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.

[Debbie L.]

9 years from stage IIIA diagnosis (details below). No Herceptin. I was in the trial but lost the toss. NED since primary treatment.

Debbie Laxague

[Mary Jo]

5 years for me too. I was diagnosed June 24, 2005 - stage 2B - 1 node microscopic invasion.....

No recurrence....thank God everyday for the life I now live!

Mary Jo

[Christine MH-UK]

Six years and no recurrence. Received herceptin a bit later than normal.

[AlaskaAngel]

Hi, sorry not to have responded sooner -- I read the initial post and had thought that only those who received trastuzumab were included in the tally. And as a Stage 1 I do find it hard to post about still being "NED" because it is so unfair that so many others never even got the chance to "start" from an early diagnosis. At the same time, I do post about it to encourage people who are just terrified about being diagnosed at all, because maybe if they know that someone diagnosed as "high-risk" stage 1 with high-grade HER2-positive disease, and who has NOT even had all the treatments available now and is still NED, they will feel a little less panicked.

AlaskaAngel

Dx January, 2002, still NED
CAFx6 (4 weeks apart, not 3, due to declining blood boosters)
Radiation
tamoxifen x 1 3/4 years as a strongly ER+, PR+
No taxane
No trastuzumab
No AI
Use of nightly melatonin, freshly ground flaxseed, diet and exercise in hope these things help with prevention of recurrence.

[CLTann]

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

[Adriana Mangus]

Ann;

Question...How do you figure you are going to be NED in Sept. 10.?..Are you counting from the time you were diagnosed? back in 1995..so five years out will make you NED?

Just wondering, curious...

[suzan w]

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

[TriciaK]

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"

[chrislmelb]

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

[VirginiaGirl]

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...

[tricia keegan]

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!!!

[LoriE]

I just celebrated my five year mark last weekend!

[tricia keegan]

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

[Lien]

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

[WolverineFan]

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!!!

[candlegranny]

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

[Jean]

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

[Lien]

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

[candlegranny]

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.