1. < Breast Cancer

Life after Breast Cancer: What’s next?

Posted by prc73 @prc73, Apr 23 12:44pm

I would like to know please . Most comments I see seem to be surrounded by struggles making me feel as if people are almost better off without these aggressive treatments and should maybe have tried something else . I have met 3 ladies who almost died just from first round of chemo and had to go without it as their bodies fully rejected . I just want to know . What is life really like after procedures?. Do you get your back to the things you where doing that you loved . It’s so scary for me to think maybe I won’t be able to go for power walks like l used to, to go dancing, to run to travel , wear my high heels and just to feel sensual like a woman .

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

boathouse | @boathouse | May 9 6:36am

Hello
I haven’t posted in awhile as I am finished with my extensive treatment plan at Mayo for HER2 positive stage 3 cancer.
First I will answer your question.
I have my life back and positive and grateful! My goal was to downhill ski, golf and back to kayaking. And I am doing it all again at my same La e.
My treatment was extensive
8 rounds of chemo
Double mastectomy and 23 lymph nodes removed
25 rounds of radiation
2 surgeries for infections
14 more rounds of TDM1 chemo
A lattisimus flap surgery
Finally after reconstruction
Healed! Cancer clear!
My new normal still allows me to be positive active and moving ahead with my faith family and love!
We are stronger than we think we are!! Keep looking ahead

REPLY
2 replies
prc73 | @prc73 | May 9 12:02pm
In reply to @boathouse "Hello I haven’t posted in awhile as I am finished with my extensive treatment plan at..." + (show)
@boathouse

Hello
I haven’t posted in awhile as I am finished with my extensive treatment plan at Mayo for HER2 positive stage 3 cancer.
First I will answer your question.
I have my life back and positive and grateful! My goal was to downhill ski, golf and back to kayaking. And I am doing it all again at my same La e.
My treatment was extensive
8 rounds of chemo
Double mastectomy and 23 lymph nodes removed
25 rounds of radiation
2 surgeries for infections
14 more rounds of TDM1 chemo
A lattisimus flap surgery
Finally after reconstruction
Healed! Cancer clear!
My new normal still allows me to be positive active and moving ahead with my faith family and love!
We are stronger than we think we are!! Keep looking ahead

Jump to this post

WoW you went through so much . Thank you so much for your positive remarks .
I will know more next week exactly what my treatment will entail as I will meet with surgeon to finalize on procedures.. I had another biopsy and that too was DCIS. So 3 areas of my breast have tested DCIS and 1 lymph node that was swollen tested inconclusive. All other lymph nodes are fine. They did say sometimes post surgery may change the treatment if they find something else . I am so looking forward to when it’s all done and I can get back to life.

REPLY
1 reply
nanna1948 | @nanna1948 | May 10 6:45am
In reply to @boathouse "Hello I haven’t posted in awhile as I am finished with my extensive treatment plan at..." + (show)
@boathouse

Hello
I haven’t posted in awhile as I am finished with my extensive treatment plan at Mayo for HER2 positive stage 3 cancer.
First I will answer your question.
I have my life back and positive and grateful! My goal was to downhill ski, golf and back to kayaking. And I am doing it all again at my same La e.
My treatment was extensive
8 rounds of chemo
Double mastectomy and 23 lymph nodes removed
25 rounds of radiation
2 surgeries for infections
14 more rounds of TDM1 chemo
A lattisimus flap surgery
Finally after reconstruction
Healed! Cancer clear!
My new normal still allows me to be positive active and moving ahead with my faith family and love!
We are stronger than we think we are!! Keep looking ahead

Jump to this post

You are amazing make all proud of you. Life is worth it all enjoy every moment and minute congratulations you Rock

REPLY
christylv | @christylv | May 10 1:33pm
In reply to @prc73 "WoW you went through so much . Thank you so much for your positive remarks ...." + (show)
@prc73

WoW you went through so much . Thank you so much for your positive remarks .
I will know more next week exactly what my treatment will entail as I will meet with surgeon to finalize on procedures.. I had another biopsy and that too was DCIS. So 3 areas of my breast have tested DCIS and 1 lymph node that was swollen tested inconclusive. All other lymph nodes are fine. They did say sometimes post surgery may change the treatment if they find something else . I am so looking forward to when it’s all done and I can get back to life.

