Long term survivors: 20+ years

[Guest guest]

Are there any survivors of breast cancer out there that are 20 years

or more past your diagosis/treatment? If so, what were the

details/spec of your diagnosis and what did you do for treatment, and

what life changes did you make (diet, exercise, vitamins, etc) to help

you out?

I'm looking for the voice of experience to help with some of my

treatment decisions.

Thanks,

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzanne,

I'm working on my 22nd year. I had infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

That's what the report said. We didn't have any of the 'tests' as they

have today, so I can't tell you those results. I asked for a bilateral

even though the other breast was healthy. The surgeons 'panel' all 14

of them from all over the country said no the rules said it wasn't done

when the second breast was healthy. So I had the one mastectomy. That

'rule' was changed just 1 1/2 years after the first mast. Then 3 1/2

years after the first mast the cancer mirrored itself in the other

breast. I didn't have any edema either time. That was the big worry

then. There were no other markers done. The first mastectomy took 3

weeks before I was back at work, the second took about a week and a half

because I knew what to expect and to start my 'walking the spider' in

the afternoon after surgery. Back then hormone therapy of any kind was

experimental as was most chemo. But they weren't done on patients with

no node involvement anyway.

Both times there was no node involvement. Back in olden times if

there was no node involvement, they did nothing and sent you on your way

to have a good life! I had a bone scan and bloodwork every 3 months the

first year. Then every 6 months the next 2 years. Then the final 2

years only once a year. After that it has been just bloodwork once a

year. After 10 years the oncologist said they say goodbye and have a

full life. I feel more comfortable at least having yearly bloodwork, so

he said my regular endo could do the bloodwork and he'll read it. So

I've had the bloodwork yearly since. Thinking about it does get better

and I know that because for a few years now the docs office had to call

and remind me it's time for the bloodwork.

Other than that, it hasn't stopped my body from getting old! LOL

But on a good note, I've been having one full, busy life. I know this

won't help, because the only decision I had to make was when have the

mast. You see I had lost my Mom to bc 20 years earlier, so asap was

what I wanted. The first time was 3 days from dx to mast. The second

time it was 2 days.

I know you'll make the right decision for you and that's what's

important. I send you and all the others my prayers, blessings and

positive thoughts!

Angel (A.K.A. Mari)

mfgershman@...

Please click each day to help others, IT'S FREE!

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites

[Guest guest]

Angel/Mari:

Wow, that's amazing! Thank you so much for replying.

Suzanne

>

> Hi Suzanne,

>

> I'm working on my 22nd year. I had infiltrating ductal

carcinoma.

> That's what the report said. We didn't have any of the 'tests' as

they

> have today, so I can't tell you those results. I asked for a

bilateral

> even though the other breast was healthy. The surgeons 'panel'

all 14

> of them from all over the country said no the rules said it wasn't

done

> when the second breast was healthy. So I had the one mastectomy.

That

> 'rule' was changed just 1 1/2 years after the first mast. Then 3

1/2

> years after the first mast the cancer mirrored itself in the other

> breast. I didn't have any edema either time. That was the big

worry

> then. There were no other markers done. The first mastectomy

took 3

> weeks before I was back at work, the second took about a week and

a half

> because I knew what to expect and to start my 'walking the spider'

in

> the afternoon after surgery. Back then hormone therapy of any

kind was

> experimental as was most chemo. But they weren't done on patients

with

> no node involvement anyway.

>

> Both times there was no node involvement. Back in olden

times if

> there was no node involvement, they did nothing and sent you on

your way

> to have a good life! I had a bone scan and bloodwork every 3

months the

> first year. Then every 6 months the next 2 years. Then the

final 2

> years only once a year. After that it has been just bloodwork

once a

> year. After 10 years the oncologist said they say goodbye and

have a

> full life. I feel more comfortable at least having yearly

bloodwork, so

> he said my regular endo could do the bloodwork and he'll read it.

So

> I've had the bloodwork yearly since. Thinking about it does get

better

> and I know that because for a few years now the docs office had to

call

> and remind me it's time for the bloodwork.

>

> Other than that, it hasn't stopped my body from getting old!

LOL

> But on a good note, I've been having one full, busy life. I know

this

> won't help, because the only decision I had to make was when have

the

> mast. You see I had lost my Mom to bc 20 years earlier, so asap

was

> what I wanted. The first time was 3 days from dx to mast. The

second

> time it was 2 days.

>

> I know you'll make the right decision for you and that's

what's

> important. I send you and all the others my prayers, blessings

and

> positive thoughts!

>

>

>

> Angel (A.K.A. Mari)

> mfgershman@...

>

> Please click each day to help others, IT'S FREE!

> http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites

>