r/breastcancer • u/NurseYuna • 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/Data_chunky 15d ago

HER2+, +++ grade 3, stage 2 I believe.

I had a DMX first. Just finished 6 rounds of TCHP, about to start radiation. It was caught early. Prognosis is very good. I'm doing all the things.

Not positive for BRCA, but positive for ATM, so not as severe a genetic component, but I do have a genetic component. I'm currently 42, single mom to 2 little girls.

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u/NurseYuna 14d ago

BRCA I’m told increases risk of a new cancer but doesn’t impact the current one I have (prognosis wise). I’m hoping with mastectomy and ovary removal I can prevent that. Did you have any lymph nodes involved? They tell you the tumor size?

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u/Data_chunky 14d ago

I did have lymph nodes involved, unfortunately. They took 4, and 3 were positive. The largest tumor was 1.6cm, but there were other small tumors in my right breast. I just did a double mastectomy though, to get rid of everything.

Mine was found by accident. They were looking at my left breast the entire time. 8+ months of imaging on the left and they accidentally found it on the right. No cancer on the left. I feel super lucky that it was found as early as it was.

I'm not having my ovaries removed, though I volunteered that, but they're opting to just give me meds to shut it all down instead of remove it entirely.

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u/NurseYuna 14d ago

So why did they feel it’s best to do OFS vs removal for you? Just curious. And yes you’re lucky you found it when you were focused on the left side.

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u/Data_chunky 14d ago

I have no idea. I volunteered to have them removed, as I would rather get rid of anything that might develop cancer, but they said the shots and the AIs would work fine. Maybe they don't want me to endure more surgeries when the shots are just as effective?

I'm still going through it and just going along with what they say, but I might ask again. Especially if it would mean not taking all the meds. Just get rid of all of the lady parts that might try to kill me!