Jump to this post

Hi! Is this your first time being diagnosed with DCIS? Two areas of my breast had DCIs. Thankfully they got it out with a lumpectomy.

REPLY
1 reply
prc73 | @prc73 | May 11 12:53am
In reply to @christylv "Hi! Is this your first time being diagnosed with DCIS? Two areas of my breast had..." + (show)
@christylv

Hi! Is this your first time being diagnosed with DCIS? Two areas of my breast had DCIs. Thankfully they got it out with a lumpectomy.

Jump to this post

I was diagnosed last year but due to taking care of my terminally ill mother in renal failure did not get to treatment right away. I did change some
Things. I was fearful it had evolved into something else by now so was surprised that the mass they could now see is still DCIS. The other areas of DCIS are all calcifications . So so far I have 3 areas biopsied that are DCIS. Due to the large area I am not a candidate for lumpectomy sadly .

REPLY
1 reply
tmoss0084 | @tmoss0084 | May 11 5:01am

I was newly diagnosed with Inflammatory breast cancer (a fare and highly aggressive cancer) on my breast as well as invasive Mammary cancer in both breasts. I have a fight with a possible 5 year survival rate. Any advice would be great!

REPLY
1 reply
christylv | @christylv | May 11 6:38am
In reply to @prc73 "I was diagnosed last year but due to taking care of my terminally ill mother in..." + (show)
@prc73

I was diagnosed last year but due to taking care of my terminally ill mother in renal failure did not get to treatment right away. I did change some
Things. I was fearful it had evolved into something else by now so was surprised that the mass they could now see is still DCIS. The other areas of DCIS are all calcifications . So so far I have 3 areas biopsied that are DCIS. Due to the large area I am not a candidate for lumpectomy sadly .

Jump to this post

I am sorry to hear that. So do you have to get a mastectomy then ?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | May 11 10:20am
In reply to @tmoss0084 "I was newly diagnosed with Inflammatory breast cancer (a fare and highly aggressive cancer) on my..." + (show)
@tmoss0084

I was newly diagnosed with Inflammatory breast cancer (a fare and highly aggressive cancer) on my breast as well as invasive Mammary cancer in both breasts. I have a fight with a possible 5 year survival rate. Any advice would be great!

Jump to this post

Ah geez, that just stinks. I am heartbroken for you to be facing those treatments. Not every one lives on a five year plan. They gave me five year statistics that were pretty grim, 20 years ago. Lol. I have an aggressive ductal carcinoma. Although they have really gotten a lot more tools to treat her2 now.
@gloriaannjames has been going on with inflammatory for over 24 years.
I told my doctor, that my backside did not have an expiration date stamped on it. He liked that one.
Have they given you a treatment plan yet? How are you doing?😘

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
Miriam, Volunteer Mentor | @mir123 | May 11 10:41am
In reply to @auntieoakley "Ah geez, that just stinks. I am heartbroken for you to be facing those treatments. Not..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

Ah geez, that just stinks. I am heartbroken for you to be facing those treatments. Not every one lives on a five year plan. They gave me five year statistics that were pretty grim, 20 years ago. Lol. I have an aggressive ductal carcinoma. Although they have really gotten a lot more tools to treat her2 now.
@gloriaannjames has been going on with inflammatory for over 24 years.
I told my doctor, that my backside did not have an expiration date stamped on it. He liked that one.
Have they given you a treatment plan yet? How are you doing?😘

Jump to this post

This is encouraging! Thank you!

REPLY
christylv | @christylv | May 11 12:34pm
In reply to @auntieoakley "Ah geez, that just stinks. I am heartbroken for you to be facing those treatments. Not..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

Ah geez, that just stinks. I am heartbroken for you to be facing those treatments. Not every one lives on a five year plan. They gave me five year statistics that were pretty grim, 20 years ago. Lol. I have an aggressive ductal carcinoma. Although they have really gotten a lot more tools to treat her2 now.
@gloriaannjames has been going on with inflammatory for over 24 years.
I told my doctor, that my backside did not have an expiration date stamped on it. He liked that one.
Have they given you a treatment plan yet? How are you doing?😘

Jump to this post

Hi! Were you getting mammograms with alternate MRI’s when you were recently diagnosed?

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.