New - but have Triple Negative Breast Cancer

shereejoy

I live in Australia and would love to hear from anyone currently going through treatment or any survivors out there with the Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

I had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  I had 3 tumours in my right breast hence a mastectomy (multifocal disease). My biggest tumour was 5cm.

I had all lymph nodes removed and 13 of my 26 were infected with cancer.

I am 36 with 2 young children (boys aged 3 and 5).

My chemo treatment is 3 x FEC and 3 x TAXATERE (every 3 weeks). Will be up to my 4th on the 9th of June. Been terribly sick!

Also will more then likely have 6 weeks of radiation.

Would love to hear from anyone. xo

jakaba

Welcome to the boards and sorry you have a reason to be here.  I am also triple negative - 5 cm with at least 1 node. I had neoadjuvant chemo, surgery followed by more chemo and am now in radiation for 33 lovely visits.

You might want to check out tnbcfoundation.org as well as I find most of the folks very knowledgeable and willing to share.

Good luck.

Babs37

I too had 3 tumors in my right breast: 1 was 4.5cm, 1 was 1.5cm and a satellite nodule of about 1cm. All were triple negative and I had 2  positive lymph nodes. Had neoadjuvant chemo 4DD AC + 12 weekly taxol. Finished on the 20th of January. Had right mastectomy and 7 nodes taken out on the 22th of february and now doing 25 rads (bolus) to mx site,axilla and clavical. I was 37 when dx. I have a beautiful 5 Y-O little boy that I just adore. I will go through anything I have to, to be with him as long as I can. Good luck with your treatments. (((hugs)))

Suze35

Shereejoy - I briefly responded to you on the Calling TNS thread, but just want to say a sad welcome.  You'll find lots of support here

My case is a little complicated - started with two 4 cm tumors and 4 lymph nodes, did neo-adjuvant AC and Taxol/Carboplatin, and unfortunately my cancer developed chemo resistance so ended up with quite a bit of disease after surgery.  I actually still have positive lymph nodes above my collar bone.  I'm doing radiation now, and will start Xeloda with Avastin in the next week or two.

I have three young kids myself (10, 7, 4), and will do anything to stay around for as long as I can.  Thankfully my oncologist is on board with being as aggressive as possible.  There are many of us with young kids, so we are here for you on those rough days.

Hugs.

Shirlann

Hi, Aussie sister, and welcome!  I am 13 years post treatment and just fine.  It is interesting that while scaring us "Tri-negs" half to death, many docs and oncs fail to tell you that if you get through 2 to 3 years, Tri-Negs rarely recur.  This is something to be glad about.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

curecx2011

Hi Aussie- I am triple negative also. Almost just about a year out from bi later mastectomy chemo taxater and Cytoxin X's 6 and now just remaining HOPEFUL and prayerful. Breast cancer is really really scary. But there are ALOT of survivors and that is were i choose to focus on...the survivors.....:). It will be well. Hopefully they come up with something for this disease really soon! 

bak94

I am a over 8 year survivor of triple neg stage 2b. I did chemo and lumpectomy. (Although I have a new diagnoses of triple neg in my other breast I think it is important to focus on the 8 years cancer free!)

Luah

Shereejoy:  FEC-Taxotere is a common regimen here in Canada too... and I know several women who have found it hard to tolerate. Still, one step at a time, you'll get through it. It's good you're throwing everything you can at BC, aggressive with TN is the way to go. (I also had multifocal (2) but smaller and pretty close together so my BS was able to do a lumpectomy.) 

yellowdoglady

Welcome Shereejoy!

I was triple-negative with 4/14 nodes positive for that.  Did 6 rounds of Taxotare & Cytoxin, every three weeks, then 7 weeks of daily radiation.  Two and a half years out, I am clean.

You will read nightmare stories but it is important to understand that most of us do get well.  It's not a walk in the park to get there, but it isn't as bad as you might expect.  It's all doable, and you can come back and live well.