I am a 7 year survivor having been diagnosed in April 2007 at age 53. It was right breast stage II, node negative and I was also estrogen receptive and HER2+. I had a lumpectomy and then had 8 rounds of chemo (adriamicin, cytoxin and taxol), 33 radiation treatments, targeted treatment (herceptin) and 5 years of hormone blocking treatment (arimidex).All those side-effect that you can have, I had almost all of them. A year after the lumpectomy, I went into CHF and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy directly connected to the chemo and wasn't able to complete the IV treatments of herceptin (completing just 8 of 12 months). It's rare but it happens. It took a year for there to be significant improvement to my heart function and then for reasons unknown I lost half of what I had gained toward reaching a more normal number. It is considered moderate damage and permanent.
You know they don't tell you that you won't be going back to your "normal" self after treatment is complete. You find that out by yourself. They don't tell you how abandoned you'll feel when the treatments and the constant testing is over and you only see a doctor every 6 months to a year. You just learn to adjust and to take a deep breath and go with it. It's what you do if you still want to be here. You just have to keep moving forward, so you can be alive with the people you love.
I've had so much support from family and friends but most especially from my husband Eddy. From the day of the biopsy, to the diagnosis, surgery, chemo, testing...he was just always there at my side. He took me to dinner after chemo treatments because it was the day I felt best. He gave me the neupogen shots and was my shoulder to cry on when I had no strength to do anything else. He shaved my head. I wouldn't be here without him and I am blessed and cancer-free and here. Bless you all in your journey as well.
Kissimmee, FL
