Finally got my Triple Negative Treatmet Plan

NewToThisStuff

So just met with my doctors and settled on this treatment plan for my Preliminary Stage 2A (pre aspirated cyst) triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma:

- Lumpectomy w/ lymph node biopsy on 1/11/18

- Chemo (AC)- 4 rounds ever two weeks /2 months

- Chemo (Taxol)- 12 rounds once a week/3 months

- Radiation - 4 weeks, daily./1 month

Is this similar to any of your triple negative treatments? If so, how did it go and how are you doing now

VL22

Hi New - I’m just getting ready to finish my last Taxol. My plan was just like yours, except I am doing radiation for 6 weeks. Your treatment might be what is referred to as the “Canadian Method” by some ladies on here - stronger radiation over a shorter period of time.

I’m not going to lie - it is a long haul. It’s emotional, scary, infuriating- you name it, but you’ll get through. Just do your best to find joy in the things you always have - don’t let this take away your happiness. Once I stopped goggling and obsessing over “what if” scenarios, my life pretty much got back to normal. I find Iam much more present in my day to day life.

Good luck!

waytooanxiousmommy

Mine was just ordered differently

- Taxol for 12 weeks

- AC twice a month for two months

- Surgery (lumpectomy unless it turns out I have BRCA1 or other gene defect)

-Radiation (not sure how much)

I'm feeling pretty good on Taxol. I have been eating really well and exercising and that has really helped with side affects so far. Second week for me now and I can feel the tumor receding. Wondering if thats all in my head because doctors haven't measured it yet but it feels softer and smaller to me now.

Connie1230

Mine was the same as yours except I had Carboplatin along with taxol until the had to discontinue due to white blood counts after 9 Carboplatin. I also had 31 radiation treatments.

No one would ever call this a picnic. However, I suspect that the chances are good that it's not as bad as you might be imagining.

My issues were high fevers after AC which were finally blamed on Neulasta but that was primarily because I had every test in the book and they all came out fine. Neulasta was blamed by process of elimination because they couldn't find anything else to blame it on. I also had some delays with the taxol/carbo due to blood counts. While it was infuriating because I just wanted it over, exhaustion was the biggest issue. Considering that my family is grown and my husband and I retired, this wasn't the issue it would be for a lot of people.

I heard some horror stories about radiation too, I had absolutely zero issues with it. There was some mild sunburn like symptoms easily controlled by miaderm.

My best advice is not to try to be a hero and do everything. Obviously children have to be fed, laundry has to be done, food has to be cooked and perhaps there's a job to consider too. Accept any help offered and make your like as simplified as possible

Hopeful_Husband

hello all! One thing I don’t understand is how some of you have your entire treatment plan laid out at the start. I think that approach would ease some anxiety.

Kaiser in California is treating my wife in stages. So everything is a new shock.

NewToThisStuff

hi Hopeful Husband,

I too am getting treated by Kaiser in Northern California. Have you met with your team of doctors yet?

Once I met with my team is when we decided on my treatment plan. My surgery date was the only thing that changed as it was moved up to 12/21/17 from 1/11/18.

Ask your pcp about this and they should be able to provide more guidance and answers

PaulaAtlantaGA

Seems like this might be the best place to introduce myself. I'm TNBC and have just completed the 4 AC chemos over an 8-week period. I start Taxol with carboplatin added every third week in January. Because of the size of my tumor and lack of response to chemo (at this point), I now know that in addition to radiation (already planned for post surgery), my MO will be putting me on Xeloda after radiation.AND she's asking me to keep my port in case I can be part of a Keytruda trial after that.

So at this point, all I can see is chemo, surgery, radiation, and more chemo. I'm going for a second opinion in late January but don't expect anything beyond affirmation that I'm on the right path. I'm trying hard to be positive- I have good insurance and good docs. But I'm 63 and AC was very hard on me. Hospitalized once with neutropenic fever, literally cannot climb stairs without feeling faint -during that low white blood cells week. On to Taxol/carboplatin!

A4ggy

Hi,

I just finished my last chemo today. I had 4 DD AC and 4 DD Taxol. I am having surgery on Jan. 29th and after surgery will find out about radiation. It's all quite scary. I am also 2A, but I suppose they will find out about my lymph nodes for sure during surgery. I am scared and feel like nothing is in my control. I hate that there isn't a long term therapy for triple neg. Good luck everyone

Rjmorin8

Hey there!

I am having my last AC tomorrow, then am scheduled for 12 rounds of Taxol. From there they said they will see how much it has shrunk. If needed I will then have radiation. After I am opting for double mastectomy with reconstruction. I am only 37 and have 5 kids, so I need to be around for a looooong time. No time to mess around with this crap. Interesting that there are different ways to go about this

A4ggy

Rjmorin8, Hi, I agree with you! No time to mess around. I have 2 kids, so can't imagine having 5 and going through this.I am 40.  I do find that there are lots of ways to go about this. It's interesting and somewhat confusing. I too am having a double mast. with recon. Jan. 29th. Glad to talk to you on here.  

Hopeful_Husband

Thanks New. We have never met with a team. We have a coordinator m, but we were sent to the surgeon for surgery, now an oncologist for chemo, then another oncologist for radiation.

RosesBattle

I’ve had my third round of chemo. I have one more to go. I’m 77 years old and have TNBC, stage 2, Invasive mammary carcinoma, ductile type. Had sentinel lymph node biopsy and it was Negative. I can no longer feel the tumors, so the chemo is working to reduce them. With all four rounds, I’m given both Taxotere and Cytoxan. I will be seeing my breast specialist on March 26. He will schedule a lumpectomy. Next will be four weeks of radiation. The side effects of the chemo have been extremely hard on me. Perhaps my age. My doctor estimated that I’ve had it for about three years. My primary care doctor had been telling me every year since 2014 that I didn’t need mammograms anymore because of my age and family history. Thank God, when my sister found out she insisted that I get one. Well, it was quickly found and I have an excellent team takning care of me now. I haven’t heard one word from the primary care doctor since. My breast specialist sent her a letter asking for me to be cleared for treatment. No response so he did it all himself. Someone was advising her to not recommend mammograms for women over 70 with no family history. I still have living to do and my family needs me. Wonder how she will feel when she’s 70

aterry

RosesBattle, I have never heard of a doctor telling a 70 year old woman not to get a mammogram. I think that is malpractice and I would consider reporting this doctor to your local medical board or at least the ethics committee at the affiliated hospital. There are controversies over scans for women under 40 but not over. Others will chime in but I think the risk increases with age. Good for your sister who insisted that you get testing. I'm glad you've found a good specialist who is getting you through this process.

Hopeful Husband, I think you could call your wife's treatment center and insist on a meeting with the team--or at the very least a meeting with a coordinator who can lay things out for you. At the center I go to the team consults with each other on a regular basis and all members can tell you what the other is planning--the surgeon, the MO, the onco radiologist. Best wishes.