Shrinking lump/chemo/triple neg

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shellybelly
shellybelly Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

 I was recently diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I have had all the tests and had a sentinel (sp?) lymph node biopsy - all nodes clear. It is classified as a stage 2 grade three tumor under 2cm. I am sort of getting ready for chemo to start--however, I am puzzled by the fact that I am about to do this in order to shrink the lump prior to surgery. Here is my delimma-the lump has shrunk to a point where it cannot be measured by feel. I have asked if this was common but have yet to get a satifactory answer. Hoping to have one soon. With that being said has anyone experienced their lump shrinking prior to treatment??? If all nodes were negative any clue why I should do chemo? My plan was to shrink the tumor/remove and radiate. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited August 2008

    Shellybelly,

    It is rare to have shrinkage before treatment starts.  Make's you wonder if they took a big part of it out with your biopsy. I had a biposy where this happened. But the bottom line is there may be a slim chance cancer cell's have broke away from the original tumor.  Cancer cells travel through; nodes, blood & tissue.  The are never for sure if a cell has traveled from tumor site.  Even with small tumors, I have meet girls who had distance mets after treatment.  Chemo is just cleaning house of cancer cells for the whole body.  Hopefully kill very little cell that may be floating around.

    If you are in doubt...please get another opinion.  It is a great peace of mind.  Wish you quick answers and peace as you processed.

    Flalady

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  • HeatherBLocklear
    HeatherBLocklear Member Posts: 1,370
    edited August 2008

    Hi,

    I agree with FloridaLady (and I think everyone else will too) -- triple negative is a very aggressive cancer, and I can't think of any reason it would go away on its own unless you have a personal pipeline to Lourdes. Seriously, you do need to go ahead with the planned course of treatment -- your goal is to live for a LONG TIME YET.

    Good luck; you can do this.

    Hugs,

    Annie Camel Collapse

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited August 2008

    Whoa, I have been on the boards for 6 years and several women have had their original cancers practically, or truly disappear during pre-surgery chemo.  By the way, this is great, it means that whatever cocktail they are using is WORKING very well.

    What they usually do is open up the site where your original cancer was and often find necrosis, or dead tumor.  But they like to take this out anyway to be sure that nothing "nasty" is left behind.

    This happened to Lance Armstrong when they went after his brain mets.  They were all dead, the things they were seeing was necrosis.  He, of course, is well after 10 or 11 years. 

    By the way, this is truly good news.

    Hugs, Shirlann 

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  • pinoideae
    pinoideae Member Posts: 1,271
    edited August 2008

    Ought to be a Stage 1 cancer if under 2 cm, at least I think (my tumor was 1.9 cm stage 1).   Never heard of triple negative cancer going away on its own.  But some incurable diseases have been known to not progress or be infectious in a minute few.  Despite having a high risk of early recurrence, research has indicated that triple negative breast cancer patients who remain disease-free for eight years are unlikely to die of breast cancer and may be "cured" of their disease. 

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  • HeatherBLocklear
    HeatherBLocklear Member Posts: 1,370
    edited August 2008

    Did I misunderstand something? I thought Shellybelly wrote that her tumor was shrinking PRIOR to starting neo-adjuvant chemo. Obviously, if she's had chemo already, there's a very good chance for the tumor to shrink or even disappear with the treatment.

    Hugs to all,

    Annie Camel Tongue

    PS: Wow! I didn't realize Armstrong actually had brain mets! How wonderful that they were able to kill those buggers. I am really amazed.

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  • shellybelly
    shellybelly Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2008

    Hello All;

    Thanks for all the replies here. I asked my oncologist about the shrinking tumor again and he said that it may not really be shrinking but may have gone deeper because of the lymph node surgery. I started the chemo on wednesday. I will go for a total of 6 treatments (every three weeks). The chemo is called TAC. Has anyone else had this kind of chemo? I have not been sick (no vomiting) and I've been feeling ok. I am feeling a little tired though. I have been able to go about my normal daily activities so far. I noticed that food does not taste the same, What side effects should I expect in the coming days and is it normal to feel pretty good and then feel punk and then feel good again? Is chemo like a roller coaster ride?  Do you ever feel pretty good for a few days in a row? Any help on the subject of chemo would be appreciated.

    Thanks again

    Michele

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  • kerrij
    kerrij Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2012

    hi could you let me know how you got on i went for surgery on friday to have a 2cm lump removed and was to get lymth nodes removed to be tested and nipple reconstruction but when i got there the lump had also become almost unfeelable i asked if this was a good thing and never got an answer just said they'd not bother with the nipple recon and take a biopsy of the nodes so they just took the lump and some tissue said after the op they couldnt realy tell me anything till i go back in 12 days im so confused as to weather it shrinking on its own is a good or a bad thing.

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  • xxxxx
    xxxxx Member Posts: 67
    edited September 2012

    Michelle, chemo is a roller coaster ride, I would be okay for about 3 days after treatment, then I would have to hug my bed for the next 6 or 7 and about 4 or 5 days before the next treatment I was actually normal me. As far as not being able to find the lump or shrinkage before treatment, they had the same with me. I was told by my surgeon that it was oddly located. Some times you would feel it small and other times you wouldn't or couldn't find it at all. Take all your treatments because it is for the whole body so it will help it not show up anywhere else. Beleive me I got so excited when about my second treatment they couldn't find any lump that I was wondering if they should have stopped my treatments. That was when the oncologists told me NO because it is for the whole body and for better chance of survival. Everyone gets different explanations. Thought I would share mine. Prayers and God Bless.

    Karen

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