Newly Diagnosed Triple Neg

foreverfaith

First, I am so thankful I found this forum. I've come across a wealth of knowledge and so many encouraging posts. I just found out last week that I have IDC left breast. Today, I met with oncologist and came to find that my cancer is triple negative. Last week when I met with a surgeon, she was fairly sure lumpectomy and radiation would do it since my tumor is small, about 1cm. Oncologist says chemo is a must. I did the one thing that many people do even though we know to be cautious about it....I googled TNBC. All I can say is the last 6 days have been one big blow after another. I'm 39 so my oncologist ordered the BRCA tests along with some other genetic testing. I sure hope I'm not BRCA positive. I don't want this awful thing to touch my daughter or other family members.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Are most TNBC also BRCA positive?

Hariry

Hi foreverfaith,

Sorry that you find yourself in the group, let alone TNBC.

I was dx last year, 1.5 IDC TNBC, when I was 41. I'm a mother of four. I did have a hard time "why me???"

But I think you'll soon find lots of encouraging updates on this situation. TNBC response better to chemo. It's not a death sentence.

I've got a wide local excision and now half way doing my chemo. In another two months or so I'll be attending to radiotherapy. I'm doing alright.

If TNBC is something we can't change, I'll just focus on kicking its butt. Focus on treatment and getting better.

All my best wishes to you,

Hariry

Hariry

P.s. my BRCA results are still pending

Frog-on-the-lilypad

Hi Foreverfaith,

You summed up what I feel about the BRCA. I dont want this to touch my six year old. I am 40. go for the BRCA tests in May. Based on the results I will have lumpectomy or mastectomy.

I was diagnosed last month and am on DD AC x 4 and Taxol x 12. I finished my second round of AC yesterday and was really tired all day. Mostly because I was up all night, wide awake thinking of whatnot. The steroids do that to you. My nurse told me next time she will give me something to make me wind down.

Thanks Hariry for the encouraging words.

Wishing all of us here lots of love and strength.

grayowlsrock

I was dx with TNBC in Oct. 2017. I tested negative for BRCA and other known genetic mutations. I recently completed 5 months of chemo and I am happy to report that my recent MRI showed no evidence of tumors. I had 3 multifocal tumors on my right breast that all together measured just around 3 cm. I'm hoping after surgery, a umx, on May 2 that pathology shows a complete response to treatment and I won't need radiation. Fingers crossed. Good luck to you and I hope you have a great response to chemotherapy. A lumpectomy sounds good in your case since your tumor is small and unifocal.

VL22

grayowl- great news! Good luck with your surgery.

foreverfaith

Hariry- Thank you! Your words are awesome. I think I'm getting geared up for fight mode!

Frog-on-the-lilypad

Yeyyy Grayowl....thats great news. Wishing you all the best for your surgery!!

Cathy0201

I was diagnosed on March 2028 with Triple Negative Cancer, although I don't fit the demographics and there is no cancer in my family. I am going for Genetic testing the end of May. I am Stage 2A with a 2.5 cm tumor at time of diagnosis. Does not seem to have spread to lymph nodes. Myquestion is for long term survivors. Do you feel a masectomy or lumpectomy is better for long term survival. I need another 20 years! Has anyone made it that long?

Moderators

Hi Cathy-

Welcome to BCO! We know it can be hard to process everything, but you're in a supportive place. Check out this thread in the triple negative forum, so many member stories of surviving TNBC: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/72/topics...

The Mods

VL22

Hi Cathy - sorry you are here. All of the research I have looked at says that long term survival does not change if you get a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy. That being said, many women don’t want any breast tissue remaining for peace of mind. However, you can have a mastectomy and still have a recurrence.

My advice would be to talk to your Dr - go in with all your questions and chat here and go to legitimate internet sites for information.

Hugs.

Ammamama77

Hi,

I just wanted to extend my sympathy and echo that you are not alone. I am 41, have two young children, and have been in chemo since 1/25/18, finishing in June, then on to radiation. My tumor, which was found at my first mammogram, was 1% receptor positive, (still considered TN) enabling me to get the Oncotype Dx test done, confirming chemo is needed/highly advisable. I am BRCA negative with no family history.

My medical oncologist has been great, pretty reassuring overall, but the internet knocks me for a loop when I linger too long.

I’m not sure if there would be an issue with recommending a book here, but I found journalist (and survivor) Patricia Prijatel’s “Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer” to be a relatively non-alarming, informative read so I could understand my condition as I was coming to terms with it and so I could be informed in the early stages of meeting with my various doctors.

Hugs,

Amanda