TNBC - Chemo? - Hair Loss? - PET Scan?

LiLi1964

Ladies,

I hope someone can help me out – you all sound so wonderful and informative and I think this discussion board is a great outlet/inlet for all us in this fight.

I had my TNBC verified by pathology following my bilateral mastectomy on 8/7/13.  Prior to surgery, my surgeon did inform me the initial pathology was showing TNBC and that meant the “after surgery” drugs normally used would not be used, and radiation wouldn’t really be an option since all the breast tissue was being removed – that would leave chemo as the only option available to me. 

OK – post surgical follow up and review of bilateral mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy (both sides) showed IDC much more extensive than originally suspected and the right sentinel node tested positive for isolated cancer.  My surgeon said he did speak with Oncology and said chemo was “likely and would probably be over a 4 month period”.  Met with his office staff and got my Oncology appt on 9/16/13.

All that said…he said “likely” – is chemo ALWAYS used?  I’ve read online that not all chemo causes hair loss – how am I to know if the chemo they use on me will cause hair loss?  My family doctor said they might do a PET Scan – is that always done when a sentinal node comes back positive?  Surgeon said “nobody can tell if the cancer has spread elsewhere” – wouldn’t that mean I SHOULD have a PET scan?  If you know you will have hair loss – do you get a short hairstyle right away to help with transition (but here is where I’m frustrated because I don’t KNOW if I am getting chemo or if those drugs DO cause hair loss)?  I’d like to get back to wearing my natural hair as soon as possible following chemo (if in fact I have chemo and hair loss-I don’t know that as I sit here today) which means I’d likely have an easier transition if I got a short hairstyle right now, purchased a wig that is in a short hairstyle, then being able to wear my hair naturally after chemo sooner than if I started out with my shoulder length hair.  But what if I get a short haircut, then go to Oncology and find out they will not be doing chemo??????  I really do not like short hair on me (seems so stupid to be worried about my hair when I’m sitting here fighting cancer!)  but want the transition to be as smooth as possible.  I don’t want to get a short hair cut before returning to work now and then find out I didn’t need to do that if they decide no chemo so hoping some of you out there can help me out.

Gosh, I just re-read all that and do I sound conflicted and confused!  Hope to see some responses soon.