Newbie, stage III diagnosis
Sophie 56
Comments
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Sophie
There are many stage
Sophie
There are many stage 3 survivors on this discussion board and they should be responding to you. I am stage 3 and my oncologist said this is quite beatable. I am a triple negative and also have ahd my mamo's every year. It takes a much more aggressive treatment bit the cho is doable. In may I have opted for a bilateral mastectomy and then will follow up with 10 more rounds of chemo.0 -
Hi, I am Stage III and had
Hi, I am Stage III and had my 2 year check up on Wednesday. I had chemo and radiation and a bilateral mastectomy. I now take Arimidex. Oh yeah, I was faithful about yearly mammograms as well. It is very scary, but you can do it. xoxoxoxo Lynn0 -
jannie........
Of course you are scared. We all were/are. But please believe me when I tell you that there are many stage III survivors who have passed the 5 year mark and are still going strong! Still going strong YEARS after that! Heck, if we can't believe that we will have a life after BC, then what's the point of going through treatment!?
I too was dx'd stage III and it too, was in my lymph nodes. I also had yearly mammograms and during the 6 months BEFORE I was dx'd, I told two Drs. (on 3 different occasions) that that I was concerned that something was not right with the breast. They said it was fine.
Well, no, apparently it was not "fine". By the time I got them to listen to me, there were outward changes that anyone would notice. And I was at stage III.
At any rate, I am sure that others will respond to your post and they will also tell you that while you can keep that 5 year mark in your mind, don't live your life around it. Don't limit yourself to that "magic" number. It's ok to assume that you will still be here MANY years from now, and still remain realistic about your prognosis.
Super big hugs for you,
CR0 -
Sorry to hear
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS there are plenty of us who had very aggessive forms of breast cancer at very young ages and we are still alive after 5, 10, 15 years. Everyone is different and I have to say this loudly we all have different cancers if you think about it because none of us are the same. Not in the same shape, don't already have the same pre-existing conditions.
I use to hear these things about cancer, I have proved them all wrong. Cancer doesn't hurt, OH YES it can. Just think of all the nerves that and other physical things being pushed out of place or just pushing on nerves, get a grip. You can have stage 3 or 4 cancer and not have that, yes.
Being Tired is not a symptom, YES IT IS, one of the first.
Nausea and just doing the yo yo thing. When you feel like your getting something, like a cold or a flu but it hangs on but never amounts to the big sick. Or actually feeling like your catching everything coming your way. Our body and souls are speaking to us and I just thought this was life stresses taking its tole, a single mother with angry teen.
Oh yes and I had this incredible hip PAIN right in the middle going right through me. I use to joke about being the youngest hip replacement patient not old like my grandpa and I said this probably starting 10 years before finding my first lump. Hip pain for Breast Cancer and Arm Pain for Lung. How many of us experienced these things and were ignored all those years because we were not deathly ill, especially at very young ages.
Stage 4 People even survive when they are told to go home and get their affairs in order.
As much as one there is the other and yes our sisters and brothers in this world sometimes do not make it but WE live and we are living to die.
Unlike most peopele I had a mother who took care of dying people often there because she wanted to help after her day of work was done. WE talked about dying as much as we talked about living and truly that is as simple as it gets for me. Not liking the thought of another bout with two more lumps now in my arm but it is what it is.. It is hard accepting things just as they are and resigning ourselves to it.
You came to the right place and glad you found us. Oh by the way I was 36 at diagnosis, stage 3, 11 out of 21 positive nodes, HER negative, going to find out if I was triple negative back then too. I went from finding my frist lump and within six months I had another that grew to golf ball size in one week and deathly ill now. 2 months later they were still trying to convince me I did not have cancer but I knew it the soul of my being something was terribly wrong. I had watched my beloved paternal grandmother die of this very same thing. 14 years for me and grateful for every last one of them. Please do not miss the miracles along the way and quite frankly I am one as are most of us.
We are here for you,
Tara
seperate mastectomies with chemo and radiation. No reconstruction
chemo 6 rounds of 4 if not 5 different drugs where I am in Canada
with 15 radiation treatments 5 days a weeks0 -
I was diagnosed in 2003 a
I was diagnosed in 2003 a stage 3a with a tumor of 6cm, and 3cm and a smaller one. It was so huge I had to have chemo first to shrink it or the surgeon would have to do skin grafts. After surgery they found 2 of 15 nodes still had cancer. So that and the grade 3 which is most aggressive he said I'd need more chemo before radiation. My out look was grim too. We moved after treatment to another state and every year they send a letter to see how I'm doing. HA! I'm still kicking!0 -
Stage 3 Also
Jannie_, I was diagnosed stage 3A in November 2008. Mastectomy, chemo, and rads followed. I celebrated my first year "cancerversary" 5 months ago, as you see, and plan on celebrating many more.
