Three years post treatment from UPSC

joannewtta · January 2017

I have somewhat moved away from checking this site as much as I used to. Yesterday I had my six month checkup marking three years from the end of my treatment. I was diagnosed in June 2013 and after surgery staged at a Stage 3, 3B or C I'm not sure which. I had eighteen chemos and 4 internal radiation treatments. The journey in the beginning is like your going to climb Mt. Everest and you currently take the elevator instead of the stairs. Now three years has passed since finishing treatment. Seems impossible that so much time has gone by. Just as a note my husband was diagosed with belateral kidney cancer a month before me and our daughter breast cancer in Oct 2014. Also my brother that Oct. with non hodgins and he passed away in April 2015. To say that we do cancer is an understatement

So many wonderful women are posting support, a shoulder to lean on and so much knowledge. I learned so many things and got great support from so many; the hard part is knowing that several of those ladies are no longer with us. I know that I am very lucky to be doing so well. We will not talk about the neuropathy aned bladder problems. They are well known to many of you.

The really good news is that my husband and I leave for Mexico to spend a couple of weeks with close friends on the beach near Puerto Vallarta. Countdown to departure is 3 days. He is fine -lost one kidney and had tumor frozen off the other kidny and our daughter is doing fine also. At times when the bad news just kept coming it was overwhelming but we just kept going. That's what you do. To this day I am more compassionate and try to be a better wife, mother, grndmother, friend. They were also so supportive and there for me.

For those at the beginning of this journey, know there are women here to help you. I know I'm not out of the woods yet but have always been positive that I have the upper hand on this cancer. Four more checkups and my incredible oncologist will kick me to the curb. It will be here before I know it

Take care

Joanne

derMaus · January 2017

Thank you for checking in and

Thank you for checking in and best to you and your family. Enjoy your trip!

beccabtown · January 2017

Thank you for posting, Joanne

Thank you for posting, Joanne. Your story gives me hope and comfort. Have a great trip!

Rebecca

Kaleena · January 2017

Nice that you checked in

Joanne,

Thanks for checking in and giving us an update. Glad to hear your recent check-up was good. Enjoy that trip to Mexico! Please check in again and tell us about your trip.

Kathy

Soup52 · January 2017

Great news Joanne! The life

Great news Joanne! The life we all hope for!

TeddyandBears_Mom · January 2017

Great post Joanne! Thanks so

Great post Joanne! Thanks so much for the inspiring words. Enjoy your trip.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

NoTimeForCancer · January 2017

So nice to hear from you,

So nice to hear from you, Joanne. Go enjoy yourself in the warm sand.

Nellasing · January 2017

Very good to hear

Thank you SO MUCH for coming and checking in and sharing your wonderful news. So glad your husband and daughter are also doing well. Sorry about your brother. You really had a long haul of this stuff!!! Have a GREAT vacation- enjoy (((HUGS)))