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Old 06-05-2019, 10:01 PM   #1
Ruth
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Watkinsville, Georgia
Posts: 356
Long term survivor checking in!

Just logging in to give some hope out there that I clocked 16 years today as a stage 3 survivor. My daughter was nursing when we found the cancer & this past week we got her a car! I wanted to survive to make it to the point where she would remember me. I wouldn’t be just some smell that she knew but couldn’t quite place. I wanted to make it a point where I could tell her so many things about my life and she remembered my voice telling her. I’ve done that now for my baby 16 year old girl. Now I want to make it until she’s in college 🙏.
Keep fighting; reading; advocating for yourselves & ALWAYS dream big.
Thank you Herceptin. Thank you Dr Slamon & all the women before me. Thank you to all who supported me & encouraged me. Thank you to life. Love it ladies and gents. Live life to the fullest that you can.
Hugs 🤗
Ruth
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[/SIGPIC]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Diagnosed 6/03 nursing daughter
Dose dense A/C 4x
Modified rad mast 8/03
IDC; 3 cm; 10+/16 nodes; ER/PR-; Her2+++
Weekly taxol w/Herceptin (off label) 12x's
40 weeks Herceptin
Radiation 33x
Reconstruction w/ implants 05 & 07
NED
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Old 06-06-2019, 06:07 AM   #2
DianaMK
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 70
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Thank you for sharing! Wishing you many more years to share with your family. I am a 9 year stage 4 who has gotten the greatest blessings, my two granddaughters (5 and 3). May God continue to bless you, too.
__________________
12/2006 right lumpectomy - HER2-Stage 1
A/C x 4
Radiation
Herceptin - one year
6/2010 - Stage 4 - lung and skin mets
Lung resection
TCH x 6
12/2010 - right mastectomy
On Herceptin
Scans every six months
11/2013 - stable continue to watch spot on lung
Continue on Herceptin
6/2016 - 6 years Stage 4 - stable - continue Herceptin
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Old 06-06-2019, 01:48 PM   #3
Laurel
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Location: Hershey, PA. Live The Sweet Life!
Posts: 2,005
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Thank you, Ruth for the inspiring words. Congratulations on your sweet 16!
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Smile On!
Laurel


Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara

15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....

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Old 06-06-2019, 08:42 PM   #4
Bunty
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Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 473
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Wonderful words Ruth, and may there be many more years ahead for your dreams to be fulfilled.

I'll be 19 years in December since first diagnosed, and 12 years in October since Stage IV diagnosis. I give thanks every day, particularly to my wonderful and dedicated medical team. I've been seeing the same oncologist since the original diagnosis.

Best wishes, Marie
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Old 06-07-2019, 01:40 PM   #5
caya
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Location: Thornhill, Ontario Canada
Posts: 2,320
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Thanks for checking in Ruth! I think it's important for the newly diagnosed to see posts like this from long term survivors.


I'll be 13 years out from diagnosis this October.


all the best
caya
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ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08

Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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Old 06-07-2019, 02:11 PM   #6
tricia keegan
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Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Wow Ruth, congratulations!! I'm hoping for fourteen years in two weeks and just awaiting results of my Mammo. Delighted to still be here and grateful as you are for Herceptin, wishing you many more years of health and happiness.
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Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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Old 06-10-2019, 08:18 AM   #7
Donna H
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 307
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Love these posts! I am five years since diagnosis so it is really encouraging to hear of long term health, wellness and living life from y'all!! Thank you and congratulations.
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Old 06-12-2019, 05:33 PM   #8
jaykay
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 645
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Such great news from all the long term survivors! I’m almost 7 years out from my second diagnosis and I echo Donna’s thoughts.
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March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a
June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010)
Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70%
BRCA 1 and 2 negative
October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement
Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB
Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks.
March 14, 2013: Finished chemo
April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x
May 22, 2013: Finished rads
June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs.
July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life
October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery
October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin
December 5, 2013: Port removed
Glad this year is over!
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Old 07-07-2019, 06:24 PM   #9
Jean
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Ruth wishing you many many years well after your daughter graduates college.
I understand your feelings very well as my son had started his Junior year in college when I was dx. I had thought I would not see him graduate. Well I celebrated my 14 years this past spring. He graduated and had started his own business. Life is going on.
I wish all the same for you.
Hugs,
Jean
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Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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Old 07-21-2019, 07:18 PM   #10
Mary Jo
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Location: Sheboygan, WI
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Re: Long term survivor checking in!

That is wonderful news Ruth. I am happy for you. Thank you for sharing this encouraging words with us all.
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC
ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++
RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor
Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node
No Vasucular Invasion
4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin
1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks
28 rads
prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06

17 Years NED

<>< Romans 8:28
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Old 07-27-2019, 07:23 AM   #11
Catherine
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Posts: 715
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Congratulations Ruth! Wonderful words of inspiration. Love it that your daughter is now sweet sixteen and that you are healthy and happy! Your words are powerful!
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Catherine


Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
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Old 11-07-2019, 07:51 PM   #12
candlegranny
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Posts: 151
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Congratulations
__________________
Mammogram Sep 21, 2009 everything good and clear
DX jan 19,2010 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Grade 2 Age 56
modified radical masectomy on LEFT side 29 Jan 2010
2.7 cm 18/31 nodes
mets to just above collar bone ( 2 nodes showed in PET)
ER- PR - / Her2 +++ (IHC) Stage 111 C
ki-67 60% nottingham score 7
A/C chemo mar 22,2010 DD
herceptin & taxotere DD june 1,2010
finished taxotere july 12, 2010
finished herceptin 16 May 2011
PET Scan 9 Aug 10, cancer in neck is gone! NED
33 Rads completed 1 Oct 2010
PET/CT Scan 6 Jan 2011 NED
PET/CT Scan 3 Aug 2011
MUGA 59% 3/22/10 -63% 9/23/10 - 51% 1/4/11 - 55% 2/17/11 - 50% 8/3/11
26 Aug 2011 NED
20 Feb 2012 NED
5 Mar 2012 PORT OUT
12 July 2012 DIEP breast reconstruction
23 Aug 2012 NED
15 Nov 2012 new breast tweeked and natural breast uplifted and implant added
17 Feb 2013 NED
27 mar 2013 lipo suction to add fat cells to new breast in hopes for needed adjustment.


"Don't spend your time worrying about when or how you are going to die, spend your time figuring out how you are going to live today". ~Elizabeth Edwards.
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Old 11-17-2019, 03:29 PM   #13
Lien
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Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands
Posts: 835
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Congratulations Ruth! I know the feeling. Just had my mammo and all is fine. It will be 16 years in January for me.

I've seen all my boys grow up (ages 19, 24, 28 and 32 now) and am looking forward to my new life, as I'm divorcing my husband. He's not a bad person, but he has been holding me back for over 20 years. We tried marriage counselling, but he refused to prepare for the sessions, didn't read the stuff the therapist suggested and on the whole didn't show any inclination to change anything, I called it a day.

When I turned 60, I decided that the rest of my life will be me-time. I've taken care of my family for all these years, was the main breadwinner for many of them, dealt with crisis after crisis - mostly on my own, so I think I deserve that.

I wish all of you enough me-time and lots of joy.

Jacqueline
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Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.
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Old 11-19-2019, 04:09 PM   #14
tricia keegan
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Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
Re: Long term survivor checking in!

Sending good wishes to you also Jacqueline, you're a strong woman and I'm so glad you're now thinking of yourself and putting you first.
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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