I am about your age and can relate to what you wrote about uncertainty in how to live. In fact, I also am considering school. The effect of cancer on our long term perspective makes commitment hard, but at the same time, we need purpose.

You said you didn't do chemo or targeted therapy due to personal preference. Did you have HER2+? If not, did you have an Oncotype?

It is unusual for an oncologist to say you will "live a few years" and that the cancer will spread. Also, you are being closely monitored. It sounds like your unusual cancer may have an unusual prognosis, or else your doctor is not being careful in what they say. Do you know why your oncologist phrased things in that way? My oncologist does not do blood work or even see me now that I am 8 years out and I try not to think about it but I had grade 3 with lymphovascular invasion.

This thread is typical with posters including one with HER2+, my mixed lobular/ductal grade 3, and one with DCIS (invasive). Decisions and experiences are very different depending on the factors of our individual cancers, as is our perspective on the future.

Now the trick is to keep cancer on the backburner and avoid being too vigilant but at the same time it is hard to take things up again for many reasons. I took baby steps: an art class, for instance or, in your case, maybe one grad class. I hope you get that quality of life you are looking for!