i am newly diagnosed and need help

New Alex,

I am TN.  Had double mast due to my BRCA2+ Status.

I had 4 treat ments of AC and then 4 treatments of Taxol.

this is 3 years ago and I am all clear right now- Both my onc and me are doing happy dance!

I know the treatments have changed in 3 years, the important thing is to totally trust and have a wonderful relationship with your onc- you will be like family.

Just know- chemo is totally doable- I never got sick once- just extreme fatigue- lots of bed time and naps.

Good luck to you- you have tremendous support here

Susan

Newalex, I am by no means an expert, but, having said that, there are more and more treatments evolving rapidly for all different kinds of breast cancer.  The good thing about TN is that chemo knocks the you know what out of the cancer.  I want to say b---lls.  Also, your tumor is small. You have good prognostic factors.  I don't know much about the chemos, I think I would read all of the NED stories of women with your type of BC and see what they did.  I feel you will do well.  As for your pain, you just had a mastectomy, so pain would be very normal.  Take care, Maryiz

Dear Newalelx,

My mother was diagnosed with TN a few months ago, and is currently undergoing chemo. We were in similar situation, and I was posting on the board, seeking advice on what regime to follow.

After doing much research, we found that the AC dose dense, followed by Taxol weekly seem to be the most effective. The oncologist also included Carboplatin during the weekly taxol treatment, where the carbo was found to be effective on the TN as well.

Thats the regime that my mother is currently doing now. You can look into this. Hope it helps.

I met a awesome gal that is TN.  I think I remember her saying she took TC chemo

When I was reading about chemo on this site last April I read TC had less side effects than AC

My freind is doing great now and I'm sure you will also

I sent you a private message with my email address.

Patty

you can click on private messages at the top of the page 

or you can even click on my home and get to them there also

Dear NewAlex,

Just want you to know that I was diagnosed 5 1/2 years ago with TN and my tumor was 3.5 cent.  I was Stage IIb, Grade III.   I had chemo treatments every two weeks for a total of eight treatments. 

First four were AC - last four were taxol.  I then had a node dissection and lumpectomy followed by 31 radiation treatments. 

You will be fine.  There is life after breast cancer.   I am feeling wonderful. You will get through this.  Just be kind to yourself and take one day at a time.  

By the way no one in my family ever had cancer either.   Actually, my uncle  did - he got lung cancer but only after smoking heavily for SIXTY years. 

LOL, JoAnn 

Newalex,

My mother was dx in October 1999 with TN breast cancer...she was 69 years old and is still doing fine. I believe her chemo drugs were FEC (Fluorouracil (5FU), epirubicin and cyclophosphamide)....standard treatment.

My friend who was also triple negative got 4 treatments of AC and then 4 treatments of Taxotere...she had a mastectomy and reconstruction. She is now dealing with mets....but is still fighting strong.

Remember we are all individuals.....and how we react to a drug may be different then how the next person reacts.

I had 4 treatment of Taxotere, Adriamicin, and cytoxen......I was scheduled for 6 treatments...but I had a reaction on my first day to the Taxotere....so they had to drip it in over a 3 hour period. I stopped after my 4th treatment because I got a small bowel obstruction which caused extreme throwing up and was hospitalized. Taxotere can cause a bowel obstruction do to inflamation....if it occurs it will be around the 5th treatment. I read this on the Taxotere LABLE after being released from the hospital. I am ER/PR+.....

Terry