Calling all TNs

Luah

Oh those roses for Lisa are so beautiful! I'm glad we were well represented. Thank you so much Sheila for posting.

On the coffee study (and all others, for that matter): It's important to realize that they work with large numbers of women to detect significant findings, overall. Not to say, there aren't individual exceptions, any of us could be. Another issue that was raised was the type of brew method... in Europe, they tend to drink percolated/boiled coffee (which creates different properties), whereas in NA drip coffee is the norm.. could that account for these novel findings? As they say, more research is warranted. It's not that coffee is necessarily the answer, but maybe if they can isolate what it is in coffee... scientists may have another treatment avenue to pursue.

MBJ

Luah:  Good point. 

Titan

Kymn...good luck at going back to work!  I worked the whole time...not sure if I would do it again but I did it anyway....I never slept well during chemo so I was up anyway..never was tired..I think the pre-chemo drugs kept me pumped for 12 weeks...two years out and I still haven't slept through an entire night...but it is getting better

BernieEllen

Hi to you all. Hope this cheers up up - My mother-in -law sent sent email yesterday, said she had been talking to a friend who was a nurse, they worked out that TN means it's only in one breast.  I just have to explain back that sound like three breasts -Triple- .  Any ideas ladies

Jules59

Just popping in to say hello.  I am following this thread, because although I am ER+, my tumor was only 16% ER pos.  My BS said something like " you're not a true TN, but there is something else at play here other than being ER pos."

I had a lumpectomy in Feb. and am currently in the middle of 6 TAC treatments.  I'll then have a re-excision for a dirty margin  followed by 6 weeks of rads.

I had yearly mammos and did self exams, and still can't understand how this thing spread to my nodes without being seen or felt.  Even my BS couldn't find it with an manual exam, and I'm a small B cup.  I have dense breasts, and the tumor could clearly be seen on an ultrasound.

I love the sense of support you give each other on this thread.  Thanks for letting me lurk here.

JenC

epgnyc - So sorry for your diagnosis.  Big hugs and good throughts.

MBJ

Jules:  I hope that the chemo/rads/surgery gets the remainder of your BC.  You can lurk here all you want--there are a few ladies here who are slightly positive.  Hugs!

Suze35

BernieEllen -  No ideas, but that's cute lol!

Jules - I had a slight ER+ on my biopsy - 3%.  My MO just recently did an Oncotype on me because it is a definitive measure of ER+, and it was a big fat 0%.  Are you going to take Tamoxifen?  I was initially, but with my recent 0%, won't bother.  I hear you on how this disease gets missed so easily.  I went from clear mammo to diagnosis in 5 months.  No rhyme or reason, just nasty.

Question for those who have done rads - did it affect your stomach in any way?  I've been having bad heartburn - had to up my Prilosec to the max after getting it down to one a day - and nausea later in the day after treatment.  My RO swears it isn't related, but we've all heard that before, right?  Just curious.

Have a great day everyone!  We actually have a little sun here in the NE!!

MBJ

Suze:  Are they using a protective cover on your stomach when they do the rads?  I haven't had it but I have a friend who had the same symptoms and they did some damage to her stomach due to lack of protective gear.  Please let the radiologist and your dr. know what's going on and don't take no for an answer.

Suze35

MBJ - no, they aren't, and thank you for bringing that to my attention!!  My RO yesterday said it isn't from the radiation, but I told him flat out I disagreed.  It is too coincidental that I started having these issues within days of starting rads, and it is slowly getting worse.  I will bring it up again today and push about the protective cover - I'm good at that, lol.  Thank you!!!

MBJ

Suze:  They ignored my friend for a long time, too.  She had to drink this awful white gunk for months afterwards and lost a horrendous amount of weight (do not use this as a diet, lol) because she couldn't keep anything down and, they finally admitted it was the radiation.  Do whatever you can to get this nipped in the bud and I am so sorry you have this to deal with!  Hugs!

Suze35

Wugh that sounds awful - I hope your friend is doing better now!!  Luckily I've been managing with meds, but I don't intend to let it get further, that's for sure .

Jules59

MJB and Suze 35, thanks for the welcome.  I don't know yet if I'll be taking Tamoxifen.  Every time I go to see the Oncologist, I end up seeing the NP.  Next time I see him, I'll be having a conversation about my follow up and continuing  treatment after my chemo is over. 

Kymn

good morning girls, that is good info to know about the rads and upset tummy.I have been struggling with nausea from chemo big time and sure dont want it to continue into rads so will be sure I get a protective cover from the get go. Hope you are all haveing a great SE free day

Hugs Kymn

moe0279

Hi ladies...just want to say I'm finish with chemo this week...didn't think I could do it, but I did...next on to surgery...what types of surgery did you all have? What should I be asking my surgeon...

Titan

Moe..what does your onc. recommend?  Are you a candidate for a lumpectomy?  That is the easiest and less intrusive way to go...not having had a MX I can't help you with that...

Ok..ladies  I AM POOPED...had a mammo on Mon, Onc on Wed, BS on Thursday..plus worked my rear off at work..I"M TIRED!   You have all this stress leading up to all these appts.,...and I don't want to call it a let down..but now that the stress is over..well..I'm just really tired.... 

I've always thought that the mental part of BC was almost as bad as the physical part...

Titan

Hell..maybe  I should just drink more coffee.

Teka

Tequila!   Save me the worm.

Titan

Ha ha Teka...seriously..have you ever eaten that worm? I think my DH did..once...

