Poll regarding how us Triple Negs found our tumor

Anonymous

I am triple negative and was diagnosed in June, on chemo now, and will have a bilateral mast when I complete this chemo. I turned 60 a few days before I discovered the lump, so not everyone is young when diagnosed.

Traci40

Amen Wonbet, forget Mammos. MRI's is the way to go. Or PET scans.
I was waiting for mine. Little sis had BC 9 years ago. I probably checked too often. Every day in the shower. One day, I felt it. That 4 cm lump. I felt it and said, "well, it's my turn."
Bi-Mast, Hysterectomy to follow as soon as my body had healed from chemo.
Trip Neg, BRCA 1 +. Just turned 41.
Hugs, Traci

joannnc

My situation is similar. Found lump while watching TV on 2/03. Clear mammo in 9/02. Diagnosed 3/03 - triple negative. 3.5 centimeters - one positive node. I have very dense breasts and this year have had an MRI in addition to mammo. Also, it is recommended that I get a digital mammogram. I will be turning 59 at the end of this week. I have heard that younger women tend to have a higher incidence of triple negative but I am not sure if that holds true or not. Hugs,

sahalie

Josey. . . Happy Birthday this week!

jdash

do you think there is any corelation between dense breasts ad triple neg???

lemonpie

i was scheduled for hysterectomy March 26... went to the OB/GYN March 9 for Uterian biopsy. Told the doc my breast felt heavy. She did an exam and assured me nothing was there. March 21 felt (and saw) a hugh lump on my right breast....Biopsy revealed IDC.. Tumor size 8.5cm.... I'm still shocked that a tumor that size can virtually appear over night....

Anonymous

mmc

I also discoverd a lump"overnight"...golfball size (6c).It was located under my left breast just where the bra band is located. It's a place you just cannot miss when showering as the hand and soap would just normally glide over that area, so I know I would have found it long before growing to this size.

However, I did have a "Strange" feeling in my breast for a couple weeks prior to the discovery. I had purchased two 18-hour bras to take on a Euopean vacation. During that vacation I started having 2 strange sensations. First, in the evenings when removing my bra, my breast felt as though it was being ripped off my chest. (I thought this might have been do to the new bras, as I had never worn an 18-hour bra prior to the vacation.)

After I had the bra off, my breast felt extremely heavy...like a brick. I actually had to support it with my hand if I leaned over during my shower. As I was out of the country at the time, I could not see my PCP. I decided to phone and request my yearly mammo was soon as I returned. Shortly after I started to have pain, then on a Friday night (isn't it always a Friday night?) I started to have extemely pain... almost knife-like in nature. I felt the area of the pain and discovered the lump.

Cyl

I discovered my lump while lying in bed. My dog hit my left breast and I felt a lump after I rubbed it. I thought I was mistaken but there was a lump. I'd been feeling uncomfortable but had never felt the lump before.

Even after finding the lump, when the doctor gave me a mammogram and ultrasound, nothing showed up. They said it was because I had dense breasts. I was a triple negative, Stage III IDC; my lump was what was called a dumbbell tumor as the lump had broken out of the breast into the chest wall. No one even realized there was another lump till the biopsy. It was high grade. No lymph node involvement.

I had a lumpectomy as I couldn't deal with losing a full breast. I was only given a couple of days to make a decision and I couldn't prepare myself for a mastectomy.
I had noted before all this that my left breast seemed unusually large but I thought it was just hormones...I was 49 years old and going through the early stages of menopause. I also had 38 rounds of radiations done as well.

SWANKETTEGAL

I went for my routine ob/gyn in Dec '05....almost cancelled because I had so much to do with Christmas and daughter and fiance coming as well as other daughter and family here. But...............I went any way. Called back for repeat mammogram and the radiologist was in the office and wanted an ultrasound which showed 3 tumors clumped together. Nothing felt by doctor on physical exam or by me. Tues after Christmas I had biopsy and on Thursday and left mastectomy..........largest tumor was 1.5cm. No lymph node involment and other scans clear. Had ACT chemo dense dose, and radiation. All triple neg. Then I read somewhere to have them retested which my doctor thought was a great idea. They were sent to Emory in ATlanta and one came back marginally receptive to progesterone. I am on Femara 2.5mg now which my onc said may or may not make any difference but if it were him he would take it. Have some arthritis like SE from it but it is getting better. I was 60 when I was diagnosed.

HollyHopes

My tumor was detected on a routine screening mammo. Neither I nor the surgeon could feel it...it was deep in the breast tissue and I have large breasts. Thank God(dess) for mammograms!

