How long have I go left? "I can’t go on. I’ll go on.”

[kk1]

Next week will mark 5 years of continuous NED and and a month shy of 10 years living with metastatic disease to the liver...the article this morning in the NY times really struck a chord with me. "I can’t go on. I’ll go on.” Well written and uplifting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/opinion/sunday/how-long-have-i-got-left.html?_r=0

[sassy]

Thanks for this article.

One point we especially should all remember is that new developments are taking place in treatment continually.

My prognosis changed in the first 3 months of being diagnosed because of the release of Herceptin. Statistically at diagnosis, I should have recurred within two years, and not lived to five.

I'M ALMOST NINE YEARS OUT AND NO RECURRANCE! Because of new developments in treatment.

Statistics change......

[BonnieR]

Thank you for posting this!
Keep the faith!

[suzan w]

Thank you for this kk! As more and more time passes I realize even more how lucky I am to have been diagnosed when I was and to have been able to get the treatment that I got. The survival statistics laid out for me at my first oncologist appointment in June 2005 were grim. Within a few months everything statistically had changed. Bottom line...never say never!!

[Pamelamary]

Thanks kk - both the article and your own story are uplifting
Best wishes.... Pam

['lizbeth]

Wow. That is amazing. He should truly write that book.

The targeted therapies are a god send, and now we have 2! and a ADC. I am lucky being diagnosed right after Herceptin was approved for primary breast cancer.

[sarah]

very good.

[Jackie07]

That reminds me of Stephen Jay Gould's famous treaty: http://cancerguide.org/median_not_msg.html

[Mtngrl]

Thanks for posting this article. The moderator of my in-person support group sent it around. "I can't go on. I'll go on." I sent it around to immediate family.

It's also great to hear from someone five years NED after brain mets. I'll keep your drug regimen in mind.

[KDR]

This is wonderful news! You are truly an inspiration to us all! Do you continue to be on Herceptin? And, if I may ask, where are you treated?
Thanks,
Karen

[Barbara H.]

It will be ten years in May that I was diagnosed with with a 3cm brain met as will as mets in other areas. I was originally diagnosed in 1998. I am currently NED. Tykerb (4 pills in the morning) and Herceptin every 3 weeks. I have continued to teach in an elementary school through out my treatment. I will turn 66 in April and have made the decision to retire in June.
I do believed that their are multiple forms of all breast cancers, and that my type of cancer responded. Fortunately, new information from research is providing more hope.
Kind regards,
Barbara H.

[KDR]

Barbara, you too! Amazing!
Karen

[KsGal]

Thank you for sharing that. You are very inspiring.
Jody