Interesting topic, and great to hear so many cancer survivors doing well. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, after finding a lump under my armpit while on vacation. My breast cancer was estrogen positive; the doctors were initially freaked out (though they tried not to show it) as an armpit lump apparently usually means one has a big ass tumor in the breast which has spread to the armpit. However, l was apparently "lucky" as no tumors were found other then the one in the armpit. (Apparently only 2 - 5 percent of breast tumors start there. ). Mammograms don't / can't show armpit tumors, so if you ever feel a lump there, get in right away for evaluation.
I was terrified. I'd been terribly run down after years of overwork and over stress primarily due to a high stress, no exercise, bad food regimen while working as a high powered partner at a big national US law firm (one of very few women equity partners.). Had recently left to start my own small firm in an effort to have a healthier and more sustainable life.
After investigating 3 cancer surgeons, I had a couple of lymph nodes removed, which showed no sign of the cancer spreading.
Then I had a lumpectomy followed IORT, then a new procedure. IORT essentially blasts the interior of the tumor removal site with radiation immediately after the tumor is removed, before the wound is closed. The purpose is to catch any remaining cancer cells missed in the surgery and kill them immediately.
My tumor ended up being bigger than initially thought (about 2.9 cm, if memory is accurate), so about a month later, I started a two month course of external radiation. My tumor was tested to see if chemo was indicated, and unfortunately was on the borderline where it was not clear if chemo would help or not (stage 2a; grade 3 cells - bad; apparently very slow growing - good). After a lot of research by me and by DH, probing questions asked of my oncologist, etc., and thought about likely side effects (I tend to react very strongly to drugs) vs. benefits, I elected not to put myself through chemo since it was not clear the benefits would outweigh the risks, and since I was in crap physical shape at the time.
The external radiation, which only takes a few minutes a day, was ok at first (it does not hurt), then really exhausting. I slept and slept. I worked from my home, but usually could only manage a few hours per day. I kinda crashed towards the end; slept so much I don't remember much. I felt absolutely exhausted for about a year.
I has my ovaries removed (no cancer found) so I could go on an aromatase inhibitor as Tamoxifen was out dip use to a prior pulmonary embolism. I've been able to handle the side effects (mostly muscular aches and pains).
Now, it's been 3 1/2 years. I feel pretty good most of the time now. It seems like every 6 months, I feel a little better. At first I could not even walk around the block; now I am working out regularly with weights with a trainer, doing some biking, swimming and some walking. I have changed my diet so I now eat my own cooking, which is pretty healthy and includes lots of veggies, grass fed meat and some fruit. I sleep more then I did pre-cancer. I'm still overweight, but working on that - but if I push too hard, I can get exhausted so it is a marathon effort, not a sprint. I take my own emotional needs for downtime and a quiet life, and for pleasant purely social (non work) interactions more seriously now. I'm making more time for family and friends and less for working all the time. I try to plan as if I'm going to live forever, but live as if I may die next week - and try to keep a rough balance, which is difficult for me.
Having cancer has pushed me to move towards financial independence more quickly; am currently working to get our over large house ready to sell next year, which involves disposing of a lot of objects, including many that belonged to my mother, who lived with us for the last 10 years of her life, plus the detritus of 2 people's 25 years professional careers and book collecting habits. It has also pushed me to spend time with far flung family members and friends now, rather than assuming I will be able to do so later.
I wish I could join the ranks of folks who see a cancer diagnosis as a blessing; but I cannot summon that sort of gratitude for a scary and painful illness. The lack of information is frustrating at every point: although I chose doctors who would level with me (many seem to want to shield the patient from the unpleasant to grim realities of the disease and treatment), the doctors really don't know enough to give decent predictions in all cases. As a patient, one is pretty passive, which is not my preferred mode of being, and one must be patient as the medical stuff takes endless time. But I am grateful for modern medical technology, and for being able to access good doctors, as, at 55, there's still a lot I want to accomplish. Now, however, I have to accept that any accomplishments must be done at a slower pace, and am getting a bit better at enjoying that slower pace, and resting when (or before) I run out of energy.