Thanks for all the honesty, laughs, inspiration and encouragement. And to all my wonderful her2 sisters, as my nearly 10 year old daughter says, you rock!!!

Re: Five years out???
 

i see alot had arimedex. what is that?
I am new to this. foumd lunp myself jsut 3 months after a mamorgram that said i was fine. i am 56 yrs old . have stage 3C. 31 nodes removes 18 positive. 2 in my neck showed up on PET scan are inoperable. starting herceptin and taxetol next week, get chemo every 2 weeks neg for pro and estrogen. HEr2 at 60% or aomething like that
my surgeon told me he didnt expect me to be a breast cancer surviver! this site has given me so much encouragement. Hope I am as blessed as you all are in 5 yrs. praying this will work and i can report NED.. i will get 6 weeks of radiation too

Re: Five years out???
 

Candlegranny,
Arimidex is an anti estrogen pill for those of us who are etrogen postive who are post menopausal. Since you are negative for estrogen this would not be a treatment for you.

I am sorry to hear that you were dx. - but yes you have found a great group here.
Shame on your doctor for saying to you that you would not be a survivor....maybe it would be better for you to get another opinion. A second opinion by a breast cancer specialist - one who is used to fighting back this disease and winning!

Where do you live...the ladies here can offer other dr. close to your home that you could consider.

Best Wishes,
jean

Re: Five years out???
 

Hi candlegranny,

Sorry you had to go looking for us and that you have gotten on this rollercoaster you didn't want.

I am always surprised to hear about doctors who seem to be able to predict your outcome. There is no way to know whether you survive or not. I know people who were diagnosed with stage I and who are dying, and I know several people who had stage IV and are still very much alive, even more than 12 years later. So forget about what he said, he doesn't know what he's on about. Statistically your chances may not be so good, but you are not a statistic. You could very well be one of those who beat the odds.

I suspect you are not getting arimidex, because this is hormonal therapy, and as your tumor wasn't hormone sensitive (ER/PR positive) it probably won't help you.

If you have any doubts about your treatment plan, go for a second opinion. Have you had a mastectomy? lumpectomy?

Hang in there!

Hugs

Jacqueline

Re: Five years out???
 

i had a modified radical masectomy of my left breast. the surgeon is the one that said ' in hia opinon' so after a little thought i realized he is not GOd and he dont know my will! I think he is looking at positive nodes. my tumor was 2.7 cm. but hey.. 31 taken out amd only 18 positive that is so much better than 31 positive isnt it? my oncologist told me that since i have no underlying health issues he dont see any reason wny i wont be here 10 yrs from now. God has the final say so; i am so glad i found this site. i found several things on internet.. but this site uplifts me
i live in Ky. fort knox area. i go to Louisville for treatments.
you ladies are awesome. i am so blessed to have found this site.

Re: Five years out???
 

Welcome Candlegranny...I know you will be here on our site a very very long time indeed. Great attitude.

hugs,
jean

Re: Five years out???
 

yes 5 years out. Dx in Dec. 2004, stage 3C and IBC, HER2 +++, chemo, surgery radiation and then 1 year of herceptin. So far so good and hope to be NED for years to come.