I have been where you are now. The fear is so great. But you are fighting it and the cancer. And you have come to the right place, as you see from the wonderful posts. You are not alone; none of us are. I am so sorry you have joined our "club," but thank you for posting. Reading the responses of friends and fellow survivors strengthens my spirit, too.
Hang in there, Jannie_. Have more faith than your doctors, or find other doctors. No one on this earth knows your "expiration date."0 -
Thank-you all for writing.Moopy23 said:Stage 3 Also
Jannie_, I was diagnosed stage 3A in November 2008. Mastectomy, chemo, and rads followed. I celebrated my first year "cancerversary" 5 months ago, as you see, and plan on celebrating many more.
I have been where you are now. The fear is so great. But you are fighting it and the cancer. And you have come to the right place, as you see from the wonderful posts. You are not alone; none of us are. I am so sorry you have joined our "club," but thank you for posting. Reading the responses of friends and fellow survivors strengthens my spirit, too.
Hang in there, Jannie_. Have more faith than your doctors, or find other doctors. No one on this earth knows your "expiration date."
Thank-you all for writing. It is so frightening. Your responses are helping already. I have to be a fighter I know. Please continue to write and pray and I will do the same for each and everyone of you. God has been my greatest strength and I still feel weak and vulnerable.
You all are uplifting me.
BTW, I accidentally signed my first e-mail as sophie 56....that's a pen name for an old board....sorry. From this point on please refer to me as jannie_
Thank-you all again.
Jannie_0 -
I was diagnosed Aug 09 withMoopy23 said:Stage 3 Also
Jannie_, I was diagnosed stage 3A in November 2008. Mastectomy, chemo, and rads followed. I celebrated my first year "cancerversary" 5 months ago, as you see, and plan on celebrating many more.
I have been where you are now. The fear is so great. But you are fighting it and the cancer. And you have come to the right place, as you see from the wonderful posts. You are not alone; none of us are. I am so sorry you have joined our "club," but thank you for posting. Reading the responses of friends and fellow survivors strengthens my spirit, too.
Hang in there, Jannie_. Have more faith than your doctors, or find other doctors. No one on this earth knows your "expiration date."
I was diagnosed Aug 09 with Stage 4 breast cancer with liver mets. I was 39 at the time, never had a mammo. Went for my annual female exam, felt nothing except what she said was more than likely fibroids. Two days later I felt a lump the size of an egg. In September I began chemo, 6 cycles of AC and 7 weekly doses of Taxol. Im triple positive, just began Tamoxifen last week. I went for my third Pet scan March of this year and the 10cm area to my breast and the areas on my liver have resolved. Ive never asked my doctor how long Ill live. I pray lots and live one day at a time and stay positive. My daughter gave me a bookmark ...HOLD ON TO HOPE...
Love from above
Love from within
Be comforted now,
With grace you will win.
Though this path
May be difficult
You're not on it alone
Lean on your family,
Hold on to hope
Rage against the storm,
Battle for this life
Have faith in yourself,
Stand strong in this fight.0 -
i was diagnosed IIIa right
i was diagnosed IIIa right after christmas 4 months ago, at first the oncologist said IIa but then 7 of 35 lymph nodes were microscopically positive. up up the ladder i went. he remains very positive and encouraging but i know that is part of his job. sometimes i think i am sleep walking through this whole thing. other times i think my insides are going to explode out of my skin. so i am still early in the process too. statistics (for what they are worth) say survival is 57% after 5 years for IIIa. this is a good place for us to hang out. lots of nice people who one way or another are in the same boat. cyber hugs and hugs.0 -
Lies, damned lies, and statisticssusanleeann said:i was diagnosed IIIa right
i was diagnosed IIIa right after christmas 4 months ago, at first the oncologist said IIa but then 7 of 35 lymph nodes were microscopically positive. up up the ladder i went. he remains very positive and encouraging but i know that is part of his job. sometimes i think i am sleep walking through this whole thing. other times i think my insides are going to explode out of my skin. so i am still early in the process too. statistics (for what they are worth) say survival is 57% after 5 years for IIIa. this is a good place for us to hang out. lots of nice people who one way or another are in the same boat. cyber hugs and hugs.
