Im triple negative

kostura22

I was just dx two weeks ago with invasive ductial carcanoma.  Left breast tumor on film is 2.7 centimeters and I have been given a clinical stage 2 grade 3 stage after biopsy.  My surgery is march 7.  Im going to have a double mastectomy.  Im holding off on reconstruction at this time.  Im concerned being triple negative as it gets bad press on line.  I know I should stay off the internet but it is hard when you are scared.  My oncologist assures me I will get thru this.  I have 2 young kids and am 42.  So stressed and scared but trying to keep my head up.  Any advice or thoughts would be wonderful! 

TifJ

Hi Kostura!

I am TN as well. 44 at diagnosis with a then 8 year old son and 5 year old daughter. I am about 2 1/2 years out from diagnosis. The advice to stay off the internet is good. The information can be very outdated and do nothing but scare you!

Your oncologist is right as well- you will get through this! It is not easy and it just plain ole sucks, but it is doable! Once you get surgery behind you and get a treatment plan in place the stress will ease up some. Ask your MO (medical oncologist) for some anti-anxiety medication to help with sleeping. It helps turn your brain off to help you fall asleep.

There is a great thread here called "Calling all TNS" with a great bunch of ladies, all triple negative, that can help answer any questions or just be there emotionally for you. It was my lifeline during treatment and I still check in frequently. I'm so sorry you have to be here, but it's a great place to help you get through this. I wish you nothing, but the best!

By the way, the boards are a little slow during the weekend- so it may take a while for others to post here.

indij1

Hi

I am not sure if anyone will read this post.  I've posted before but not goten any response.  I didn't know until I read on this blog, that tn was that bad..so now I'm scared again.  If you had a lumpectomy and had no nodal involvement and clear margins, small tumor...does that makea difference in the "awfulness" of TN?  I was told originally to go with AC +T but then readvised to go with TC...anyone out there choose that as their regimen?  Would love to hear back from anyone.  Indi

TifJ

Indi- I did 4 rounds of TC. I think both TC and AC+T are standard treatment. I had a mastectomy versus a lumpectomy, but also had no nodes, clear margins, no vascular invasion (blood flow to the tumor). I had 2 tumors plus DCIS so I opted for MX. I don't see it as "awfulness of TN". It is just different. The good news is that our chances of recurrence go down drastically after 3 three years as ER?PR+ chances slowly start going down after 5 years- so that's a good thing! As I said before- check out the Calling all TNS thread. Some of the women there have had TC some AC+T some TAC. You are likely to get more responses there!