5 Year Cancerversary!!
 

So, it has happened. I made it to my 5 year. It is bringing up some very pent up emotions. Time has a way of healing and also a way of trying to erase fears. The fear of death. I woke up every day for 2 years, thinking, is this going to be the day the cancer returns. Day by day, then week to week, then year to year. It did not return. I want new members to see my story of having 35 postive lymph nodes and see a ray of light at the end of the chemo tunnel. Herceptin has saved my life. No one knows what will happen next week, but for now, I'm cancer free. With breast cancer, I know there is never a magic number of years we can let our breath out with a sigh of relief, but 5 years, wow. I thank God every day for Herceptin. I thank God every day for getting picked to receive the Herceptin in the clinical trial, and I thank God for this website! It truly saved my emotional life that first year of treatment. I stumbled across it one night searching on the internet for anything that might save my life. Instead, I found a life line of friends that were going through the same thing that I was, with the same kind of cancer that my oncologist told me was so "rare". Thanks Joe and Christine for starting this website!! I love you both and I love all my Her2support friends!!

Congratulations, Michele!!!!! And, what an awesome inspiring post! You keep on rolling!

Michelle,

I "stumbled" upon this site while searching for anything I could find on my cancer that would give me hope. The post I stumbled upon was yours, stating how you had 35 positive nodes, but were cancer free at almost two years out due to Herceptin. I bookmarked that post and read it every time I hit panic mode. You gave me such hope, that my 5 positive nodes did not doom me.

Congratulations on your five years and may they grow exponentially!

Michele,

That is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing. You ought to be a poster child for the Her-2 breast cancer survivors.

Congratulations!

Congratulations on your Five year cancerversary!!! That is the most wonderful news!! I had no node involement, but my onc told me that normally that would be good news, but not in my case because of the Her2. Your news is music to my ears!!


It is nice to see you posting again, your posts were an inspiration to me when I was first diagnosed almost 3 yrs ago.


Thanks Michele, here is to another 5 + another 5 + plus another 5 + another 25 +

Congratulations!!

Michele,

I am so happy for you. Congratulations!

Karen

Wow Michele....5 yrs!!! Right on!! I am so happy for you!
Maryanne

Congratulations! You are an inspiration to the rest of us!

Michele,

Congratulations on reaching the 5-year mark!

Joan

So happy that you reached year 5! Keep em comin'!

Congratulations Michele! I remember a few months back when you were worried that this day wouldn't come.

Your story is truly amazing and gives hope to all of us.

Celebrate!!!!!

Your cancerversary is amazing and wonderful, but the hope you share out does all else! Congratulations and prayers for many, many more. ma

Congratulations,

And many thanks for that wonderful message.

Congratulations! I hope you have many more NED years!

YEAH Michele - you know you ROCK girl!

Love ya ~ Ruth

Michele, You have always been an inspiration to me from the start. I will also be 5 years this coming March but not NED. I was NED for the first three years after the initial treatment. I have been fighting active cancer for about 1 1/2 years. But I plan on being NED soon. I know we will have many more years NED or not. Take Care. Sally

Michele,

Happy 5 year cancerversary! You are an inspiration and I am so happy that you are doing well!! It gives many of us hope!!

Lexi

Congratulations!!!!!!

Mazel Tov, Michelle!!! woo-hoooiiee!

Michelle

You know you are my hero. Keep on truckin'

Michele... Your story was always the story that would get me through those earlier years when I just knew a recurrence would happen to me. Everytime I was sure that it did or would happen I'd think of your 35 positive nodes and how well you were doing. That's why people like you are so important to this board. That kind of HOPE never gets old....and always needs to be heard.

God Bless you sweet lady.....I'm so glad you are well...........what an awesome blessing!!

Mary Jo

You are truly an inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing your very real emotions.

So happy for you! LiveStrong Michelle!

Michele
 

I am so very happy for you.
Janie

Wow!
 

Five years!! Many congratulations Michele and for giving those of us that have come behind you hope, confidence and a determination to get to those five years too...and further:)
Your story reminded me of two ladies I know from another site who have just celebrated 23 and 22 years out from cancer. They both had over twenty positive nodes and a poor prognosis at that time although neither obviously would have been checked for her2.
I find it wonderful and inspiring to read their stories,and yours and know some of us really will beat this.
Best wishes to you, have a great day and here's to another five and more!!

Wonderful news Michelle. I am so happy to see you NED for so long.

'lizbeth

Yes Michele - an amazing milestone, especially with 35 positive nodes - truly an inspiring story for all of us...

all the best
caya

Not without a few speed bumps ...
 

Dear Michele -
I know this is a VERY significant time for you to reach this milestone of 5 years NED.

Remember when we first met when you came to Seattle for the vaccine trial? That seems SO long ago, but you were very emotional then, and SO ready to fight any way you could.

Then each trip would go better for you as the trial progressed and you had more confidence that the cancer was under control.

For those who don't know, Michele was like a tiger with cubs about getting the Mercy flights from the mid-west to Seattle for this trial. Her determination to live and see her darling children grow up was just amazing.

And here, you are - 5 years later. Looking better than ever and so much wiser.

Mri
 

Need a little help here. I had a bone scan , then they had to do an xray on my hip. Onc just called and sadi I had to have an MRI. I am s***t terrified. I have never had one before. Should I ask for something to get me thru this, Txs, Jeanette

Michele, I did pretty much the same thing Sassy did. I was DX 12-05...I was googling everything I could find on her2/neu which lead me to this board. (Thank goodness!) My doom & gloom onc which was so young left me feeling hopeless even if that was not his intent.

When I ran across this board I will never forget when I found your post and then one from Audrey. I finally had some real hope! It sticks in my brain like it was yesterday. I remember telling my husband & Mother about Audrey's & your posts. When 1st dx one can never have enough hope and you gave me that. So thank you.

Now let me just say BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your 5th year cancerversary! Talk about a major milestone. Your such an inspriation, and here's to you & NED living happily ever after.

Chelee

Chelee,
If you don't know this already, Audrey's post to me was the first i got from the webstie. It was just on my computer one night when i needed it the most. Then me and Audrey became best of friends!! We have met eachother about 5 times, I live in nebraska and her in ohio. Our stories were so much alike. I'll never forget the first time i laid eyes on her in the airport...then just hugging her made me feel, finally....someone that understands me, my fears, my frustrations, and that's the first time since my dx i felt a sigh of some relief. It's like meeting the sister i never had!!

Michele, Thanks for sharing your story with me. I have a very good idea of how you must of felt when you got Audrey's first post. When first dx that is such a scary time and its so important to find someone that can truly understand what your going through...and I know you found that with Audrey. Talk about, "Just what the doctor ordered". lol :)

I don't think any of us can say this too much...but thank goodness for Christine & Joe...where would so many of us be had we not found this website and all our wonderful her2 sisters. I don't even want to think about it.

Thanks again Michele...

Chelee

Michele, I really enjoyed reading your story about how you and Audrey first met in person.
I can just imagine the joy.
Maryanne