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Six years, still NED from metastatic EC
It’s been awhile since I last posted, but wanted to let you know that I am still here and it is now six years
since I was diagnosed with advanced, then metastatic endometrial cancer, and I’ve been NED for over
five of those years. It is hard to believe it has been six years already.
Congratulations to all who have recently posted about their anniversaries and success in being
cancer-free (Cheerful -9 ½ years, EZLiving-5 years, Christine8822-5 years, Cmb-3 years, Armywife-3
years). I hope I didn’t miss anyone.
I am posting because I wish to give others hope and let women know that you can survive metastatic endometrial cancer and
become cancer-free. I was diagnosed at Stage 3b, Grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, which metastasized two months after
my hysterectomy before chemo, to my liver, spleen, vaginal cuff/outer rectum plus had nodules in my lungs, spleen and outer colon.
I had an extremely aggressive, fast growing cancer but was completely cancer-free seven months from my diagnosis of metastasis.
According to the medical literature, the average survival for metastatic endometrial cancer is twelve months. So to all those newly
diagnosed, do not listen to what they say. Doctors just don’t know who will survive and who won’t.
My last chemo was in May 2015 (I had six infusions of Taxol/Carboplatin, no radiation and no other cancer treatments,
(though others were recommended when I metastasized). I used an integrative oncology approach and followed a
comprehensive cancer healing plan that included lifestyle changes, non-cancer drugs (metformin, low dose aspirin, doxycycline)
and about fifty supplements daily. I continue to follow the same plan to this very day.
As I’ve posted in the past, I personally believe the key to healing cancer is to address the underlying root causes of your cancer,
the health issues that led to your cancer. It is about getting back to healthy. You have to heal your body to heal your cancer.
They say cancer has no need to grow in a healthy body. For those ladies recently diagnosed, my key advice is to lose your fear,
take control and get educated about cancer. Knowledge is power.
Takingcontrol58
Comments
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So good to see you again,
So good to see you again, Takingcontrol! Many of us refer newbies to your bio when questions come up that you have addressed.
Congrats on your continued dance with NED. Thanks very much for coming back to celebrate with us and give everyone hope.
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
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Congratulations!
I'm so glad you checked back in with us to share this great news! It's very encouraging for others dealing with their own challenging cases to hear about your achievement.
For our newer members, be sure to read takigconrol58's profile where she summarizes many of the actions she's taken to reach this wonderful milestone.
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Long may you run (as the song goes)
Takingcontrol, thanks for stopping by to shout out to us oldtimers and newbies alike that there is always a reason to focus on being a statistic of one, and to participating fully in the approach to treating and living with our individual disease.
I myself am a 3-timer fighter over 15 years with the possibility that a fourth skirmish is ahead. I thank you for your educating us about Metformin, which I've been taking for 3 years since my 2017 chemo treatment. I also have embraced integrative treatment for my general health and fight to reclaim mobility after suffering severe neuropathy. While my functional medicine specialist is relatively new to the practice (now seeking board certification after practicing osteopathetically for many years), he has a previous career as a chemical engineer and is so enthusuastic about helping me support my immune system and healthy mitochondria for optimal cell energy. He gives generously of his time and has already uncovered deficiencies that bear further analysis.
I don't know that it is always possible to identify the root cause of cause of one's cancer, but I do wholeheartedly agree that a cancer diagnosis should be a wake up call to determine what can plausibly be done to adjust health and well-being issues that likely can have a profound effect on one's ability to beat back this disease. My diet is improved, and I no longer am a sedentary person.
Best wishes to you in your health and vitality in living the good fight. Oldbeauty
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Hello oldbeauty, my goodnessoldbeauty said:Long may you run (as the song goes)
Takingcontrol, thanks for stopping by to shout out to us oldtimers and newbies alike that there is always a reason to focus on being a statistic of one, and to participating fully in the approach to treating and living with our individual disease.
