Diagnosed June 26th

Ebaker4395

My name is Erica and I was recently diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (Triple Negative) grade 3. No spread to lymph nodes. After tons of testing and scans, my breast surgeon, oncologist and I have decided that I will undergo chemotherapy every 2 weeks for 3 months to try to shrink the tumor and possibly we will be able to do a lumpectomy. I did do genetic testing but the results are not in as of yet.

During my monthly self exam I had noticed I had dimpling on my left breast. I called my primary physician and scheduled an exam. She felt no lump but sent me to the breast center for a diagnostic mammogram anyway. They found the tumor and did a biopsy on it as well as a lymph node in my arm pit.

Waiting for results was the most nerve-racking thing I have ever been through. I was completely devastated when I got the call. I've had my ups and downs since. For me, telling my brother my diagnosis was extremely difficult as he just lost his wife to pancreatic cancer last year. He didn't take the news well. My husband has been so supportive and understanding. He tries so hard to calm my fears.

I'm hoping to learn more about my diagnosis.

NorCalS

Hi Erica.

Yes, waiting for the results is the worst. It’s good that you have a game plan in place. I was diagnosed with TNBC a little over two years ago. The chemo was very effective in beating down the cancer. After chemo, I was able to get a lumpectomy and the scarring was very minimal. TNBC tends to respond well to chemo, and it looks like they caught yours early. This site has great advice on how to deal with the side effects from chemo, so you are already ahead of the curve. Hang in there

Ebaker4395

Hello NorCalS,

I just want to say thank you for the reply. It gives me so much more hope that I can beat this!! I have so much more life to live. I started my first chemo treatment on the 16th. Saturday I felt fine. Sunday and Monday I pretty much slept all day. I've been really nauseated up until today. The meds my oncologist prescribed for it gave me horrible headaches. I had another appt today and he's switched me up so hopefully they will work this time. My next chemo appt is on the 30th. I'm ready to rid my body of this!!

NorCalS

I slept all day after my infusion and fatigue throughout chemo is very common. If you’re on AC ever other week, the second week should be better. For me, the AC part went by very quickly. It it was TOUGH, but for some reason it felt like it was over quickly.