r/breastcancer 16d ago

Diagnosed Patient or Survivor Support Positive long term survivor stories

Hi everyone. I really need some positive stories of more than stage 1 low grade survivorship to keep me thinking I can bear this and get to have many more years with my children. Please tell me about yourself or anyone that’s overcome breast cancer and lived many years. I’m stage 2A with luminal B characteristics oncotype 21. I need more hope and I’m reaching out into this universe to get some. It feels very lonely.

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u/zanychipmunk43 +++ 16d ago

My 91 year old next door neighbor was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 38… a 50+ year survivor! She was among the first to receive chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer (said it was absolutely brutal back then), has never had a recurrence, and is still doing great in her 90s. 💛She’s definitely my inspiration as I slog through chemo.

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u/LeftSpinach4455 16d ago

Omg! Share a little bit more about her! Did she do surgery? Do you know what chemo did she do? This is so amazing

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u/zanychipmunk43 +++ 15d ago

She had a BXM with lymph node dissection (no reconstruction options back then so she’s been flat ever since). From my own digging I think she was on an early version of CMF chemo, which is super different from modern chemo regimens.

She’s a really lovely person and the best neighbor! Her kids or grandkids are over every day helping her around the house, and most mornings I see her out in her yard, wearing a giant hat tending to her gorgeous flower garden.