Calling all TNs

Teka

gillyone,

I hated and feared my yearly mammograms (early detection), but never lost 1 minute of sleep over a cure.   Now I worry about a cure.

TifJ

My best friend is 43 and never had a mammo. She always has something "more pressing" to do. Even with all I have been through, she won't make an appt. She also has said she was embarrassed to go because of her weight. Well, she has lost 200 pounds in the last 2 years. Any suggestions I can use to to convince her to get one? Even her mother and sister have tried to get her to go!

cmksocal

Just had a shot of lemoncello to commenorate the first anniversay of the day and time I received the call that I had breast cancer! 

Colleen

Kymn

Cheers cmksocal. I wish I could forget, dont we all. Well I am in the chair tomorrow for round 4. I am done with FEC thank god, I had so many SE, couldnt get the nausea under control for all 3 treatments I am soooo hoping that doxotaxol is better, it has to be right cause its only one drug compared to 3. I am starting to grow hair already on my head, does that happen to most?Also I still havent lost my periods, weird rigth?. I am looking at all my typing errors lol my brain and hand do not work together anymore at all. God I cant wait for this to be done. Speaking of awareness, one of the radio stations here in town are calling for all womens old bras to be dropped off and they are going to hang them across the bridge really????? LOL

Teka

TifJ,

Maybe in time your best friend will let her common sense override her fear of a mammogram.

TifJ

Teka,

I sure hope so. BC seems to be epidemic so I worry about her.

SusieSGB

Pamelajo, I'm SO sorry it's come back.  I agree that's it's no use trying to figure out how we got cancer.  My dr said no-one knows why some get it and some don't.  He said I did nothing to cause it and so I couldn't do anything to fix it, other than go through with the protcols that have proven to work the best.  Good luck!

SusieSGB

Gillyone, thanks!  When can I dye my hair?

SusieSGB

Ty's Mom.  That's tough; I'm thinking of you.

Titan

Susie..I'm not Gilly   but I dyed my hair (what I had anyway)..about 10 weeks after chemo..it was 1/4 inch long..I looked punk and I loved it. It did "take"..I dyed it again about 6 months later...I wasn't worried about the chemicals because I had never had my hair dyed before..what "they" say is that you want to make sure it takes..I had it done professionally and it wasn't cheap..I wanted to make sure it "took".

I have a friend who is 51 and has never had a mammo..not sure why..I have offered to go with her but no go...

Sugar77

Good evening ladies! I've been busy attending Jury Duty this week.

Pamelajo - sorry to hear of your recurrence.  Titan's right, we've missed you on this thread.  Keep in touch!

I know women who haven't had mammos until their 50's, too.  In fact, my sister was one of them. In Ontario, Canada... the mammogram screening program doesn't start until 50 years old.  Unless a person has a family history, which I didn't, it's left to the GP's discretion. Fontunately my GP likes a baseline at 45 years old so mine was discovered on my very first mammo.  My sister immediately had her's, which tuned out to be fine.  She's now goes faithfully because she now has a family history (me!). I should point out that she had breast reduction surgery in her mid-forties and she was screened and tested for that surgery.

I died my hair (...or should I say "scalp") at 12 weeks post chemo and stopped wearing my wig that day.  I had it done professionally with a demi permanent and it took really well.  I liked the way it turned out and have kept it up ever since. It's pretty close to my natural hair colour so it's so nice not to have to worry about roots anymore.  Blond and lighter brown was so much more difficult to manage for me.

Okay off to watch American Idol.  Take care everyone!

MBJ

gillyone:  I am so in agreement with you--the only awareness there seems to be is ignorance about it and I do dread pink October, too.  I have been doing self exams since I was in my early 20's-anyone who has been to an OB/Gyn was taught to do so.  There isn't any excuse not to be "aware" in this day and age.  We so need a cure. 

I just watched an interesting documentary by Michael Pollen and this is a list of his Food Rules to live by which basicly turns back the clock to eating the way we did a 100 years ago before corporations started processing food like items and non-real "foods".  :  http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/30952060.aspx

polycystic ovarian syndrome:  I had this and was plagued by fibroids for years.  I think the foods we ingest are largely responsible for these problems as every time I quit eating dairy and meat, the symptoms would dissappear.   

alexanjb

I agree.  People should be well aware of Breast Cancer.  It is not a celebration of any kind.  I know people have good intentions but giving me things with the pink ribbon on it just doesn't seem right.  The pink ribbon stuff has been commercialized so much and yes, I know, some of the proceeds go to the cause, supposedly.  My Avatar is of a chia pet type thing wearing pink and the pink ribbon, I did get a kick out of that b/c another tnbc friend gave it to me as a joke about my hair growing back.  But I am really not interested in wearing the white ball cap with the pink ribbon and I was given a Columbia pink fleece jacket with the ribbon embroidered on it that I mostly just wear it home.  I am not embarrassed or ashamed, but BC does not define me, label me, or enthuse me.

Anonymous

Another TN passed yesterday. Nothing to say except read my Avatar (the only reason I'm posting).