I myself am a 3-timer fighter over 15 years with the possibility that a fourth skirmish is ahead. I thank you for your educating us about Metformin, which I've been taking for 3 years since my 2017 chemo treatment. I also have embraced integrative treatment for my general health and fight to reclaim mobility after suffering severe neuropathy. While my functional medicine specialist is relatively new to the practice (now seeking board certification after practicing osteopathetically for many years), he has a previous career as a chemical engineer and is so enthusuastic about helping me support my immune system and healthy mitochondria for optimal cell energy. He gives generously of his time and has already uncovered deficiencies that bear further analysis.
I don't know that it is always possible to identify the root cause of cause of one's cancer, but I do wholeheartedly agree that a cancer diagnosis should be a wake up call to determine what can plausibly be done to adjust health and well-being issues that likely can have a profound effect on one's ability to beat back this disease. My diet is improved, and I no longer am a sedentary person.
Best wishes to you in your health and vitality in living the good fight. Oldbeauty
Hello oldbeauty, my goodness a 15 year 3-time fighter and possibly another. May I ask what type(s) of cancer you had and what is your current concern? You are an inspiration to all of us in this group.
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"Garden" variety, early stage yet 2 recurrences and countingFrances081920 said:Hello oldbeauty, my goodness
Hello oldbeauty, my goodness a 15 year 3-time fighter and possibly another. May I ask what type(s) of cancer you had and what is your current concern? You are an inspiration to all of us in this group.
Hello Frances. I was staged in 2005 with (then) Stage 1C, Grade 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Hysterectomy and external beam radiation followed. Declared "cured." Recurred in 2012 with right para-aortic node positive with biopsy and suspicious lesions scattered in both lungs (not biopsied). Radiation and "palliative" care with high dose progesterone followed. Told I'd probably expire within the year. Recurred again with lesions in lungs in 2016 (not biopsied). Spent most of 2017 doing 12 rounds of chemo. Doc expected me to recur again in shorter period of time than before. Since December 2018 we've been following a slowly growing single pulmonary nodule. It may have reached a size susceptible to biopsy by now (or maybe (I hope) it's stopped growing). CT scheduled for next week. Following this board for many years has helped me control panic. I feel confident that this cancer provides time to not just jump on treatment without going for second opinion. Now, my plan is not to jump to any conclusions; wait for the thing to get to biopsy stage and then get rigorous pathology. I've had no "modern" tissue analysis since 2005, and I want that now. So, we'll see. I want to know as much as possible about these cells and then we'll pursue treatment. My preference is for surgery over more chemo. To be continued.... Best wishes, Oldbeauty
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Garden variety recurrenceoldbeauty said:"Garden" variety, early stage yet 2 recurrences and counting
Hello Frances. I was staged in 2005 with (then) Stage 1C, Grade 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Hysterectomy and external beam radiation followed. Declared "cured." Recurred in 2012 with right para-aortic node positive with biopsy and suspicious lesions scattered in both lungs (not biopsied). Radiation and "palliative" care with high dose progesterone followed. Told I'd probably expire within the year. Recurred again with lesions in lungs in 2016 (not biopsied). Spent most of 2017 doing 12 rounds of chemo. Doc expected me to recur again in shorter period of time than before. Since December 2018 we've been following a slowly growing single pulmonary nodule. It may have reached a size susceptible to biopsy by now (or maybe (I hope) it's stopped growing). CT scheduled for next week. Following this board for many years has helped me control panic. I feel confident that this cancer provides time to not just jump on treatment without going for second opinion. Now, my plan is not to jump to any conclusions; wait for the thing to get to biopsy stage and then get rigorous pathology. I've had no "modern" tissue analysis since 2005, and I want that now. So, we'll see. I want to know as much as possible about these cells and then we'll pursue treatment. My preference is for surgery over more chemo. To be continued.... Best wishes, Oldbeauty
Oldbeauty, like you I had ordinary endometriod adenocarcinoma, only I was Stage 1a, Grade 1. Hysterectomy and brachytherapy. 6 years later I was found to have a pelvic mass that invaded the hip joint, as well as several mets in both lungs. Lung mets not biopsied. Chemo and radiation this time. Some lung mets have disappeared, others shrunk. Pelvic mass has shrunk but isn't gone, so I'm managed as chronically metastatic, aking Megace.
My radiation oncologist said if I were to have further problems with the lung mets that they could do targeted radiation to them. Hoping it won't come to that.
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Your story and advice never gets old.
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