Calling all TNs

Shopgal2

yodez welcome and you will find a great group of supportive tn ladies here. Best advice take it one day at a time. Once you know your treatment plan and find out if you are doing chemo before or after surgery then I would suggest joining a chemo group for the month you start.

LifeAloft

Today is my last day of chemo!!! Still have surgery and rads to go, but I'm so happy to be almost done with this step!!! It's been tough, but worth it, my 4.5cmx4cm tumor is barely palpable and we are hoping that is scar tissue/dead tumor. On to surgery on July 12.

Can't thank you all enough for the positivity and help here!!

~Kelly

Shopgal2

congrats lifealoft! Hope the last infusion goes easy.

anotherNYCGirl

Milwmama, - thanks for sharing that link!

Wonderful news Janice!

Welcome yodez!

Lifealoft, - so good to be done with chemo now!!

Hugs to all here

Meadow

kelly, celebrating with you!

labscientistmom

Lifealoft/Kelly : you go girl, only one more. So glad to here of the great response to chemo. Blessings on your surgery & radation.

yodez75

thank you everyone for the words of encouragement. Oncology dr says we have to move fast as my ki-67 is 95%. Anyone else seen or had a ki that high? It looks like surgery first then radiation and chemo. They also ordered CT chest/abd/pelvis, PET scan and genetic testing. I see the surgeon tomorrow and will hopefully know more at that point.

LifeAloft

Thank you all! I'm officially DONE!! My counts were a little low and I was worried for a few minutes that they were going to delay me, I would have been so bummed! Now just to get through this round of side effects 😝

Yodez75, best wishes to you! I don't think I was ever told my ki-67. It was almost a month for me between diagnosis and treatment between getting a second opinion, echocardiogram, CT, bone scan, port, etc. You will feel much better when all that is behind you and you get things started.

Cathytoo

LifeAloft...CONGRATULATIONS‼️

labscientistmom

yodez: yes my Ki-65 was almost that high too, don't read about it too much, will supermega freak you out. I was scheduled for surgery about 2 weeks after diagnosis. Had lumpectomy/partial mx with clear margins!! (yay) and only 1/12 lymph nodes positive. Axillary dissection was by far the worst of it. Surgery was 8 weeks ago, just did round 3 of 12 weekly taxol. Will follow with 2 months A/C then 6 weeks of radiation. I get a CAT scan next week to be sure there arn't any yucky growing things in my liver, but thankfully my tumor markers are normal. I feel really blessed, although this process sucks and is a major bummer!! You will get thru this fight, we are all here pulling for you. blessings, A

Cathytoo

yodez75...as others have written, once the beginning testing process is over and your treatment begins you will feel less anxious. All doctors have different beliefs. Mine doesn't pay attention to Ki-67 or statistics. He will never discuss with me. He believes every woman is individual, NOT A NUMBER. He continually tells me that every week he sees patients who had TN with big tumors and lymph node involvement who are 20,15, 10 years out from initial diagnosis. This is very encouraging news and exactly whyI chose this particular doctor. He is always calm and encouraging. No doom and gloom. I wish you good luck in this journey. It's not fun, but we are all here for you.

SA8PG

Lifealoft congratulations!!!! What a wonderful feeling.

Yodez75 my Ki67 was 89% & tumor was almost 5 cm so my oncologist recommended chemo first to shrink then surgery. It sounds like your team has a good plan in place for you. Please keep us posted as your treatments start. We are here for you.

Meadow I keep meaning to tell you how much I love your new picture. You look wonderful. Full of life & love.

Xoxo & prayersto all going through treatment.

4everStrong

Hi to all of you.

Has any of you seen this article.. dont understand why it is not in the news?

http://news.berkeley.edu/2016/05/12/triple-negativ...

I will be asking my MO about this and see what he says.

if that's the case, this is great news for all of us!

Madison4568

This also came out today, many hopeful possibilities!! Dr. Merajver is brilliant and so dedicated to her work.

http://labblog.uofmhealth.org/lab-report/new-compo...

Meadow

SA8PG, Thanks for noticing, and for the sweet compliment! I feel good, life is good. Hugs to you!

LifeAloft

Thank you all for the congrats!!!

And how exciting to see all the research going on for us!!

