5 years on….

Hi IslandGirl58 welcome to the forum and I can relate completely to your post as like you I am approaching the 5 year point and it does feel kinda scarey so I know where you are coming from on that one.

I don't know whether we can say we are cancer free though I suppose in reality we are at that point in time but what are the chances of it coming back I'm not sure. What I can say with all certainty is that we have done all we can to get to this point and keep well so if it does come back its just sheer bad luck and nobody can ever predict the future. 

I confess to feeling the same though and the edge of cliff stuff describes it very well. Sorry not to have been of more help but hopefully it helps to know others feel the same so you are not alone. xxxx 

Yes it does help to know I'm not just being a drama queen!  

I've only just finished treatment (chemo, then lumpectomy then rads) and I tell people I'm cancer-free now! Maybe I'm just really optimistic, but I have to assume they got everything and live my life worry free. 

My oncologist said that most cancers would come back within 5 years (same cancer as you'd had) if they didn't get everything and after that time it is considered a new cancer. He also said I'm high risk of getting cancer again at some point because I'm only in my mid 40s, but I guess anyone has a fairly high chance of getting cancer now at some point in their lives.

I think it is very common to feel apprehensive when the monitoring stops, but my BCN and onc were very clear to me that I shouldn't be relying on appointments and mammograms, that they are just a catch-all. I should be getting into the habit of self-examining and raising concerns if I have any at any point. They didn't really put much emphasis on any of the follow up appointments I'll have over the next 5 years.

It's fantastic that you've been all clear for 5 years and I would celebrate your final appointment. What an achievement!

If you have any concerns at all in the future, you can make an appointment and get checked out.

Best of luck and well done for the 5 year achievement.

Hi

This month is my 5 year diagnosis anniversary. Mine was “male” breast cancer although the treatment is generally the same, I had a mastectomy, chemo and Herceptin. The 5 year point is scary.....although I think you never totally “relax” after cancer anyway. I haven’t got any solutions but all I can say is you’re not alone.

Mark

That is such a lovely and positive message.  Thanks. x

Thank you and you too can know that you’re not alone either. It’s not keeping me up at nights but it’s something that just pops into your mind regularly.  Very happy to be in the position of having had an incident free 5 years.  Best of luck. x

This is really interesting as I am worrying about it coming back and I haven’t had chance to ask my oncologist yet. 

I’ve had 6 sessions of chemo and just had mastectomy/reconstruction, I find out the results of surgery next week which will determine the next steps. 

Getting to 5 years is a big milestone.

Good luck to everyone on their journey xxx

Good luck XXX