11 Years

Well done.

I am coming up to two years since my lung cancer treatment and all looks good.  I still can't believe I had stage 2 breast cancer with spread to lymph nodes 35 year's ago and I am still here. Those where the days when cancer treatment was still a bit primitive, however, it saved my life.

I can identify with "survivors guilt", but I experienced that with my breast cancer.  There where four of us women in the same ward with varying degrees of cancer in the breast, I was 41 at the time, one young woman was 25. Sadly, out of the four only myself eventually survived. My "survivors guilt" gradually changed to how wonderful it was to have survived and get to carry on raising my young family. 

I think you maybe need to realise that it wasn't your fault other people succumbed to the disease, just that you are one of the lucky ones. Just enjoy life, we only get one however long or short.

Best wishes.

Ann

That is a wonderful achievement, I had my pneumonectony on 31st Jan this year stage T2b N0 M0 and I had neoadjuvsnt chemotherapy, when I was first told I needed a pneumonectomy I was so scared and your posts and words of wisdom helped me massively  

take care

Lesley 

11 years WOW.... gives me a lot of hope, mine is 2 years......and counting

You are truly an inspiration excavator  and a wonderful support to so many in the lung group over the years. I would like to send you a huge thank you from all of us, and wish you many more years to celebrate x 

Thank you Chelle, I'm obviously well pleased with my good fortune so far but equally so if I can give some support to others when needed.

It's been a long time since I joined this community and at first, although I was a silent member, I gained much needed encouragement from those who went before me.

Derek.

Hi

Well done excavator on reaching 11 years post treatment. In lung  cancer terms, you are officially 'cured'! 

In a similar vein, my eternal gratitude goes to the knowledge, skill and expertise at The Christie, Manchester.

I think all survivors get pangs of survivor guilt; mine is when I see children going through the cancer journey. The best tribute you can do for those who sadly do not survive is to live your best life.

I am also questioning if there should be a time limit on being on here given I am over 13.5 years post chemoradiation treatment?

Again, well done!

Kegsy x

Kegsy there is definitely not any time limit on being in the group! Your knowledge and support will be very much welcome for as long as you decide to stay. 13.5 years post treatment is amazing! This gives so much encouragement to all of the people who are at the very beginning of their journey. 

You are so right, survivors guilt is an awful feeling. I have lost several people recently, and I do wonder if family members look at me and think why was it them and not me. I’m sure they don’t think that, but it niggles away at you. X 

Thank you Kegsy,

I agree, and am certainly concentrating on living the best life I can.

Derek.

Thanks Chelle

It was more of a rhetorical question given that so many aspects of treatment have changed/developed/improved since my treatment, making my experience less relevant today.  

I think one of the reasons I remain on here is to deal with those who do not have cancer and are using this site/group for attention seeking or have mental health issues not related to cancer.  My identification method is quite simple; if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck; then it is a duck!  I just wish MacMillan were more switched on to these increasing incidents.

Kegsy x

PS. sorry Derek for unintentionally high-jacking your thread!

Hi Kegsy

Yes, unfortunately there will always be some people jumping on the bandwagon looking for attention, but thankfully they are few and far between. This site has been a comfort for me since I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023, it was nice to read people's stories regarding treatment and generally getting advice. Also, now I have come out the other side, it is nice to share my experience with others who are in the middle or about to undergo their treatment and are looking for information or advice.

When I had my breast cancer in 1991, obviously these sites did not exist, support wasn't great either, basically you just had to deal with alone. I lost a few people who I thought were friends, because it was so taboo in those days and I was just looked upon with pity. I even had a few cross the street rather than say hello. I suppose the same experience for some still goes on today. 

There is never a time limit on giving advice to people experiencing what we have been through and come out the other side. Keep it up, and long may you continue.

Best wishes.

Ann