26 YEAR SURVIVOR HERE

Titan

For you er positive girls..don't freak ok...this is a triple negative thread and we really need to hear stories like Noni's...my sil has er+ cancer and she was told over and over again that she has the "good" cancer...unlike me that has never ever heard this...we tn's need something good to hang on too.

Nuff said..we still all have BC and it sucks no matter what kind it is...

connief

This is my first post and I really needed to read your post noni. I was just diagnosed with TN one week ago. I just had my first chemo treatment on monday. They are treating me with chemo first to try to shrink my tumor before surgury. I have been extremely distraught to hear the diagnosis but your post has given me hope. Thanks again no I.

nonijones333

connief I am so glad I could help you, there are many ladies going threw exactly what you are going threw and I'm sure it seems overwhelming right now. Find a thread on these boards that will support you and build you up and avoid the ones that will bring you down. When my daughter started treatment we thought it would never end and you know what, it really went by fast and now it is way behind us. Nine years in June. Did I mention that she had cancer in both her breasts, TN in one breast and lobular er+ in the other.

Be_Positive

To LisaThompson,

I understand that you are sad/angry/depressed about your mother's recurrence. Breast cancer is a tough pill to swallow for any of us ladies, especially a recurrence.

That being said, you posting on here that you don't believe that noni is a 26 year survivor is just plain rude and disrespectful. Stop being a debbie downer and putting your negative energy on the rest of us. These boards are here for support and help and while it's ok to express that you are angry or scared or even mad about cancer, it is NOT OK to disrepect another member.

tibet

Be_positive,

I disagree with your comments. I think, every one of us here has the right to share, including sharing sad, negative feelings this is understandable reaction when one is going thru such hard time; and i don't think Lisa Thompson's comments are being disrespectful. We are here to share, that includes sharing sad, doubltful feelings.

nonijones333

Thanks BePositive for sticking up for me but I am in total agreement with tibet. Did you read all of Lisa's posts, that poor girl is terrified beyound belief, we all need to support her and I so do wish that she comes back. I would love to reach out to her and BTW if you do come back Lisa I would tell you from what I picked up on your posts, if I was a gambler I would put money on your mom's prognosis as being excellent. Seems to me your both going to be around along time.

Why do so many of you believe a TN diagnosis is so bad, there is really so much worse out there.

This morning I am going with my daughter to get her tatoo's done. She originally had a tram flap and she was not 100% satisfied so she had implants put in 3 months ago and today she goes back for the nipple tatoo...you want to see gorgeous breasts, absolutely unbelievable. She has never looked back. ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY TODAY, IT IS GORGEOUS OUT, THANK YOU LORD.

mlm445

Noni... thank you for your post. I am TN and just finished Rads on Friday. Feeling tired, scared and happy all at once. Your story gives me strenght and hope! 

LNBCA

Noni, I can't thank you enough for posting your story. I am crying because you have given me so much hope. My mom has been diagnosed with triple negative for the second time. The first time (2006, 1.5 cm mass, no nodes involved, she did lumpectomy and chemo) they never knew it was triple negative, this time they discovered that this new primary cancer (in her opposite breast, 1.5 cm) and her last cancer are triple negative. I agree with you so much on focusing on the postives. I have spent the last two weeks researcing triple negative, reading horror stories of women's cancer metastasising, reading all these negative things about it. Needless to say, I've spent a lot of days crying, worrying. Just two nights ago I sat down on the couch and just started sobbing to my husband, telling him all I read is about all the negative outcomes of this diagnosis, and how scared I am that I will lose her. My husband said "her doctors haven't said any of that stuff have they?" and I just kind of said "well....no, but still everything I read, most of these women's stories that I read, it's not good at all". I wish I have only stumbled upon stories like yours, (and quite a few other women on here). One of my mom's doctor's even told her not to go on the internet, because she was probably only going to read really bad things. Thank you again Noni! For the first time in a while, my heart is not beating out of my chest in fear. My mom and I both need to start being more positive. Please, please pray for her. She just had her PET scan this morning, and starts chemo this week, then will have a double mastectomy. I could see it in her face yesterday that she is worried. Thank you again!!

mauralyn

Noni, THANK-YOU!!!  For sharing your amazing story.  I just had surgery and just learned I am stage 3.  My onc. is a brilliant doctor - but had little positive to say about my diagnosis.  Your post encourages me to believe, and eases living in the unknown.   All the Best, Maura

1osugrl

Nonijones,

YOU are my hero!  I am so glad i happened upon your thread. I was sitting here feeling anxious and depressed and then i read your story.  I had an excisional breast biopsy the same week my favorite Aunt was diagnosed with BC.  Im still waiting for my pathology report and having overwhelming anxiety. 

Your story is beautiful.  Please keep telling it.  It is absolutely inspiring and i am going to print it out and give to my Aunt.   Your story teaches us to never give up hope, live life, and don't dwell on the what ifs...