SoapMaker

I had breast soreness like the soreness you get before your period...no lump. Two weeks later, I felt a deep ache in my breast...no lump. Another two weeks later I was in the shower and found a dime sized lump where there was no lump in any of the weeks before. It literally *did* pop up. I don't think it was in my body for 7-9 years. I did BSE's every week, not every month. I was so afraid of getting bc, but I don't know why. No one in my family ever had it.
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Where is the cure
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org

Anonymous

Cin54
I had the feeling of heaviness in one breast during a vacation, coupled with a very strange sensation wihen removing my bra. After returning home from my trip, I was watchingTV, when I had a sharp knife-like pain. I reach to the touch the area and discover a lump that felt like a Golf Ball. Of course this was a Friday night, so no way to reach my GP until Monday.

There was no way this lump was there 2 days before, as it was located directly under the bar band and a place normally felt with every shower, not one that needed to be found through breast exam.

SoapMaker

My thoughts are that triple neg bc is so aggressive that it CAN pop up over night. Seems like the docs have so much of this wrong. They tell us that bc doesn't hurt and thus there is a delay in many women's diagnosis. They tell us that bc tumors are in our bodies for so many years and don't believe you when you tell them it just popped up. They tell some to go home and get their affairs in order (scaring them to death and causing so much sadness), only to have that person live on for many, many years. On and on. Doesn't seem like they listen to us very much. Not saying all...just many. Be an advocate for self. My motto.

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Where is the cure
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org

Ggma

Mine was found in March by a normal mammogram.  It was .5 cm. Stage 1 IDC when it was found so I guess that I'm pretty blessed. 

Deborahann

Three years ago:

While doing my "monthly" self breast exams I noticed a small, soft, moveable lump on my left breast, at the 3:00 position. I can honestly tell all of you, I did not notice it the month before. There was no itching, or tenderness, or any other pain/discomfort noticed. I had initially assumed it was a cyst; because it was soft, and my period was due any moment. I was also scheduled for my annual pap the following week and deciced to wait until then, instead of making an immediate appt.  The diagnosis of BC never crossed my mind.  My nurse practitioner also felt the "soft, moveable lump".  However, her attitude revealed more concern than mine.  Thank goodness.  She immediately ordered a followup exam with a Radiologist, and I had a fine needle biopsy performed within a week.

 I received confirmation a week later it was a Stage IIa, triple negative, 3.0cm, grade 3, invasive ductal BC.  A short time after my biopsy and spending a lot of time learning about my tumor, I had elected to have a lumpectomy performed with an axillary lymph node dissection (7checked- all clear).

Note: I also have very dense breast tissue, and have had no children.  I recall years ago being told by a woman technician who was performing one of my first mamograms that I have very dense breast.  When I asked for an explanation, she told me that it will be very important for me to be conscientious about my mamograms and self breast exams.  I never forgot what she said. 

Life is full of irony isn't?

Eat well, laugh often, and love always,

Deborahann

Deborahann

I'm beginning to wonder why so many women with "dense breast" are being diagnosed with 3(-)?

HollyHopes

My tumor was found during routine screening mammogram.  It was deep in the breast tissue and could not be felt by manual exam, including when the surgeon examined me.  Thank God for preventive care!!  I was 51 at the time of dx.

HollyHopes

...oops, it appears that I posted twice in response to this poll...bad case of chemo brain!!  fortunately I said nearly the same thing each time so at least I am keeping my own history straight!! 

playwriter

the skin of my left breast felt warm. i was watching tv in december, and became aware that my skin felt warm. i felt it, and felt a lump.

i'd had a clear m'gram in february, and i have extremely dense breast tissue as well.

oh, and in response to an earlier post, younger women are more prone to tripneg bc.

Karyll

I just found out today I am triple neg. I had a same thing. I had a sore breast thought from new underwire bra. Couldn't not see or feel anything then one night sat in tub and huge ball was there. 3.5 cm. I felt sure it came up overnight, I hadn't felt it the night before... *sigh*.. close to chest wall too and very very painful. Particularly after all the biopsies. Had Rt radical mastectomies. Start chemo on the 27th of September. FEC x 4 and Taxotere x4. Still waiting bone scan... scary stuff. I just found out a lot of stuff including triple neg, chemo regime, and other possibilities

And yes... that sucker hurt like hell all of a sudden out of the blue.

t9jorda

I went in for my regular mamo.. and asked if they could get me in early as I had had a bad cold for 5 weeks that I just could not shake and I wanted to go home and sleep. They did the mamo and it was clear, but then said, you know, you have dense breasts and we have never done an ultra sound, do you mind if we do one. Sure... the ultra sound found a breast cyst, the Dr. came in to review the findings and told me I could go home, it was just a breast cyst. The tech, looked at the Dr. and said, I think you should do a needle biopsy... the Dr. thought about that, and said okay. The needle biopsy didn't work, so they came back in with consent forms for me to sign and they did a core biopsy right then and there, and I watched it on their TV screen. The Dr. said, it looks like a breast cyst, it acts like a breast cyst... you go home and have a nice weekend and don't give it a second thought. So I did....



