does anybody else wish?

anamerty

I am triple negative. had estrogen/progestrone positive bc in 1999 so this one is new. I have a strong family history 3 of us sisters have had bc one sisiter passed away at age 33 with hormone pos. other sister had hormone pos. first time me too. we all have the BRCA1 gene. I had a 1.8 cm idc in right breast and after a double mast. in Aug they found a 3mm dcis hormone pos in same breast  and a 2 mm dcis in the other breast which I had the lumpectomy almost 14 years ago. So it looks like have a bmx was the right thing to do . this cancer put me in a high risk to recurr because of the grade (3) and the tn along with all these other things. My path report says that mo talked to me about this and my "poor" prognosis.Ok that through me for a loop and I really don't know if it is worth continuing with chemo!!Mo di say that I have a 40% chance of recurrence without chemo and 20% with it. I don't like the odds at all. So my question is,does anybody else wish they had hormone positive cancer instead?I do, then I'd feel that I had a fighting chance

KSteve

I was diagnosed triple negative from the start.  The way my team put it to me was that the triple negative is more aggressive (bad news), but because of that, those tumors typically respond better to chemo (good news).  In my case, I had chemo first and I had a complete response to the chemo (and my tumor was large).  When I had my bmx about two weeks after I completed the chemo, there were no cancer cells in the tissue or the lymph nodes that were removed (and there was lymph node involvement in the beginning per the MRI and Petscan).  So, it's a potentially good news/bad news situation.  Having said all that, I am so sorry that you're having to go through this again, and have had so much of it in your family.  But, I'm here to tell you that you do have a fighting chance . . . just keep fighting one day at a time.  Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Hugs,

Kathy

Luah

KSteve is right, chemo works best on fast-growing tumours like TN. I have often wished I was ER+, but then I hear of women who have so much difficulty on the hormone treatments they are given. Also a low-fat diet and exercise seems to carry especially positive benefit for TNs - something we can do for ourselves.

For more positives on triple negative, visit: http://hormonenegative.blogspot.ca/

yellowdoglady

I think all of us wish we were hormone positives at the outset because the initial prognosis for TNBC is so grim.  But that turns around a lot with treatment.  TNBCs respond better to chemotherapy and radiation.  So the worry of course is that there is a chance of recurrence and we have fewer weapons to use against that.  But the fact is that more of us have a more complete response to treatment than our hormone positive sisters.  And if we get over that hurdle, we are okay sooner.  Five years instead of fifteen years.  I went from a 29% chance of being alive and well at 5 years to being alive and well with no sign of cancer at all 4 years out.  Not one of us should give up.

carlads

I am so glad I found this forum.  I have been on this roller coaster ride since Nov. found my lump 3 weeks before my yearly mammogram.  Had a core needle biopsy on Nov 2 went to see my surgeon for results and he told me IDC grade cell 2 1.7 to 2cm.  I had already decided on bi-lateral MX with reconstruction.  He said next step consult with PS and they would get the surgery scheduled.  I asked about having a consult with an oncologist and he told me I could wait until after surgery.  With my personality I wanted to meet with him before.  So Monday my husband and I go in to meet him and to my surprise he had more of my pathology report.  He said he had good news bad news.  I wasn't her2+ but I was triple neg.  I almost fell off my chair.  My husband was in the dark because he hasn't done the research that I have done since this all began. 

With every thing he had in front of him he did say I am a T1, but that can change after surgery.  I had never really thought about my prognosis til then I just figured I will be fine.  I asked him about my prognosis and he said it is good.   I felt good until I did more research.  Now I am a mess.  I have an appt with my surgeon today I am considering not have Reconstruction I don't want to risk the chance of infection while going through Chemo.

My surgery is next Tuesday not soon enough for me!  Any input would be so appreciated!

Thanks,

Carla

yellowdoglady

Carla,

You do your homework, and you make your own decisions.  You decide what is right for you.  Good doctors will work with you as a team and support your decisions.  They will also answer your questions.  I'm a big fan of not waiting too long to get things done that need to get done, but be sure you are sure.  I did a lumpectomy, not a mx.  If you have a reason to do the larger thing or it will assure you of a better future, that is fine.  Just think hard, decide well for yourself, and get busy.  Run through it, because it won't be the best time of your life.  That will come after, and be sure it will.     

bak94

anamerty-the first time I had bc I was triple neg, this second time I was 3% er pos and pr, her2 neg. My doc put me on aromasin, saying that any positive, even just 3% is positive, there are docs that disagree with this. Well, I could not tolerate the aromasin, my body and joints hurt terribly so he switched me to tamoxifen. I had the worst hot flashes on that one, plus I turned into an emotional mess. Those drugs the hormone positive gals take are not pleasant, at least for me,so in a way I am kinda happy to be mostly negative. I may try another one of those drugs, but I am waiting until January! Oh, I did neoadjuvent chemo this recent time and had a complete response.