This sounds really familiar, Susan. Moopster and I kind of assumed she would be dxed at IIa or IIb... we sure weren't ready when the pathology report came back Stage IIIa "triple (AARGH) negative."
I don't mean to imply that the stat you quoted is absolutely wrong - in fact, I share fully in your skepticism. The 57% number is based on some very old data, some of which dates back to a time when both chemo and radiation were far less effective than they are today.
I can understand why the ACS is very slow to update the statistics: they can't be in the business of blowing smoke and raising inaccurate expectations. At the same time, these statistics are just plain ooooollllldddd. And besides, as my wise and beloved wife often observes, only God knows everyone's expiration date.0 -
You will do just fine, Jannie.jannie_ said:Thank-you all for writing.
Thank-you all for writing. It is so frightening. Your responses are helping already. I have to be a fighter I know. Please continue to write and pray and I will do the same for each and everyone of you. God has been my greatest strength and I still feel weak and vulnerable.
You all are uplifting me.
BTW, I accidentally signed my first e-mail as sophie 56....that's a pen name for an old board....sorry. From this point on please refer to me as jannie_
Thank-you all again.
Jannie_
One thing my beloved Moopy and I both read all the time (and never really believed) in the awful winter of 2008/2009 went like: "thousands upon thousands upon thousands of women have survived, and continue to not just survive but live happy and meaningful lives, after treatment for Stage III breast cancer." Frankly, back in the early days of diagnosis and surgery and test after test and chemo, it sounded like over-optimistic BS.
A year and a half later, Moopster has joined the thousands upon thousands upon thousands of women who are not just surviving Stage III breast cancer but living a happy and meaningful life afterward. I know it sounds tough to believe now, but you will be a member of this group too.
How can I *not* bet on a woman who has the same name as my ornery little sister, who will celebrate nine years clean and sober this fall (but whom I have never called "Jannie" unless I felt a need to get slugged or kicked or have something poured over my head)?0 -
stage IIIcjannie_ said:Thank-you all for writing.
Thank-you all for writing. It is so frightening. Your responses are helping already. I have to be a fighter I know. Please continue to write and pray and I will do the same for each and everyone of you. God has been my greatest strength and I still feel weak and vulnerable.
You all are uplifting me.
BTW, I accidentally signed my first e-mail as sophie 56....that's a pen name for an old board....sorry. From this point on please refer to me as jannie_
Thank-you all again.
Jannie_
Hi Jannie, I was diagnosis with stage 3c in July 07 at age 41 and I am still here fighting stronger then ever. I was diagnosis with bone met in March 2010 and had radiation and is now on arosomin and take zometa once a month. I refuse to give up and let anyone tell what my life expansion is only God knows .So keep up the faith and continue to believe in God and things will work out.
Barb0 -
Thank-you Aortus andAortus said:Lies, damned lies, and statistics
This sounds really familiar, Susan. Moopster and I kind of assumed she would be dxed at IIa or IIb... we sure weren't ready when the pathology report came back Stage IIIa "triple (AARGH) negative."
I don't mean to imply that the stat you quoted is absolutely wrong - in fact, I share fully in your skepticism. The 57% number is based on some very old data, some of which dates back to a time when both chemo and radiation were far less effective than they are today.
I can understand why the ACS is very slow to update the statistics: they can't be in the business of blowing smoke and raising inaccurate expectations. At the same time, these statistics are just plain ooooollllldddd. And besides, as my wise and beloved wife often observes, only God knows everyone's expiration date.
Thank-you Aortus and all.
jannie-0 -
Stage IIICjannie_ said:Thank-you Aortus and
Thank-you Aortus and all.
jannie-
was my diagnosis in June of 2008, I was 46. Last month my oncologist said that I am going to live until 90. I want to believe him, he is avery knowledgeable scientist. There a lot of new treatments and you will be fine.Keep the faith.
New Flower0 -
New Flower.....New Flower said:Stage IIIC
was my diagnosis in June of 2008, I was 46. Last month my oncologist said that I am going to live until 90. I want to believe him, he is avery knowledgeable scientist. There a lot of new treatments and you will be fine.Keep the faith.
New Flower
Your post made me smile!
My onc would not commit...never commits to guessing one's life span, because there are so many variables and also, he is a great believer in HOPE.
He will give the "statistics" for your particular type of cancer, but not an opinion.
