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Debbie L. · 04-07-2012, 07:29 PM

VG, at ten years out from stage III ERPR- breast cancer (sans Herceptin), I'm happy to be here answer your questions, but first I'd like to know a bit about why you're asking. If you think you're going to discover a common thread that "saved" any of us who are still here to respond to your question -- I warn you that such a thread will not be there. If there were any one single thing (or even a group of things) that made a big difference -- we'd know that by now ("we" being the big "we" of cancer care and research).

Plus, the research advocate within me has to point out that those who are not longterm survivors are not here to respond -- but if they were, their answers would almost certainly be quite similar to the variety of answers you're likely to get from those of us who ARE here. Cancer shakes people up, and changes are made.

I just deleted a long ramble on the topic, to await your answer as to why you ask the questions. I may be completely off-track.

In the meantime, I'll give my short answers: "yes", I made a lot of changes, but "no", I do not think they had any effect on the cancer's behavior. For any one individual, cancer is largely a crap shoot. We do the best we can, and some of us don't die of cancer, and some of us do. Some of us live long with cancer and some short. Believing that anything we do has much control over our cancer just does not serve us (or others) well, imho.

'Looking forward to this discussion, thanks for asking such good questions.

Debbie Laxague

04-07-2012, 07:29 PM	#4
Debbie L. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 463	Re: Question for long term survivors VG, at ten years out from stage III ERPR- breast cancer (sans Herceptin), I'm happy to be here answer your questions, but first I'd like to know a bit about why you're asking. If you think you're going to discover a common thread that "saved" any of us who are still here to respond to your question -- I warn you that such a thread will not be there. If there were any one single thing (or even a group of things) that made a big difference -- we'd know that by now ("we" being the big "we" of cancer care and research). Plus, the research advocate within me has to point out that those who are not longterm survivors are not here to respond -- but if they were, their answers would almost certainly be quite similar to the variety of answers you're likely to get from those of us who ARE here. Cancer shakes people up, and changes are made. I just deleted a long ramble on the topic, to await your answer as to why you ask the questions. I may be completely off-track. In the meantime, I'll give my short answers: "yes", I made a lot of changes, but "no", I do not think they had any effect on the cancer's behavior. For any one individual, cancer is largely a crap shoot. We do the best we can, and some of us don't die of cancer, and some of us do. Some of us live long with cancer and some short. Believing that anything we do has much control over our cancer just does not serve us (or others) well, imho. 'Looking forward to this discussion, thanks for asking such good questions. Debbie Laxague __________________ 3/01 ~ Age 49. Occult primary announced by large (6cm) axillary node, found by my husband. 4/01 ~ Bilateral mastectomies (LMRM, R elective simple) - 1.2cm IDC was found at pathology. 5 of 11 axillary nodes positive, largest = 6cm. Stage IIIA ERPR 5%/1% (re-done later at Baylor, both negative at zero). HER2neu positive by IHC and FISH (8.89). Lymphovascular invasion, grade 3, 8/9 modified SBR. TX: Control of arm of NSABP's B-31 adjuvant Herceptin trial (no Herceptin, inducing a severe case of Herceptin-envy): A/C x 4 and Taxol x 4 q3weeks, then rads. Raging infection of entire chest after small revision of mastectomy scar after completing tx (significance unknown). Arimidex for two years, stopped after second pathology opinion. 2017: Mild and manageable lymphedema and some cognitive issues.