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Any testimonies where cancer didn't return?

Posted by Rom828 @jgallagher04921, Jun 4, 2023

I am new to this support group ( few weeks), but from what I have read there seems to be a trend with cancer coming back ( with all different diagnosis and treatment types). As I am still in the process of deciding on treatment, I'm starting to wonder " why bother going through all the side effects and feel ugly in the process if she-devil is just going to return".

Is there anyone out there that can speak to their win of cancer not coming back. What was ur diagnosis and treatment plan.. how long has it been since u were diagnosed?

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

jig4891 | @jig4891 | May 24 11:00am
In reply to @luckbme "I have an oncologist who is down right rude and uncaring. But I like the other..." + (show)
@luckbme

I have an oncologist who is down right rude and uncaring. But I like the other three doctors on the team; the surgeon, radiologist and internal medicine doctor. I'd like to keep them. This is with the Iowa Clinic. There is only one other oncologist in my area with this clinic. I am 86 and had 15 radiation treatments with invasive ductal carcinoma. I did fine, but not so well with the tamoxifen. I need an oncologist with some empathy and who cares. Instead of suggesting another option he said, "I don't care what you take" in a very angry, dismissive voice. We were on the phone. He did add "as long as you know the side effects and that it could break your back." I ask if the Tamoxifen could break my back. He said yes because I have osteoporosis. So.... he still never answered my question about why he suggested Tamoxifen and not something like letrozole. I truly wanted to know the answer to that, which was the opening question in our phone conversation.

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I’m sorry to hear about your doctor. I am on my second medical oncologist for the same reason. Very dismissive, especially when I expressed concerns about the medication side effects. Letrozole and others in that class are called aromatase inhibitors and they cause bone loss. Tamoxifen is an estrogen receptor blocker and shouldn’t cause bone loss. That’s my understanding. I’m 57 and I tried one of the aromatase inhibitors and couldn’t take the side effects. I’m going to try Letrozole next. If AIs are not tolerable for me, I will try tamoxifen. For me, I will choose quality of life over quantity.

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | May 25 12:23pm

Diagnosed 33 years ago, double negative. Mastectomy and 6 months chemo. No relapse.
However, side effects of chemo appeared several years later.

REPLY
1 reply
prc73 | @prc73 | May 28 3:27pm
In reply to @astaingegerdm "Diagnosed 33 years ago, double negative. Mastectomy and 6 months chemo. No relapse. However, side effects..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

Diagnosed 33 years ago, double negative. Mastectomy and 6 months chemo. No relapse.
However, side effects of chemo appeared several years later.

Jump to this post

May I ask what type of side effects and when they appeared?

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1 reply
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | May 28 7:26pm
In reply to @prc73 "May I ask what type of side effects and when they appeared?" + (show)
@prc73

May I ask what type of side effects and when they appeared?

Jump to this post

When getting chemo I had a severe GI reaction each time/ it appeared as if the intestinal lining came out. Sorry, sounds gross.
About 15 years later I started having autoimmune GI illness. Initially microscopic colitis and later hard to diagnose GI symptoms that also caused intense fatigue. Short term steroids would make me feel great. I was seen at Mayo at the time. Eventually, there was new discovery that people like me in addition to people with abdominal trauma could develop this non specific type of GI inflammation. I even developed Sjogren like symptoms affecting mouth and eyes.
I was offered immunosuppressant treatment. I took this medication for 7 months- my symptoms disappeared.
There were brief milder flare ups later on- I’m fine now.
Remember- this was a very rare occurrence!

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BeBold | @bebold | May 29 4:58am

My sister had breast cancer 6 years ago? I don't know what kind except estrogen sensitive. After lumpectomy and radiation, she decided against the pill. She spoke to her female pcp about the meds. Her pcp told her with her stage etc, she wouldn't if it was her. Its been 6 years and her mammo last month was negative. My BIL has cancer so that is also why she didnt. She said she wanted to enjoy time with him. Travel etc.
But it gas been 6 years to answer your question but you can't compare cancers at all.

We make decisions with what we know at the time, listen to you intuition, live with no regrets. Also do what you think you can live with. Some women can't emotionally even think about mastectomy if not considered necessary. No regrets is the best we can do and with the info we have and the drs expertise. But we must truth them implicitly. And have faith our guidance is correct.

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