Triplegirl

Congrats on finishing chemo.  You are almost identical to me.  I finish chemo in 3 weeks with surgery scheduled for July 11th.  We'll have to keep in touch.  Good luck to you.  Keep the faith:)

Janice

Triplegirl

Thanks Madison!  It's so hopeful when they have new drugs and approaches to what we are all going through.  Best wishes on your reconstruction.  Here's to new boobies.:)

Janice

Triplegirl

Bon soir,  I agree it's always hunt and peck for these articles on new research.  Thanks for sharing:) 

I know that if mine comes back I will try and get on trials as I feel that is the best hope to be lucky with a new drug or chemo.

Merci beaucoup,  Janice

Triplegirl

Hi Yodez,

My dr. never did the Ki test so I never knew my numbers.  It's a bit of a whirlwind in the beginning but once you have a plan in place it gets better.  At least you will have a plan. The women and a few men on this site are so encouraging and helpful and we are all at different stages in our treatment or just finished so you are in a good place.

Take it one day at a time as best you can,  Janice

Triplegirl

Thanks AnotherNYCgal!

I am sooo relieved about the chest wall. 

:)Janice

Triplegirl

Thanks Milwmama,

I wish there was an area that all of these new articles on upcoming treatments/trials could be posted.  I am so computer illiterate.  Ugh.... and btw I loved your comment about the shampoo.  I've found myself doing the same thing and then remembering I don't have any hair.  lol  Funny stuff....

Janice

Triplegirl

Hi Kelly,

I hope your surgery went well.  Rest up:)

Janice

rosselle

hi! DX just this april, triple negative stage 2b, I'm 35 years old, found my 4.something lump 2 months after i gave birth to my second child. Thought it was only a clogged milk duct since I was breastfeeding my baby but it seemed to be growing bigger. So I decided to have it checked. Yup, it was IDC from biopsy. My MO suggested neoadjuvant because the aggressive nature of triple negative BC. Will be having my 3rd cycle on Monday (June 13).

It has been a rollercoaster ride! As everyone here, I was scared to death after being diagnosed with BC, and with triple negative! I always cried then, I was so afraid for my 2 young daughters aged 3 months and 2 years. My first MO also didn't help, he would go on and on about the grim details of being triple negative, ugh! But then one day, I decided I put myself together and start the fight of my life, I told myself would win over this disease for myself and my DH and my children. I sought for a second opinion and that's when I found my current MO who's been so caring, patient and supportive. I love her! I remember when I first saw her, she would go on listening to my whining, telling her how scared I was, she put up with my crying and when I've finally stopped, she said that BC is not a death sentence, that it's not the end of the world, that I was there so we could talk about getting me better, that I WOULD get better and WOULD see my children grow old. I felt better and was more determined than ever to fight this dreadful disease. Sure, we worry about recurrences when we're triple negative but I decided I'll just worry about that later. The NOW is what's important and that's to get better.

Knowing 2 wonderful women, my aunt and my brother's mother-in-law, who have been on this road has given me hope that this disease can be rid of. Both of them 20 years out and are doing very well. One of them told me that God has put us in this position to remind us that we may have forgotten about HIM, that he's just helping us find our way back to HIM. Nothing is impossible with God beside you.

Cathytoo

rosselle...I loved reading your story. AND, I really was touched by what you wrote about GOD reminding us that he's here. I've thought often about God and why he would give us breast cancer. You might have discovered the answer. I am still in treatment, beginning radiation in two weeks. I will remember your words as I continue on the road to a longer life. Thanks for posting

labscientistmom

Rosselle: sorry to you have to be here with us in this fight, but glad you can share. Be strong and courageous! Joshua 1:9. Standing on God's promises is a solid place to be in this broken, crazy world. He is faithful, and he loves us so much!

Cathytoo: Just want to encourage you to lean on God, rant and rave at HIm, he can take it. He loves you, and I don't believe he given anyone cancer. This world is broken, and cancer is a twisted, malevolent thing from the pit of hell. The Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from the Father. So I don't see cancer as something from God. He wants us to choose to love Him, but that choice is based on free will, so the world is broken and broken stuff happens. I do feel God's closeness through this fight against cancer, and that he carries us through stuff sometimes to teach us to trust Him, and to bring himself glory. He is so good to take something shattered in a million pieces and make it into something beautiful. I have found a solid place to stand on the fact that Jesus loves us, he is faithful, He gives good gifts and sacrificed himself for us. So many folks have been suppporting me, and I have connected more frequently with friends that usually I am too busy to get together with.

