Forum Discussion
After 13 years and 2 diagnoses today the biggest celebration yet...
After 13 years and 2 diagnoses today my Oncologist gave me a discharge. A day I NEVER believed would come or would be possible.
To anyone who is at the beginning, don't let go of hope that you will get through this. It's definitely not lost on me the many that don't make it this far. So I feel humbled and incredibly reflective of the 13 years that have brought me to this day and to my new normal of who I have become.
In 2011 I was diagnosed with ER+ left breast cancer, underwent biopsies, surgery, radiation and tamoxifen. Until 2015 at my yearly checkup the unthinkable, impossible happened, I had a recurrence in the same spot in spite of all the treatment. My world shattered for a 2nd time, another surgery and chemo which was no picnic but I look back and think wow kid...you did that! it was damn hard and you were so sick, but you made it out the other side, put on Arimidex and switched to Aromasin. 1 year on 2017 I was recommended to follow with a mastectomy, so I had a single done and diep flap reconstruction, massive op and difficult. So 6 monthly visits to the Surgeon and Oncologist since 2015.
I gave the AI's away about 2 years ago, I had been taking them for 10 years. Thrust into menopause during Chemo, so that was hard to contend with. 6 months with an Exercise Physiologist to help me. Prolia injections 6th monthly for 8 years and today is the day the Oncologist gave me wings to fly...a feeling I've not known throughout the whole ordeal. A closure to this chapter and a possibility of moving forward with my new normal.
I managed to get back to work in 2017 and haven't stopped. I work full time in Education particularly in behaviour management and my biggest passion was to publish a book of Poetry which I did recently. Something I may never have done if not from walking this path. I feel more connected to me than I ever was.
So today I celebrate just for now I will sit with no thought of what tomorrow might bring.
Live a great life everyone, and trust that you are brave enough and strong enough to get through it.
PS: This is a link to my first book https://amzn.asia/d/i1vI8JN for anyone who is curious.
Hugs xo
Melinda
To anyone who is at the beginning, don't let go of hope that you will get through this. It's definitely not lost on me the many that don't make it this far. So I feel humbled and incredibly reflective of the 13 years that have brought me to this day and to my new normal of who I have become.
In 2011 I was diagnosed with ER+ left breast cancer, underwent biopsies, surgery, radiation and tamoxifen. Until 2015 at my yearly checkup the unthinkable, impossible happened, I had a recurrence in the same spot in spite of all the treatment. My world shattered for a 2nd time, another surgery and chemo which was no picnic but I look back and think wow kid...you did that! it was damn hard and you were so sick, but you made it out the other side, put on Arimidex and switched to Aromasin. 1 year on 2017 I was recommended to follow with a mastectomy, so I had a single done and diep flap reconstruction, massive op and difficult. So 6 monthly visits to the Surgeon and Oncologist since 2015.
I gave the AI's away about 2 years ago, I had been taking them for 10 years. Thrust into menopause during Chemo, so that was hard to contend with. 6 months with an Exercise Physiologist to help me. Prolia injections 6th monthly for 8 years and today is the day the Oncologist gave me wings to fly...a feeling I've not known throughout the whole ordeal. A closure to this chapter and a possibility of moving forward with my new normal.
I managed to get back to work in 2017 and haven't stopped. I work full time in Education particularly in behaviour management and my biggest passion was to publish a book of Poetry which I did recently. Something I may never have done if not from walking this path. I feel more connected to me than I ever was.
So today I celebrate just for now I will sit with no thought of what tomorrow might bring.
Live a great life everyone, and trust that you are brave enough and strong enough to get through it.
PS: This is a link to my first book https://amzn.asia/d/i1vI8JN for anyone who is curious.
Hugs xo
Melinda
37 Replies
- The sooner you retire I reckon, @cranky_granny, the better xx. Just do what you want to do, when you want to do it!! You'll be amazed at how quickly the day will pass, with doing lots of little stuff xx ;)
- @Zoffiel sad that you got covid but i love the attitude to it all. I had to go to head office today to do 37km took me an hour and a half. To be there for 2 hours then to rush over to my office another 27km and 40 minute drive to stay for 1 hour. The rush home another 30 minute drive to be there for 2pm then quick turn around to a 2:30 appointment. Sitting here now waiting. Only just getting over the flu. And I’m exhausted. The things we do.My parting comment to my boss as I left head office was You're killing me. She just laughed you’ll be right. I don’t think she has a clue.
- @lrb_03 I'm still going. 8 years since my reoccurrence I've stopped taking everything too. My onc would have liked me to take the AI for ten years, but 7.5 was enough when my bone density started to plummet.
I'm still working full time and it's a 120km daily round trip to the office. Except for this week. I've got bloody COVID and am sitting up in bed death scrolling the internet.
I've run out of tissues and I'm reduced to a roll of toilet paper to try to deal with the remarkable amount of phlegm my body has decided to produce. I mean, really? It's the glamour of life that keeps you going.
Luckily I have a thing for good quality bog roll. I'm thinking I'll go online to see if I can get a home delivery of the essentials and a bottle of brandy for medicinal purposes. - @FLClover thanks so much, sometimes in the midst of treatment hope is all we have. Thanks on the book too a lifelong dream :) xx
- Fantastic news Mel @melclarity, massive achievement 🙌🏻👏🏻. I love the positive stories too. We have nothing if we don’t have hope.Also congrats on the book 🎉👌🏻💜.
- ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
- @June1952 I agree all specialists may have a different take. I believe oral medication is possibly for life but my Oncologist was never putting me on prolia for life. He would always monitor me coming off it so a year later im still pretty good. Oh boy it is so expensive too lol. Thanks again and I wish you great health xo
- Thankyou @melclarity, it is interesting given that the specialists say one can never come off it. I was told it was for life, the same with all others I know who are on it. Keep well. You are an inspiration to many on here.
- @June1952 Hi there, so you can't stay on Prolia long term eventually you do have to come off it. Yes they say you go backwards, having said that according to my Dexa it did go a little backwards however I still was way in front of where I was when I began if that makes sense. So the Oncologist was really happy with the result. I don't need any further treatment for osteoporosis. It really was the best thing I could've done post Chemo and really I felt a little off sometimes but overall nothing at all. I'd recommend it to anyone to be honest. xx
- Hi @melclarity, I am interested that you are no longer on Prolia. We are led to believe that once on it one can never come off it as the bones go back to what they were at the beginning. You give us hope !
