Calling all TNs

maryna8

Hi to all, I have question (s).  I had rt. mastectomy last week, the drain came out yesterday, my papers from chemo doc say I am Stage IIA, T2, pNO(1+),MO, G3.  I know that Stage IIA could be worse, and was just wondering what the other numbers mean.  Everyone here seems very well versed on all this stuff.

I start chemo March 18 with triple-drug therapy

Thanks!

InspiredbyDolce

Here is the detailed TNM staging system.  To utilize this, you scroll down until you find the abbreviations that match your abbreviations.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/b...

InspiredbyDolce

According to the chart, this is what I see:

G3 - I don't see that anywhere in the list, and have never
seen a G before. I'm not sure what that is.

T2:  Tumor > 20 mm but less than or equal to 50 mm in greatest dimension

(Tumor is greater than 2.0 cm but less than or equal to 5.0 cm)

M0:  No clinical or radiographic evidence of distant metastases

PN0:  No regional lymph node metastasis identified histologically 

However with the (+1) behind this on your form, it might mean that you have 1+ node involved.

maryna8

Dolce, thanks so much for the link, just what I was looking for.  I did have 2 nodes with microscopic amounts.  What a journey this is, like a roller-coaster.  Maybe that is why I feel queasy most of the time!

Mary

Titan

Al...I was 3 years out before I "graduated" to every 6 months...I still see the bs and onc every 6 months...wondering what will happen at 5 years out..will let you know... I am good with everything six months...I also have a mammo once per year plus a d3 test whenever I request it...that's all..no blood work, no scans....unless I request them...and I haven't.

simplelife4real

MaryFox....congrats on finishing your chemo!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.

Kay

InspiredbyDolce

Meg, that's wonderful that your Onc is open-minded to suggestions.  I'm sure together you and her have formulated an excellent game plan.  If the carboplatin is of extra value to the TNBC girls about to go through treatment, please post the link of the information you researched.  The information you know may do a lot to help others as well!  

PeggySull

Congratulations MaryFox,

Finishing chemo is huge!  Celebrate!

Hugs,

Peggy

PeggySull

Inspired,

Thanks again for the helpful information!

adi339

Mary,

I guess G3 refers to grade 3. It means how aggressive the tumor cells are (but they generally respond better to chemo).

My mom has a similar diagnosis as yours except her nodes are negative. She is having TC only and she has gone through the first infusion.

Wish you all the best. We are always here to support you.

adi339

Thanks to tekwriter, Curlyq1974, Inspired, momof2doxies, Cocker_Spaniel, artsmart and TifJ for your advice! (wow that's a long list!)

megomendy

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/817820

Here is one reference to the addition of carboplatin to the chemo regimin for TN women neoadjuvantly. I already had my surgery, but I brought it up with my MO about adding it adjuvantly and she said there is no study for it, but it makes sense to her that if it worked before surgery, why wouldnt it work after? So I am having it added. It's an older chemo drug; a friend of mine had it over 20 years ago when she was treated (stage 4 with mets).

maryna8

Grade 3.  That makes sense, and I know it's aggressive.  Guess we will have to be aggressive right back at it!

Best wishes, thanks, Mary

InspiredbyDolce

Wow, I just read that information from that link. That is amazing Meg, what an improvement to the pCR stats!

ksmatthews

I started going every 6 months at the 2 year mark.  Tomorrow I meet with BS and Onc for 3 year follow up (from diagnosis).  I am so excited, but nervous too.  The past couple of weeks I have had alot of headaches and just feel tired.  Their is alot of crud going around so not sure if I just have a touch of it or what is going on.  Just pray for me.

KSteve

ksmathews - I know the fear you have right now.  I had about a non-stop headache for 3 weeks in December over the holidays and I don't normally get headaches.  My mind went everywhere where yours is right now too.  I secretly stressed through the entire holiday season without my family knowing.  My 6-month onc appt was in January so I figured I would just wait to bring it up til then.  But the headaches stopped at about the 3-week mark.  No problems since so I didn't even bring it up to my onc.  Sending prayers your way that it goes away for your anyday.

Hugs,

Kathy

shorfi

I am done with my chemo treatment as of 1/10/14 and waiting for my exchange surgery on April 9th.

I'm afraid of it coming back...so what do I do? I try to find on the internet all the success stories of women with TNBC and don't find that many. After reading, it seems me to a dark place and I get so depressed. I'm always promising myself that I will not read the horror stories, but I find that I still do it. I'm just angry because initially Pathology said I had DCIS, ER/PR positive and Her2 negative. Then after the mastectomy I also had IDC triple negative. I am so insecure, but my MO says my prognosis is excellent, those were her words. But I am still afraid. I am 59 years old and happily married for the past 5 years. I don't act like an old woman, but my body feels it. In fact, I feel mentally young. I am finally happy in my life and now I have to worry about whether I will be around for the next 5 years. Fortunately, I am taking Lexapro for depression because of this, but sometimes in my mind I am so afraid.

