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
- @lrb_03 hey there! That's great news to hear you 9 years from diagnosis. I wish you a long and happy healthy future.
I gave up AIs at 7yrs bc I had been on them 11 years including my previous diagnosis. I've been on prolia injections 6 monthly for the past 8 years since chemo. I'm 1yr off prolia and latest dexa showed stability so that's why he discharged me :) it is a new normal as you'd agree and survivorship is not easy by any stretch. Good to hear from you. Xx - @lrb_03 - lovely to see your name appear. Have thought of you over time and wondered how you are. Gosh, 9 years - good news. Hope you remain healthy and have a happy life. ❤️
- Another one not very active these days, though I often read whilst not logged in. Great news for you @melclarity. It really is always good to see the stories of those further down the track. My oncologist discharged my last year after active treatment and 7 years on AI's. In his view, for me, the risks of continuing outweighed the relatively small potential benefits of continuing. I'm now 9 years out from diagnosis.
@Zoffiel, good to see your name. How are you going? - @Zoffiel wow been a long time :) yes I am not too active these days either. Thank you! and yes I think it's equally important to share the positivity and good news when it comes. xx
- Good on you Mel. I rarely visit here anymore so it was nice to log in and see something positive. MXX
- @"Annie C" thank you for your beautiful comments. I'm so glad I helped in some small way and that I wrote in a way that very personable. It's just such a tough path and not alot of positivity through it, so to help even 1 person feel seen and heard matters to me. Thank you for the Kimberley hug :) xx I hope you are doing well?
- @Cath62 Thanks so much :) xx
- @melclarityThankyou for this warm, positive and supportive story. Reading your posts over the last seven years I have always thought that you were writing to me personally and offering encouragement.My mantra has now become "I need to smell the roses, now". My way of reminding myself that I need to focus on myself and look after me.A Kimberley Hug is coming to you.A Kimberley Hug is as wide, as warm and all encompassing as this beautiful region is.Annie
- @GinGin thanks so much for your wishes. What I've learnt is even now the future is not certain, but to focus on the NOW. It was so easy to lose hope along the way for me, I dreamt I would get here, but of course you just never know. I hope you are doing well? x
- Congrats @melclarity! I am so happy for you. 🤗
thank you for taking time to share your progress. It gives me a lot of happiness when reading such good news.
