success stories - real life accounts of women who have survived breast cancer and managed to put it behind them

So good to focus on the other side of this coin as well. Xx

I have had a few people tell me of their own success stories. It does help when facing treatment and feeling scared. I don't admit to fear though, doesn't mean I don't feel it. I do read things andclujecto prepare myself. 

Thank you. 

Hello, I've not been around here for a while but I guess that's good!!  I'm 4 years on from diagnosis and recently went for my year 4 mammogram....all is fine and I'm feeling well.

This forum was really important to me when I was going through my treatment, to talk to others who were going through exactly the same and trying to understand everything that was going to happen and hear how others were affected.

I remember this thread being particularly important because, in all the uncertainty, all you want to hear is that people do get through this and get back to living their lives. So I've been meaning to come back now that I can share the other side of my journey and hopefully help those of you just embarking on or going through this journey.

As I said, I feel very well, pretty much like I did before. My treatment was a long journey for ER+ PR+ HER2+, I'm very thankful to say I had every treatment available...chemo, mastectomy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and now I am 3 1/2 years in with Tamoxifen. So apart from a little tablet every morning and one flat side!! I do feel like I have made a full recovery and am back to the person I was before. In fact, sometimes it feels like the whole thing happened to somebody else.

In the last couple of years, I have twice cycled the 50 mile Liverpool-Chester-Liverpool ride and raised over £1000 for the wonderful Clatterbridge Cancer Centre who looked after me. I'd never cycled that far before!!!! 

I thought I would be constantly worried about it coming back, especially when my treatment plan ended and you feel like the doctors and nurses aren't there any more looking after you. This was true for the first few months and I did keep thinking every ache or pain or bruise must be something else. But as time passes, I don't think about it as much, other than to be self aware, and I know my team are still there if I need them.

I sometimes think of all the ladies I used to chat with on here and I hope you are all also doing well. 

To those of you right in the middle of this now, hang in there, you can get through this....and when you do, it makes you realise just what a strong and amazing person you are!! 

That's good to read and hear your wonderful story of recovery. I'm clear of treatment, 5 mths after radiotherapy. Still got niggles and aches but I am not letting it stop me. Swam 3 times on holiday, the boob went red but it was ok after creaming it. Life is good again with a few bumps here and there. 

I am a carer and older than many on here but it doesn't make much difference in some things. Feelings and fears are the same. I wish you all many more years of fun once you have recovered. It rewrites the life script, I'm not wasting time on things I don't have to or want to do. Connecting to my spirit soul side, working it out is much more important and meaningful now. 

Wow fundraising, well done you. I give things to charity shops, help my son's carers as much as I can and help motivate my friends with disabled kids. We are here to find happiness as well as be in service to others. Xx

Hello, I’ve just come across this thread and have spent some time reading all the positive stories and this is really good for me. I’m recently diagnosed and about to start radiotherapy in March and have just been going through the motions. I have been positive for the most part but over the last few days I’ve been feeling a bit low. With every ache and niggle I think the cancer has spread. I have cancer on my mind most of the time. When I wake up in the morning I do it all over again. I’m a mental health nurse so I know all the things I should be doing to cope and I am doing. I have no intention of giving up trying everything I can get through treatment.Reading these positive stories is certainly something that will help and has really come at the right time. Thank you all for sharing.