Calling all TNs

blondelawyer

My final pathology report showed that one node was microscopically positive and that the tumor had invaded my chest wall.  Tumor at surgery was 9.7 cm (but only the outer rim was cancerous--80% was dead tissue) at original dx the tumor was around 5 cm.  Does this make me stage 3?  At this point it really doesn't matter--I am mostly just curious.  

michelleo13

I was out for a walk at the time of the earthquake and didn't feel a thing. Others in our area did feel it though.

Blondelawyer, yes I think your stats would make you stage 3.

westieluv

My mother had her BMX today and is resting well in her hospital bed.  We got a surprise as well.  The pathologists at Siteman Cancer center are not sure that her HER2 is actually negative.  They are retesting pathology from BMX to make a final determination.  We should get full pathology including nodes on Friday.  6 nodes on right and 2 on left.  No obvious cancer that surgeon saw node wise, but she says they have to dissect them in pathology to be certain.

Looks like earthquakes are happening in Colorado and Washington DC?  Strange stuff.  St Louis is near the New Madrid fault, so if we have on here, we will definitely feel it and may not survive it!  Peace to all and prayers that nothing like that happens in the U.S..

Anonymous

A few pics and video from this weekend's carriage driving event. Enjoy!

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/hmpaz2RW/1/5251235

cc4npg

Laurajane?  Check in pleaase... you're on my mind.  I hope this short post finds you feeling just a bit better.

Yes, I lurk... you all are always in my thoughts and prayers... )  Doing well here... just been busy.

Luah

Yup, felt the earthquake in Toronto too.

blondelawyer: Good to hear the chemo must have killed a big chunk of your tumour. You'll be getting rads too I guess for the chest wall? Rest up from your surgery, best wishes for a speedy recovery. 

netty46

Hi, I was triple negative in 2000. I had no nodes infected. Ihad 8 mths of chemo and 36 rounds of radiation.  In 2000 no one spoke of triple negative. Thank god because I would have worried about it for 11 years. 

LRM216

Netty - that's terrific and so wonderfully encouraging to read.  Keep up the good work and thanks so much for sharing.  

All the best -

Linda

Anonymous

riley702

Thank you for checking in with us, Netty. It's SO encouraging to hear from long-term survivors like you. It gives us all hope and counteracts the bad news we frequently hear on here. Sometimes it's difficult to put it all in perspective; that women with problems, recurrences, etc. are more likely to post on here for support more than women who have been able to pick and go with their lives. I've been in a funk lately for no particular reason except that we've lost a lot of friends on here lately and I start wondering if I'm deluding myself that I can survive this. Your post was exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it, so THANK YOU!

riley702

Ooh, LOLCats. I have some favorites. I'll try to post sometime later tomorrow

Titan

Thanks Netty...I guess ignorance really is bliss isn't it...

If we didn't hear "on line" about how horrible TN is...we probably wouldn't all be freaking out at times.

michelleo13

A few weeks ago, when my ONC first told me I was TN, I didn't really know a lot about it. Then, I went home and researched it on the web. Big mistake! I was freaking out after doing that. So, when I went back to see the ONC last week, I asked her for her take on things. Her response was: we know so much more about this type of BC now than we did even three or four years ago, and it is VERY curable with the chemo regimen we are giving you. That definitely put my mind at rest a bit. I think there is a lot of old, misleading information out there.

Anonymous

michello13- *exactly*--- and that old info, based on often out-dated beliefs, can scare the crap out of Newbies trying to pick their way through the BC minefield.

ksmatthews

My dr told me to stay off the internet, except for this site and cancer.org.  So thats what I have done and really I have't freaked out yet!

christina1961

Heidi,

Your cat photo made me smile and I really enjoyed the photos and videos of the carriage ride.  Your two passengers look like they really enjoy riding along!  That is gorgeous country.  Thanks to reminding me to live and enjoy!!!

bak94

With my first diagnoses of triple negative in 2002 I was also told chemo is very effective for triple negative. I was cancer free for 8 years, I had a 3.5 cm tumor and 2 positive nodes. There was not so much negative info about it then. Now with my new cancer which is also triple negative it seems so much more scary because of all the info on the internet. For those of you with your first diagnoses, I am brca 1 positive, so I had a greater chance than most for a new primary, ( I don't want my situation  of having a new primary to scare anyone!)