So, last year. in an attempt to pin him down on what HE thought, I told him that I wanted to get a new puppy. I told him that the dog's life span is approximately 10 years. Then I smiled & asked him if I should get it...or not.
He just winked, smiled, and said..."go ahead and get it".
So I did.
Now, whether he thinks that I will actually be here in 10 years, I don't know. But he sure made me feel like he thinks I will be...and that's good enough for me!
Hugs,
CR0 -
CR ThanksCR1954 said:New Flower.....
Your post made me smile!
My onc would not commit...never commits to guessing one's life span, because there are so many variables and also, he is a great believer in HOPE.
He will give the "statistics" for your particular type of cancer, but not an opinion.
So, last year. in an attempt to pin him down on what HE thought, I told him that I wanted to get a new puppy. I told him that the dog's life span is approximately 10 years. Then I smiled & asked him if I should get it...or not.
He just winked, smiled, and said..."go ahead and get it".
So I did.
Now, whether he thinks that I will actually be here in 10 years, I don't know. But he sure made me feel like he thinks I will be...and that's good enough for me!
Hugs,
CR
I think that is the best read yet on this. WE all very different and remember our treatment doses and drugs are not the same. Our weight and health determines how much they give us of chemo... and aren't we all just one big experiment.
I have been a part of the study and I plan to get a copy of it and it has to do with Breast Cancer patients with agressive form and most younger, who are HER negative. This study began the year I was dx'd in 1997 and ended 2007.
This is one of the reasons we know so much about HER triple negative. This is why you are going to see some big changes to the way we are treated even trying to be diagnoses at very young ages.
After reading posts about HER negative statis it scares the hell out of me sitting here with 2 more lumps after 14 years of survival. Knowing what I know about the study so far I am very grateful to be breathing and maybe that is more important than statistics and studies.
I am back reading my old cancer poems
Where there is a garden there is HOPE!!
Get out what that Cancer Cannot Do saying next. God it has been allot a years.
Tara0 -
I understand your beinglynn1950 said:Hi, I am Stage III and had
Hi, I am Stage III and had my 2 year check up on Wednesday. I had chemo and radiation and a bilateral mastectomy. I now take Arimidex. Oh yeah, I was faithful about yearly mammograms as well. It is very scary, but you can do it. xoxoxoxo Lynn
I understand your being afraid, but, look at all of the Stage III survivors on the board. You can get thru this and look forward to a long and happy life. Good luck!0 -
There is ALWAYS HOPE!
Hi sweet pea!
Well I am living proof of stage three and in the lymph nodes longevity! I have been cancer free for over 6 years now! WOOHOO! I was 39 when I was diagnosed. I had at least 3 mamograms in my late 30s with no evidence of cancer. It was not until I found a lump under my armpit that they finally believed me and did the biopsies. I had a malignant lump in my left breast as well as my lymph nodes.(stage 3 with 14 positive lymph nodes). God IS amazing and will be there for you. He is our Dad and loves us so. Oh... I forgot! I work with a gal that is also a survivor of stage 3. She is going on her 5th year cancer free! She is a year younger than me. YOU CAN DO IT! God bless you Jannie!0 -
Hello
I was diagnosised may 2009 w stage3c triple positive, 18/20 nodes pos. Coming up on a yr of cancer remission. My onc says I'm to be his masterpiece. I hope to be. Gave it all to God. Like someone said, he knows our expiration date. I always figured I'd go by car wreck. lol You'll do great. Stick with family and God. Of course w ur cancer team. (((hugs))), Katz0 -
What a beautiful poem Deb!Deb1969 said:I was diagnosed Aug 09 with
I was diagnosed Aug 09 with Stage 4 breast cancer with liver mets. I was 39 at the time, never had a mammo. Went for my annual female exam, felt nothing except what she said was more than likely fibroids. Two days later I felt a lump the size of an egg. In September I began chemo, 6 cycles of AC and 7 weekly doses of Taxol. Im triple positive, just began Tamoxifen last week. I went for my third Pet scan March of this year and the 10cm area to my breast and the areas on my liver have resolved. Ive never asked my doctor how long Ill live. I pray lots and live one day at a time and stay positive. My daughter gave me a bookmark ...HOLD ON TO HOPE...
Love from above
Love from within
Be comforted now,
With grace you will win.
Though this path
May be difficult
You're not on it alone
Lean on your family,
Hold on to hope
Rage against the storm,
Battle for this life
Have faith in yourself,
Stand strong in this fight.
What a beautiful poem Deb! That is inspiration to all of us!0
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