Mare 

you are a inspiration to us all so happy you have come along to help manage it 

big hugs love Lara ️

My wife was in a similar position to you over a year ago.

She was diagnosed with grade 3, Her 2 + positive BC. The tumour was extensive, and at least 2 of her lymph nodes were affected. About as bad as aggressiveness goes. After her scans, it was deemed to be a boot up the backside away from being stage 4. Funny thing is, our oncologist never actually used staging. He said that's more of an American thing, and here in the UK they tend not to mention stages.

Anyway, as i said, it was as bad as things got with aggressiveness etc and even how locally invasive it had become before being classed as terminal.

Luckily all the scans came back and it was nowhere else other than where they spotted it initially on the day of her 1st breast examination.

I won't lie, there was rough times and some very dark times during treatment for us, but her pre op scans made it all worthwhile. The chemo absolutely obliterated the cancer and she had a full response. The day of her op, all they found were dead cells. Everything they took out of her was merely dead cancer cells. Around 18 months on, she is still cancer free. Still feeling slight effects of the docetaxel (horrid stuff), but with each passing week it's becoming less.

There's a woman on here who my wife talks to very regularly that also had it in both breasts, and she too is cancer free to this day. So don't go having yourself dead and buried just yet.

Cancer is a funny thing insofar there is no rhyme or reason to how things evolve during the illness, and why some people can have what initially looks a pretty bad case, and it's all still contained, whilst others can have just a small tumour, but they find it elsewhere on scans.

Thank you so much Mary, and well done on achieving it :) xx ... the best advise I could have received. I think everyone is a bit surprised I am not crying yet and saying silly things like "I'm not worried if I chuck my boobs in the bin, they are a nuisance anyway". and "you never know, it might be fun getting a collection of outrageous wigs we can all try on when we go out." Treatment is not my worry but it is very inconvenient if I die. 

You have given me such hope that a bad diagnosis is not terminal till I'm dead as I am strong enough to get through what life dishes up as I have proven that in the last 62 years.

I felt great relief reading your post and feel a great weight lifted from my shoulders. My friend surprised me and is flying over to spend time with me and I think a few fun things is in order while going through preparation for the next journey. xx

Thank you ProfBaw, that is wonderful news. Your wife must be so appreciative of having your support through all of this. Well done to both of you xx

Managingit,

That's the ticket!

I hope you have a fabulous time with your friend. Life is certainly for living!

Best wishes, and huge hugs,

Mary

xxx