Sorry to get on a soapbox, just want to encourage and support. if we focus on the positive, then we don't listen to those destructive voices that are so dark and scary. You are loved, and I am proud of your fighting spirit! GRRR, see us fight cancer.

A ps. My husband and I are lifting all of us up in prayer, for minimal SEs, strength and hope to get through this.

Allydp

KS - I am so incredibly sorry to read your update. I hope you find a chemo that kicks this cancer back into remission. Sending you strength and many prayers.

Meadow - you look absolutely beautiful!!! I love your new profile pic!!!

Jen - I hope the move to Charleston went well and you're settling in nicely! My in-laws just spent a long weekend there and fell in love. You have many memories and many years of happiness ahead of you there

Cocker - hope you and Old Feller are doing well!

Kelly - huge congratulations to you on being DONE with chemo!!!

I've been busy with my new job and living life. I feel bad for not having checked in lately and am so behind! My follow up chest CT showed clear lungs, so the nodule is gone or was never there. Regardless, no more follow ups! This was the first scan I wasn't fretting over. I actually almost forgot about it and didn't even check the portal until a week later. I'm finally feeling like I'm moving past the fears. Staying extremely busy has been key for me, and going back to work outside the home has helped in doing that.

I did want to share though - last Sunday I was honored at my cancer center's 10 year anniversary event, which was also on Survivor's Day. I had my chemo here, but did saw my doctors at the main hospital in Ann Arbor. The woman who donated over 5 million dollars to help fund the center in my town took a train up from Florida, as she doesn't fly. It was emcee'ed by a local news agent and I was honored as one of 2 survivors who did a little Q & A with the news agent in front of about 300 attendees. A few of my infusion nurses were there, which was so special. And meeting the woman who funded the center was surprisingly emotional for me as well. Her husband left her tens of millions of dollars and after her sister passed of cancer, she realized my county didn't have an infusion center. She couldn't imagine all of the residence having to drive so far for treatment so she basically called who she needed to call and made it happen. She couldn't be more humble and genuine either. My and my husband's family came, and all survivors at the event were able to plant a perennial in the garden out front. We were able to tour the facility and in each infusion bay, there were markers where guests could write messages of hope on the windows for patients to see in the coming weeks! It was one of the most memorable days of my life. Afterwards, the woman who funded the center and her family, and us and our families, ended up at the same restaurant. We'd made our families SWEAR to us they would let us pick up the check as a thank you for coming to support me. Well, the check was picked up by an "anonymous patron of the restaurant!" After grilling everyone at the table to ensure no one broke their vow, I could only conclude it was the donor of the facility, as she and I had talked quite a bit at the event. I simply went over and thanked her for her contribution to the community and wished her safe travels home. She's also donated the cardiac wing at the University of Michigan. She's a true class act.

I hope you don't mind, but I've shared some pics. The first one has the news agent on my right and the other survivor on my left. The next two are the survivors planting the flowers, followed by my aunt and I in an infusion bay where I had all my chemos and then the message I left. The last one is my husband and me.

Funny story about that garden area. The donor really wanted to include it, but we were actually never allowed to go out there. Turns out chemo and sunlight don't mix. But the view...the view from indoors was worth the effort in my opinion. That view was never lost on me during. Very serene and calming.

sas-schatzi

Hi I've come across some information that you may find helpful. I've done a topic box in the science forum. Posting this on a few threads

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topics/845083?page=1#post_4733978

labscientistmom

Allydp: what an awesome event to be part of!!! Thank you for all the pictures and for sharing here. It is great to hear of folks who are doing ok, doing well, living cancer free.....its so hard to focus on that reality while we are going thru it. I love the garden, it is beautiful. Great pictures, you look wonderful! blessings, A

anotherNYCGirl

Ally!! What a wonderful event! The donor must be quite a special person, - much like you! (You are your husband are a beautiful couple!