Thank you and God bless you.

pattypoo53

Wow what a great post! I am coming up on 9 years in Dec 2012. Diagnosed in  Dec 2003, triple negative, no positive nodes, stageIIA, Lumpectomy, chemo 6 months 4 AC,4 Taxol, every three weeks, 6 weeks of radiation. See my doc every 6 months, still do bloodwork, tumor markers etc. All is good, everyday is a gift. I don't post much, but come here sometimes, it's nice to read positive posts from people. Hugs Patty

DorisMarie

Hi noni..i wanna be just like you..except the second time around and the daughter..LOL..thanks for your story...

dreaming

I also was a young woman, but I wanted the most aggressive treatment I could get, breasts were not important to me, life was more, I had a mastectomy and chemo, I am  a 21 years  survivor, from my support group most are gone, and I know it can come back after many years, we even have a group that posts, but with a good follow up, I expect if it happens it will be soon enough to be treated, and I would chose chemo again ,  I believe that it is important to have a doctor that listens, positive attitude and wish for a good outcome.Choice of treatments for breast cancer are difficult to make , if in doubt ask for a second opinion.

My esperience is beside personal , professional , I work with cancer patients.

Natee

26 years and counting! Wow!

I'm a TN survivor of nine years this month

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories!

nora_az

What a wonderful story you have to share!!!

I was wondering something though. When was there testing for breast cancer to even determine ER, PR or HER2 status?

When I saw this post it made me think of that

Congrats, you have given so many ladies here hope

nonijones333

okay back from a wonderful summer and I guess I better come back to the boards as a reminder...seems like we need some cheering up for some of the newbies...

kaza

Having a rearly bad day, i guess it dosent help with my neighbour terminal with breast cancer, ambulances coming and going . I have been very positive regarding my breast cancer i guess this is just a reminder constantly of the seriousness of this desease. Sorry to rant just not upbeat today. I do feel for her. Its been tree years since dx shorly i should be doing better than this. xxxxx

netty46

Hi noni after 12 years out have recurrence in same breast. Scans were all clear. Your story gives me hope. A study showed that women past 10th yrs out usually do not metastisise. I praying after my bx and chemo I'm good to go. 10 more years. Your story has inspired me. When you had your recurrence after so many years what did doctors tell you?

nonijones333

thought I would come back to give everyone an update since I last posted. Well I did get the Brac test and I am Brac 1 positive, as well as my daughter. My Daughter had her ovaries out and because of a very large fibroid I opted to have the whole deal done. Have to say it was a breeze. Nothing like I remembered from the old days. In fact I had to sit and rest and I usually can't stay still. It made me catch up on some reading and I love old movies and would watch the old movie chanel all day.
Haven't been here in a very long time and I am seeing some of you think all us triple negatives die. Well my darlings, here is one still kicking and doing absolutely fabulous. I can't even do the math anymore, so 1986 is that 27 or 28 years???? My daughter was in 2004 so that makes her 10 years out. Now mind you at her diagnosis she had cancer in both breasts, TN in one and lobular in the other. Hope this takes away some of the fears from you girls, so so many just do not come back or the older gals don't even know this exists. Wish I could give you all a big hug but hope this is the next best thing....

Mkd55

Thanks Noni for this post.  Recently a member.   I was diagnosed in August 2012 with TNBC stage 11A, no involvement of the nodes.Had surgery(lumpectomy) chemo and radiation.  I know I am still in the early after stages but I feel renewed and hopeful that we can all beat this with Gods help.  I was asked if I wanted to take Aromatase, but after hearing the side effects, especially loss of bone density, I chose not to take that route, so I am  not on any after treatment drugs, but going by the grace of God and my support circle.  Thanks again for the post.

Barbarella60

Noni --   Being an 18 year survivor there were few PC's, conversation or discussion boards or Google to search for all the "right" decisions when I was diagnosed. As you well know information was very hard to come by.  Even support groups began and dissolved just as fast. I attended a tamoxifen support group, every week someone would drop out. My experience was many women stopped taking Tamoxifen midway through because of "how bad the treatment was". I found it better to be with non-breast cancer women, as I just wanted to be "normal", and not have the negative talk of "how bad the treatments were", or the constant reminder that I had dreaded breast cancer. I do not remember the camaraderie spirit there is today. I just joined this discussion site and I realize how far breast cancer awareness and support has come in 18 years!  I have a lot to learn as I have no knowledge of the types or grades etc. of breast cancer that everyone seems to know. 

I want to say how far and positive the breast cancer support network has grown.  I wish it had been so, when I was diagnosed.  How fortunate for those going through treatment now, to have positive sites like this.  People can learn and be comforted by experience, and you are definitely a survivor with experience and a positive outlook. Life is wonderful and even living with breast cancer does not need to be an ugly struggle. Only in your mind. After these 18 years I am very grateful that this site is here, for me, with the support & knowledge I need. Thanks