I'm not in here much anymore.

bak94

Ok, I am sad now. I feel like I was starting to get some hope. I am an 8 year survivor or whatever you want to call it of stage 2b triple negative. But this April 5 I was diagnosed with a new primary in my other breast, stage 3 triple negative. I was hoping that because I responded so well to treatment the first time that this time I would too. Are there any stage 3 triple neg long term survivors? I am almost afraid to ask. On the stage 3 forums, most survivors are er+.

alexanjb

bk66-I sometimes go to the TNBC Foundation forum and there are some long term Stage 3s.  I sure am hoping to be one as well!  My theory is that if they can remove it & kill it by whatever means you are then NED.  You have a new primary and I am so sorry that really sucks, but that is better than metastizing.

Luah

More sad news, again, so soon... I don't even know what to say. Just numb.

sylviaexmouthuk

 Hello bkj66,

I just wanted to say that on June 20th this year I shall have survived TNBC for 6 years and that after being diagnosed with a very large tumour. I have just had my six monthly check up with my oncologist and she said that all was fine.

 I am sorry to learn that you have been diagnosed with another TNBC in your other breast. I hope all  goes well with your treatment. Face it withe same strength that got you through it the first time. I can understand how you are feeling after such a long time. It makes me realise that I cannot take anything for granted.

I am sorry that there has been so much sadness on this thread. I am thinking of all of you.

bak94

Thank you alex and sylvia. everything comes in waves, positive thoughts and negative thoughts. then I read about justpayton, so sad. and then i realize i have many similarities to her-internal mammary node positive. i don't try to make it about me, but it is hard to not relate these losses to ourselves.

Suze35

bkj66 - I am sharing your fear right now...being Stage IIIc AFTER chemo and surgery I sometimes think "when" and not "if". That's when I start bargaining, "just one year clear to do the things I want with my family," ugh it is hard. There is a good thread that I read to give me hope "Stage IIIc survivors" I believe. It isn't nearly long enough, but it still helps.



I try and remember that we are all different, and no one knows what is going to happen. My MO and RO still see me as curable. My BS is another matter. Hang in there!

SusieSGB

bk66 - I'm so sorry you're going through all this again; I'll hold some good thoughts for you, too.

Thanks to Titan and Sugar77 - I've made an appointment with my hairdresser from back in the day when I had hair and I'm getting this new ugly stuff dyed this Saturday. I do wish I'd found this site earlier!  You are amazing women.

MonikaV

Luah & Heidi. Who passed away?

MBJ

Monika:  JustPayton had just gone into the hospital Stage IV last week or the week before so we knew it was just a matter of time, just not so soon. 

(((Heidi)))) I don't blame you for not wanting to come on here with so much sadness and loss lately, for me I think it's important to post when we are healthy to keep the hope alive and to help encourage others with this deadly disease.  Having taken my own break before, I understand that sometimes it gets to be too much.  Big hugs!

Anonymous

F@ck it- we need a laugh:

alexanjb

bkj66-it's perfectly normal to feel the way you do, it IS about you and me....and all of us.  We can feel sad for those that haven't made it and feel sad for their loved ones and also relate to it very strongly and fearfully.  HeidiToo, well tell it like it is babe!  We do all need laughter as well.

Suze35

Heidi - LMFAO!!! Those cracked me up, lol! And I agree with your avatar 100%. Thank you for popping in and for the laugh .

Titan

Oh man..you guys make me cry through my tears..JustPayton (Sam) was one of my first friends on here..we shared our love of sports and of our kids..her boys are active in basketball...so was my son when he  was in High School...She loved basketball..a complete fan..as I am..her boys were her world...we talked about alot of things...we put cancer aside to just talk about things...

It hurts that I never met her face to face...she was only one state away and I never met her..I never saw her pic until I read her obit...her Mom died of BC when she was only six..she was glad that she got to see her kids grow up..somewhat..I think that they are in their early teens now..I just wish that I could hug them...this just makes me soo pissed of..she was determined to beat this..I honestly thought she would..dang it..

I dunno..what can I say..this really, really hurts.

Seriously Heidi..my husband looks just like that when he....puts on his "casual face"..funny stuff.

And we have to laugh..and cry..for NOW we are still alive.....embrace it ladies..yes we have breast cancer..but FOR RIGHT NOW  we don't have to have it take over our lives...

And to Sam....love you lady...I will always remember you, friend.

dlcw

Hi all - just got home from my post-surgery visit with the oncologist and surgeon.  Residual disease of 2 cm in the tumor bed and 3 positive nodes.  Plus, found out that of the residual disease, about 30% of the cells are ER+.....so, guess I get the bonus of having both TN cells and ER+ cells.  Plan is to do AC/T, followed by radiation, then tamoxifen or an AI.  The oncologist felt that the ER+ wasn't really 'bad' news since the estrogen blocking drugs are available.  So, guess I will start AC in about 2 weeks assuming the surgery site is healed.  Haven't really had a chance to process the ER news, not that it really changes anything about the next treatment steps.  I think the positive nodes are more sobering than anything, but the cancer was still encapsulated inside the node and hadn't broken through so I guess that's a small bit of good news. 

Hope everybody is doing well - Heidi I loved the cartoons, especially the cat.

dlcw

Kymn

Good evening ladies, had treatment number 4 today. Had a bit of a crying fit before hand so emabarrassing was delayed about 45 min for me to get my shit together.sigh. Well so far just tired and groggy. No sickness as of yet. hope it lasts I am really praying doxotaxol is much easier on my system. 2 more to go. or 1 more and then the last one .

hugs Kymn

MonikaV

MBJ thanks for the info