[TriciaK]

Thanks for this article, Lani, and all the others you post. I think it shows once again that we just can't get bogged down in generalized predictions. My theory is that if even one person has survived a situation, I can too---and so can you! As most of you know, I have had stage 4 BC since 1990 when cancer mets went from breast(1985) to spine. I was in remission for 15 years before it showed up again, now her2, in my lungs (2004). Fifteen months on Herceptin gave me 5 more years remission. Now at age 80 it's back in my lungs, and I plan to keep on fighting BC and will probably die someday "in my old age" of something else.... Stage 4 may be uncurable, as the good doctor said, but I think my experiences with it show that it is certainly treatable, and the 20 years I have lived beyond a diagnosis of stage 4 debunks his prediction of only 2 years life span after such a diagnosis. At ages 16 and 17 I went through severe rhuematic fever, then again at age 30. I wasn't supposed to live from that, either, or ever be able to live a normal life, marry or have children. I was able to give birth to only 2, but along with adopted and step children, there are now 9, plus 32 grands and 40+ greats. I guess when somebody tells me I can't do something, being half Swedish, my stubborness kicks in. My first oncologist told me I could expect to live about a year after the her2 diagnosis in 2004. I laughed at him and said "I'll still be around when you retire! Just watch!" So here we are 5 years later, still fighting, and he is retired. I don't know how much time I have left now, but I will make the most of it, consider myself blessed with every year, and when the time comes go cheerfully, still expecting the best.If my story inspires anyone to keep fighting, it's been worth it! I have certainly received a lot of inspiration from this website. God bless you all. Hugs, TriciaK