Triple Negative Stage 3

LuvRVing

Time for me to join this group.  I had stage 1 last June, followed by lumpectomy and Mammosite rads, 4 sentinel nodes were negative.

I had a mammogram and ultrasound in December that was clear, although the radiologist had one area of concern that everyone decided was resolving hematomas from my initial Mammotome biopsy. Should have let her biopsy back then!

In February I developed a large painful bulging seroma in the affected breast near the lumpectomy incision.  I went for an U/S and biopsy in mid-March which confirmed a recurrence.  MRI showed a couple of positive axillary nodes.  A subsequent PET showed additional positive intermammary nodes and skin involvement (the area of the lumpectomy incision). 

Sooo.... I had a bmx with TE's on 4/11, with 4 positive nodes out of 21 removed (not counting the known intermammary ones).  I have relocated from the Kansas City area to New Hampshire, have been to Dana Farber in Boston and received the recommendation of DD A/C x 4 every two weeks plus DD Taxol x 4 every two weeks, followed by rads with chest irradiation.  I will probably start chemo after June 1 - my next onco appt at a DF satellite clinic in NH. 

I also happen to be a thin Type 2 diabetic and I anticipate this to be the summer of my discontent.  Steroids raise glucose levels which can result in neuropathy, chemo causes neuropathy...I am not worried about losing my hair.  I'm worried about coming out on the other side of this still able to use my feet and hands. 

On the positive side, we leased a house on a lake and within 45 minutes of all my kids and their families, my mom and all my other relatives (I am a NH native).  I'll have lots of family support, if nothing else. 

Thanks for starting this thread...I can learn a lot from those of you who have traveled this path before me.

Michelle

Karen3

Hi all

I was diagnosed in Sep 2009 just after my 46th birthday with Basal TN. Had neoadjuvant chemo and was supposed to have 8 rounds - treatment withdrawn after 4 rounds due to little / no response detected after regular MRI's. I had 2 X cyclophostomide and epirubicin, 1 X docetaxel and 1 X paclitaxel (?). Surgery to remove tumour on 4th Jan 2010 followed by 25 rounds of radiation. I also have a cluster of BRCA 1 type cancers in my family (on mums side) and I was found to have a BRCA 1 mutation of 'unknown significance'. I have been asked to consider having my ovaries removed and will be having MRI surveillance alongside annual mammograms.

TEK2009

I found  a 3cm lump in May 2009. I had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy which was positive. two weeks later I had a re-excision and all nodes that could be were removed and all infected.

Treatment was supposed to be 4x EC plus 4x Taxol, only had a v bad reaction to the taxol so had 3 more EC's instead.

 Do not know if that accounts for the recurrence but just found out tonight that I have a recurrence.

Final treatmetn was rads 6 weeks in total.

Babs37

TEK- So sorry for your bad news. This sucks big time. Sending you calm vibes and big hugs.

Luah

TEK2009:  I'm sorry you're dealing with a recurrence. Completely sucks. Where did it recur? Hoping your docs find a treatment you can tolerate well and you can kick BC to the curb.  

gillyone

bkj66 - I do not know why I am stage IIIc. I went into surgery expecting to be staged I or II according to the surgeon. When I went back to see him after and he had the pathology results he said IIIc and then all I heard was blah blah blah chemo blah blah rads blah blah. I have not read my pathology report. It seemed too scary. Then when I saw the oncologist and discussed treatment, it didn't seem to matter. As a node positive TN stage II or III made no difference really to treatment. I know that not everyone would be happy with this approach, but I've decided I'm not a statistic and don't want to hear those numbers. I believe I have done everything I can to beat bc and now just have to wait and see.

NannaBaby

How are treatments going?

LuvRVing

I've finished 4 DD AC's and will have DD T #2 on Wednesday.  I'll be 75% complete with chemo.  Rads will be complicated as I have already had Mammosite radiation (last July) so I will probably have just the intermammary nodes and the axillary areas radiated.  The breast area can't be done a second time.  

I'm tolerating chemo much better than I expected, although I am taking lots of meds to counteract different side effects.  But I feel like the worst is over and I can see light at the end of the treatment tunnel.

 I had a CA 27.29 test done a couple of weeks ago and my tumor markers had dropped from 64 to 42.  That made me very, very happy!

All in all, the best I could hope for under the circumstances.

Hope you all are tolerating treatment and having many good days!

Michelle