Titan

Suze..where exactly are you getting your rads?  It if is just full breast it shouldn't even be effecting your stomach...what the heck.

On the other hand..my Mom had what they called a "full mantle" which covered the top of her neck to her groin area..She did have alot of issues with that.

riley702

Congrats to everyone with clear scans or completing treatment. Jules, I'm another slightly ER+ gal (8%), but consider myself a TN. I am doing the Tamoxifen because my onc wanted me to, but if I have any health issues with it, I'll stop. So far, so good.

I have gotten so out of shape and this heat and humidity are rough! I spent 45 minutes tackling weeds in the flower beds, and I was drenched in sweat! I'll finish up the rest tomorrow. My apartment has a crab apple tree surrounded by a hedge. Last year, I whacked out the dead growth from the bottom of the hedge so that I have about a foot of empty space underneath. It looks nicer and discourages critters hanging out in there. Now, I have suckers from the crab apple growing up in there, so I need to crawl under there and whack those out, too. And plant my dahlia bulbs.

Teka

Titan,

Never!   

Sadiesmom

Hi all



I had started a thread in the "just diagnosed" forum and a few wonderful people told me

I should take a look at this thread. My mom was diagnosed with IDC, triple negative and 14/17 positive nodes(scary)! She had a right mastectomy and hopefully the surgeon has gotten all the nodes. Ct scans of chest, abdomen, pelvis, and head were all clear except for very small spots on her liver that the radiologist said were cystic in appearance. I'm an MRI technologist and spoke to the radiologist myself. She has just had her last drain pulled and will have an echo next week and I believe, will start treatments soon after the echo. I am scared, but have found alot of help on this website. She's my best friend, only 52 years old and healthy. I just wanted to introduce myself and thank you all for your stories! We have read all sorts of stuff like statistics and they stink so I am thankful for this site and all the wonderful people who share their stories and experiences on here.



Thank You!

Teka

Sadiesmom,

Welcome!

Cinderwee

New here.

Cindy 44 
DX 11/29/10 
Stg1 Grade3 IDC ER-/PR-/Her2- 
<1cm, clean margins, 0/1 neg 
No BRCA 1/2 mutate 
Rt Breast lumpectomy 12/28/10  
Brachytherapy complete 01/14/11  
Taxol/Herceptin 1x wk x12 - begin 3/24/11 
CVP/Herceptin 1x ev 3wks - TBD

Herceptin every 3 wks x52 

BUT - My ER was slightly + @ 5% and there were some scattered, amplified Her2 cells, hence the Herceptin.  Just today had #8 of the Taxol/Herceptin, experiencing slight side effects.

Curious if anyone else has had the SAME adjuvant treatment regimen?

Thanks  

Lynn18

Suze35:  If I remember correctly, my RO did say that rads can affect the esophagus and cause problems like what you're describing.  I'm sorry you're not feeling well.

Cinderwee:  It sounds like you are triple negative but slightly positive for HER2?  I have not heard of that before but maybe someone else here has. 

Luah

Sadiesmom: Welcome, it sounds like your mother's in good hands... and has a great support in you. Let us know if we can help as she goes through treatment. Positive nodes are scary, but the clear scans are a good sign.

Cinderwee: Welcome to you too. Can't help with the treatment, though. My path was zero-zero-zero! You might find more on the Her2+ board.

Suze35

Titan - I'm getting 4 fields done - axilla, supraclavicular, chest wall, and inframammary area.  So pretty heavy.  My guess is the inframammary rads are hitting around my stomach/esophagus area.  I did a search on the Rads board, and apparently this is a common complaint, I just wish the techs and doctors would own up to it!!

Riley - I love gardening.  It sounds lovely what you've done!  I'll be putting another blueberry bush in the ground this weekend, along with my mini roses, some daisies, and petunias.  I also hope to get started clearing my garden out to have it ready for June 1st.  My broccoli, brussel sprouts and lettuce (containers) are growing like weeds!  They love this cool sunny weather.

MBJ - my techs looked at me like I had lost my mind yesterday, but they humored me and gave me a tummy shield.  I think I felt a little better last night, but that could be wishful thinking, lol.

Lynn - thanks.  That's the first doctor I've heard fess up to it!

Sadiesmom - welcome.  It is scary to read the statistics, I know.  I'm one with a lot of nodes, even my supra node, so hang in there.  All of my doctors expected to find mets on my PET in April, but I was clear.  I intend to stay that way!  You are wonderful for helping your mother through this!

Cinderwee - welcome as well!  Your treatment regimen is also new to me.  I'm glad to see your doctors being aggressive with the slight HER+.  Better to be safe than sorry, as long as you tolerate it! 

~~~~~~

Ugh, I'm having a "mild" allergic reaction to my Prilosec.  I get itchy, red bumps on my thighs and stomach.  I had this the last time I bumped up to 80mg day (it clears up when I drop to 40 mg).  But I can't stop the Prilosec because it is the only thing that gives me even a LITTLE relief. 

MBJ

Suze:  Better to be safe and I am so sorry you are having an alergic reaction to your meds!

Sadiesmom:  Welcome to the group.

Mo:  I had two lumps, one right under the nipple, so they did an MX on me.  Chemo made my surgery possible.  They did immediate/delayed recon with an expander on my MX side and an augmentation on my natural side using implants.  I have to say, my breasts look better now then going in.  I didn't need radiaton.  Hope this helps, as we are all in slightly different situations with our BC.

MBJ

Titan:  That is one rough week, and I don't think I would eat the worm