Thanks for the words of encouragement
 

I started herceptin 3 weeks ago and am also on Taxol. I have been in pain and have neuropathy (got it from AC too after onc said it was impossible). Anyway, all the news from all of you is encouraging. I pray each day the Lord heals me. They are doing chemo before surgury and all are surprised how much shrinkage has been achieved thus far. I have 8 more treatments then surgery and radiation. It is scary having this tumors still in me, but all agreed that the size of my tumor dictated this course (along with lymph node involvement)

I was first diagnosed in 2003. Though I've got some bumps along the way, I am glad to say that I have made it close to 6 years. And my latest biopsy were 'benigh' - the surgeon stated that she had never seen anything like it - the 'clip' inside of my old underarm surgical site had got pushed up to the surface of the skin and made it look and feel like a 'growing' lump.

ps. Now I'm headed to the 7th year in mid July, 2010. [3-4-2010]
ps. Headed to the 9th year in mid July, 2012. [11-15-2011]

Re: Long-Time Survivors
 

I had the best wig in 2006 when I was first diagnosed. My stylist shaved my head and I cried. Now my own hair is back and so is my cancer - mets to bone. Spent the interim 2007-2009 traveling to places -I- wanted to visit [with tour groups]. Now on Tykerb and Xeloda and no one will give me any timeline. Love my job; love my life; love my son. Don't want to miss a thing, but probably I will.

Re: Long-Time Survivors
 

Bumping this thread up, so our new members can find it more easily.

Re: Long-Time Survivors
 

Inspirational story of a 17 year stage IV survivor. Does anyone know the website she is refering to in this interview---the one for just stage IV survivors?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/health/27case.html

I had read some place before that 2% of stage IV patients survive beyond the expected but I didn't know the other specs. Good for Dr. Love for taking a look at why---maybe she will learn something that helps the other 98%.

Re: Long-Time Survivors
 

Kathy posts on the Stage IV board at breastcancer.org as pointed out by someone at the Young Survival Coalition site.

So much hope here!

Re: Long-Time Survivors
 

I clicked on the hyperlink on the article, and this is the site she's talking about:

http://community.breastcancer.org/topic/8

I think the 'Living Beyond Breast Cancer' site is also devoted to stage IV long-term survivors. www.lbbc.org