I don't find too many success stories and that makes me anxious. I'm sorry I am being a Debbie Downer, but I am so afraid.

Maybe I should just stay off the internet reading about TNBC and just stay here.

Una2008

Shorfi...don't think about it too much.  You may not be finding much success stories for TNBC because a lot of the survivors have just moved on and are living happy lives.  Give the internet a break and just live for a while.  I am 38 and I have a husband and a 5 year old daughter.  I know you think about the what if sometimes but just try to live.  Don't spend your disease free time worrying.  Good luck.

KSteve

Shorfi - Give yourself time to conquer the what-if fears.  They are very natural, especially when finishing treatment.  I noticed that you've fought breast cancer twice now, so no wonder you're scared.  Una2008 gave you good advice. Stay off google.  There are always bad reports to read on the internet.  I'm over three years out from treatment and it took a while to get where I am now.  I realized I was getting over that when I planned a major vacation for 9 months down the road.  Then it hit me that I was planning for the future, something that I hadn't done in a while.  That gave me hope for my future.  Having said that, new aches and pains always make me nervous.  You'll figure out your new normal eventually.  Be kind to yourself and take it one day at a time.

Kathy

simplelife4real

ksmatthews, I'll be thinking of you.   Hitting the three year mark is a big deal.  May your next checkup be all clear.  When I your appointment so we can be in your pocket when you go?

I'm almost 3 weeks post op from a LX and ALND.  I've been having pain from the ALND, mostly hypersensitivity of the skin on the inside of my arm and possibly a little cording.  I have an appointments with my BS, MO, and RO all Wednesday (March 5).  I have tons of questions.

Today (March 3) is TNBC Awareness Day.  A year ago, I had never heard of TNBC.  What a difference a year makes.  Now, it's what I think about most.  

LPBoston

Hi Shorfi,  I too am feeling the same way - it's hard to read things on the internet and try to walk away with a positive attitude.  I've been learning a lot from this forum - a lot of knowledgeable and positive attitudes but even still it is hard to be optimistic when we've been through this twice.  Hang in there and try to enjoy everyday - stay healthy and kick butt!

Titan

Shorfi...if your onc tells you that you have an excellent prognosis...believe it...and remember those words every time you are feeling down....your onc wouldn't tell you that unless it was true! 

Luah

shorti: You don't see much about women surviving TN because it's not newsworthy. The vast majority of women who get TN survive it, and go on to lead healthy lives for years and years. Even on these boards, women who have been treated and are well, move on and, with few exceptions like titan, gilly etc., don't come back here to post. FWIW, I'm 4 1/2 years out now and doing fine. For me, the anxiety was the worst 1-2 years out; now I don't think about it much at all. 

gillyone

Luah gives good advice as always. Titan and I are old timers on this thread and even though we still visit we don't post very much. We are way past the thick of treatment and worrying about bc all the time. It WILL get better - it just takes time. Look at my stats below - that was pretty scary at the time. But I am fine and smiling!!!

NavyMom

Another "old timer" reporting in.  I agree that the first 1 to 2 years after Dx/Tx were the scariest.  At times I felt kinda crazy and disconnected because of the anxiety of recurrence.  But as time goes by, things get better and returning to things that bring enjoyment will return.  I do still think about cancer everyday, but now it does not consume me like it did early on.

Hugs to all...

Atiteca

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted here before but I wanted to chime in on the carboplatin discussion. My MO mentioned at my first AC treatment that she wants to add it in with my Taxol. I think it's good that she is up on the lastest research especially since chemo is really the greatest defense against our little TN boogers! After my first AC my tumor has shrunk dramatically so I'm feeling optimistic

simplelife4real

Welcome Atiteca!  That's great your tumor is being responsive to AC.  AC really worked well for me too.  Sounds like you have a great MO too.

shorfi

Thanks ladies for your encouragement. I am staying off the internet, only except to come here. I am feeling much better today. And I also think it helps that I am taking Lexapro to help with depression.

Again, thanks

Titan

Hey...who are you calling an old timer...lol..yes..that is me, gilly, Luah, navy mom,  Noni (She is really an old timer..)...and several others....

Oh yes..I remember  the sheer terror of being diagnosed with bc...I remember the surgery, chemo, rads.....and the fear of going stage 4...saw many friends not make it..saw alot of us survive too...it is just something that individually you have to deal with...and rely in your friends here and "at home"...it took awhile but I really feel normal now.....I laugh out loud about stupid stuff...I enjoy my life...I worry about my kids, my husband, my parents who are aging my job, getting older..all that stuff...because it's not just about me anymore,,,,I have room for all the other stuff...and I'm glad

JAN69

Checking in here, too.  I'm 3 years+1 month from DX.  I just might be the oldest on this thread: 72 years+8 months.  Living and loving my life.  Shorfi:  I know you can do this.  Jan