Is that cat really doing that? Or is it photoshop? (Maybe I am naive!)

lynniea

Good Morning ladies I to started out pos and at;the end I became TN it was a little scary at first but was told that chemo works good well for me it did I was cancer free after chemo.  When i had surgery path came back no cancer fond.  Also God on my side where could you go wrong.  I start my first radiation on Sep 1.

MBJ

Laurajane:  Hope everything went well yesterday and I am sorry you weren't up to meeting--chemo, duh!  We are all thinking of you here and sending you good thoughts.  Big Hugs!!!!

Fighter_34

I was so scared yesterday you guys. The whole building swayed and rocked. We never ran so fast I instantly thought we were under attack. I work near the Pentagon so my mind instantly went there.

Hope all is well w/ everyone.

Netty46- best wishes and thanks for the encouragement.

tnbcRuth

Your doctor will tell you what stage you are for sure.  Size does matter but whoa!  9.7!!...??  Awesome that the neo-adj chemo was doing its job!!!  At least you know your chemo cocktail works.  Yay!

ksmatthews

lynniea congrats and I am right there with ya, after my chemo my cancer is gone.  I go see the rad dr nxt week.  I feel now like I had a history of breast cancer, no more cancer for me!  I am fighting everyday!

SunnyCoconut

Guess what, guess what?!  I finally got someone to really look at my foobs!  My BS gave me an ultrasound after I tried unsuccessfully to get any kind of scan from my primary and my gyn.  All clear!!!!!!!!!!!!  He normally does not handle the follow up surveillance but I was such a freak he said he will check me every 6 months!  I feel so relieved.  All clear.... did I say that already?  All clear...  I'm going to say it again... all clear.

I would rather have a little scanxiety than have no one check me at all.

all clear 

tnbcRuth

Yaaaaaay KS and Sunny!

Fighter_34

Ladies I have a headache; off and on for about the last three days. I am thinking the excitement from yesterday may have tipped it over a little more. Quite naturally I am upset.

Urgh! Here we go agian. I don't want a scan!!!! I called the Dr. office to have my numbers confirmed from last week. I'll make my decision after that.

Luah

Fighter: Things we wouldn't have given a second thought to before our Dx now loom so large. But as my onc says, you are still going to get aches and pains and head-aches, all normal. I check in with her if something goes on for 2 weeks.   

mitymuffin

Luah, true words! I feel some degree of fear with every miscellaneous pain.

Here is a study about Avastin used in neoadjunctive chemotherapy. It has not been replicated, so take it with a grain of salt, but it does suggest that Avastin is effective in some situations. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/233248.php

"Though hormone receptor positive patients benefited most from the addition of Avastin in the NSABP Protocol B-40 trial, a second study presented during the same session at the ASCO meeting seemed to contradict the findings. The second study, known as GeparQuinto, was conducted in Germany and found that Avastin benefitted patients with triple negative cancers, but not patients with hormone receptor positive cancers."

Susan

Titan

Thanks for the info Mity!

I love hearing the "no cancer" anywhere to you ladies...that is such great news!!!! Enjoy!

Fighter..ok..you have had a headache off on on for a couple of days..are you taking aspirin?  Does it help?  Like Luah said..give it the 2 week rule...

I like the two week rule...if I have a pain I think ok..two weeks...usually it is gone within that time.

 Last visit to the onc he asked me if I had any tenderness in my breast or under my arm at times....I do..he said that it was perfectly normal to feel this on occasion.. sometimes I have a burning underneath my breast..which comes and goes..all perfectly normal.

Fighter..all my life I have had headaches now and then...it's only now that I freak about them..I figure if an aspirin takes care of the pain I'm ok...

lynniea

Thanks ladies I start radiation on Sept 1. Also need a job it has been hard dealing with Bills.  I still have numbness and tingling in hands and feet.  Just waiting for it to go away.  I am a fighter also and know that God has been there all the way.  I pray for all on here that all goes well for everyone.

Flautalee

Lovelyface - I was told by a new friend at church (also triple neg) that insurers are now paying for Breast MRI's for us.  That's how my new primary tumor was found in my L) breast (a different Triple Neg subtype) - they had refused to allow a Breast MRI last fall, but when my oncologist ordered it w/triple neg noted they approved it.  I really feel grateful that my friend told me about the new Breast MRI guidelines (I was almost 11 years out).

I will begin 6 rounds of Taxotere/Cytoxan on 8/26. I am nervous, but hanging in with all of you.  I had 4 rounds of A/C in 2000 with a L) mastectomy. Best to all of you.