I'm done with cancer treatment!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I found out I had breast cancer on December 12, 2014, had a lumpectomy, did chemo from 1/29 to 5/22, and just finished the last of my radiation.

As far as we know, I’m cured. It’s not like they can do further testing or anything and say for certain, but my tumor was well defined, they got it out with clean margins, and nothing showed up in my lymph nodes.

Then, just for good measure (and because it’s the standard treatment for triple-negative breast cancer), I got chemo and radiation to zap any stray cells that might have gone walkabout in my body. I now have to see the doctors every month for checkups, then every three months, then six, and so on. Once I’m a few years out, they’ll feel more confident about saying, “Yes, you’re OK.” I know I’m going to worry a lot whenever I have an MRI or mammogram, but I’m trying to leave that for when it happens.

So, I’m starting to feel almost normal. I still have wicked acid reflux from the chemo, but it’s slowly improving. My boob is a little burned, but the doctor was impressed that I withstood radiation so well (I must have rolled a high constitution at birth).

I’m working towards getting my strength back. I do a little yoga. I’m working on walking up and down stairs without leaning on the railing.

I worked through the whole ordeal, taking only 3 days off during chemo. I’m totally kicking ass at work. It feels good, and was just the distraction I needed.

Thanks for all the well wishes, commiseration, practical help, and information. I figured you guys would be happy to hear I made it through!

2

Congrats! I know I’ve mentioned it in other cancer threads, but it seems so appropriate here…one of my favorite medical memories was when we got the report back after my mother’s mastectomy, and heard the words “clean margin.” I still loving hearing it.
So…are you now Authorized to Cinnamon?

3

Congratulations! My cancer experience last year was completely different, but know the profound relief that things are looking hopeful again. Here’s to continued uneventful recovery! :slight_smile:

4

Congratulations on success! Have known people with cancer and the kinds of things it can do to you apart from physically. I send you my very best wishes for your continuing health! {Virtual Hug}

5

Great news!

Now if anyone tells you to “Calm your tits” you can respond with “I already did.”

6

May you live a long and healthy life. My grandmother had breast cancer at 91, with a mastectomy, and she live for over sixteen more years!

7

Hooray! Congratulations and a pat on the back! Hope you continue to feel better and better.

8

Yay!

9

Way to go!!!

10

Congratulations!!!

11

good for you

12

Very glad to hear it :slight_smile:

13

Congrats on the milestone. You’ve accomplished a lot and you’re right to be relieved that the coast seems clear. I know how fantastic that feels for you now.
The one bit of very hard-earned advice I can give you is to remain vigilant for metastases. Getting a mammogram and a breast exam every so often is NOT enough. Odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you’ll be 100% good for several years. Which is just long enough for you and your doc’s to think of you as “cured”.

The good news about breast cancer in particular is that it is very slow-growing. The bad news is that enables what looks like long-term hibernation followed by eventual emergence.

It is not practical or advisable to get whole-body CTs on any regular basis. The cumulative radiation dose becomes excessive. And it’s pretty likely the scan would identify a “suspicious” spot someplace and you’d be off to the races again. Almost certainly over nothing.

There are now blood tests for some tumor markers. Which ones (if any) would be revealing for you depend on the genetics of your specific tumors. Ask about this now while your samples are still relatively fresh and readily available. And get some baseline numbers on the relevant markers so you and the docs can identify later increases should they occur.

As well, take an active role in monitoring your overall health. If you have a persistent muscle or joint soreness over a month or two, visit the onco, not the chiro. Likewise generally low on energy or having more head colds than was typical before. Or any of another hundred vague and ill-defined complaints that are easy to blame on overwork, stress, or simple aging.

The challenge is to remain alert to slow changes without becoming paranoid every time a BM is a day late or you get the sniffles.
I don’t mean to scare you or take away the great relief you are feeling to be done with this fight. The statistics are good and getting better all the time. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking this one fight *necessarily *constitutes the war. A proactive and slightly wary approach to your health forevermore is the price you’ll need to pay to maximize the odds of a long, healthy, & happy life.

The only thing I know of more awful than hearing “You have cancer” is “You have cancer again and we found it late.” Don’t let that happen to you or anyone you care about.

14

Congrats! Is Tamoxifen in your future?

15

Congrats! I finished radiation last week. (Lumpectomy in March and no chemo.) Glad you’re feeling better and on the mend. Celebrate every step of the way. :slight_smile:

16

Yay! Whoo Hoo!

17

Congratulations! I’m on Tamoxifen now, and the latest studies are saying I’ll be on it for life. What drug are you taking?

18

Yay! Another victory!! Happy and long healthy life!

19

I’m supposed to start Arimidex tomorrow and take for five years. It’s an estrogen-blocker for post-menopausal women.

I’m not the OP.

20

No Tamoxifen - it wouldn’t do any good, since my tumor was not responsive to estrogen. Or any other factor. So it’s like, “Yay, I don’t have to take drugs for years, but boo, I can’t take anything that will slow/stop anything that might have escaped the carpet bombing.”

But seriously, holy shit. They really did nuke it from orbit. Thisis apt. So I expect to be well and die a long time from now, of something else.

Of course, LSLGuy, I’ll be struggling not to be paranoid, and I’ll be getting checked as directed by my doctors. I have a great team with a total investment in harnessing the best evidence, so I’m confident they’ll order the right balance of checking enough without introducing useless risk by checking too much.