Wednesday May, 2006 when the Dr. called me and said we need to see you and your husband in their office in an hour... I said no... I had a hair appointment (and you know how women wait for good hair appointments!)... well needless to say I was told to cancel mine and get my butt into the office.



It was 0.5cm, 3:00 o'clock postion and 1 node positive, .. ALREADY at that size.... no one could feel it and I was told that someone was watching over me that day... someone was. I count my blessing every day that they were and hope that they still are.



This whole experience has scared the crap right out of me, I am 43 now, and plan to live a long life, full of love and appreciation for everything and everyone.



Life is good, tlj.

peggy

hello i found mine by self exam, my nipple was itching and there was a small lump about at the 4:00 position , and it was hurting and kind of a dimple in it and i went to my family doc , he did a biop in his office and sent it off , mine was 1.4cc and tnbc and no nodes involved , i had a lumpectomy and did chemo, taxotere, cytoxian , and did six weeks rads every day , and so far everything is ok , i go back in october for my first mamm . and im scared , but i dont feel anything in either breasts. this has been a year ago and i pray all will be well, i dont know what my brca1 is , i was 48 when dx.

God love all of us

CaNatalie

I starting having pain in my breast and nipple in May. My doctor said I was probably drinking to much Starbucks or pulled a muscle. I insisted on an ultrasound, it came back normal. I found a lump in July and my Doctor sent me for another ultrasound thinking that this time my "cyst" would show up, but the ultrasound came back normal. I then insisted on the breast MRI were they found my tumor.

bcrawford23

I found my 5cm tumor myself, just after I had finished nursing. It was hard to differentiate changes in my breast, so my GP advised me to "watch it". It was elongated, uncomfortable-and after all, I was only 33! That was in June of '05. That September, I had a mastectomy and was diagnosed with metaplastic bc-very rare; triple neg.



My husband is conviced that it grew enormously over the 2 months of testing, he may be right. Like I said, my breasts were getting smaller so was the lump getting bigger or not? Needless to say I have just passed my 2-year mark, and plan on being here for awhile!

Sadie-Rose

Hi Everyone,

I am amazed at the similar way we discovered our tumors.  Having a triple negative tumor is rather isolating.  Finding these comments is really helpful.  My husband actually found my lump.  I had a mammogram 6 weeks earlier and had just received the results that all was normal.  I always did my mammograms on time because my mother had breast cancer. I was confused, but sure of what I had found.

I wonder how many other women with triple negative tumors had mother's who had breast cancer.  It makes me worried for my daughter.

Warmly,

Sadie

liven42day

Hi, My grand mother (at 72) and aunt (46)(Mom's sister) had breast cancer 12 years and 18 years ago. My Mom has escaped so far, thank God. Both my grandmom and aunt were hormone positive, I  (43) am trip neg, I don't get it.

Take Care Charlene

Negative3Grade3

My husband reached over me and I felt a pain on my right breast. By touching to see what hurt me, we discovered the lump (it was on 1:00 o'clock), which was not visible but palpable. My last mammogram was three years ago and there was nothing there.

claire814

Very interesting!  I found my tumor while showering after a clean mammogram 11 months prior.  I had a benign biopsy when I was 24 years old in the same breast - this was 31 years later so I have always been in tune with self-exams and mammograms.

triplethreat1

Went to Dr. early FEb. SBE by me and DR. No lumps. About 2 months later breast was hurting thought it was due to lifting weights. 2 weeks later husband found the lump.Disappeared and returned 2 weeks later and increased in size.

Watson

How did I never see this poll? 

I discovered mine when showering in April 2005.  I had just had gyno appt in January of same year.  Nothing noticed then.  Mine didn't hurt until I kept messing with it over and over.  Then a little sore!  lol

Mine wasn't hard as a rock like you hear people talk about.  It was rather like a grape, sort of firm but squishy. Moveable, not fixed.  It was 2.1 cm

I don't know how long it had been there.  I also had one bastard positive node 1.8cm.

It's been 2.5 years since dx! 

My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!

Watson