My Mom

Hi Ative,

I have a similar diagnosis and treatment as your mom.

Keep supporting your mom in everyway you can.  If she's healthy, other than the cancer, and in reasonably good shape, the chemo won't be to hard on her.  The first two infusions usually aren't to bad, much like having a hangover for the first few days.  The 3rd & especially the 4th are more difficult.  You all should be ready to help her as much as you can even if she says she feels fine, fatigue and nausea can sneak right up when you least expect it.  It sounds like your mom is having AC chemo, which is what I had.  Many are able to eat normally with this tx, although certain strong smelling foods can cause reaction.  For me it was chilli and barbecue smells, I had to leave the room!  Keep her favorite comfort foods on hand and tell her to stay hydrated, especially on chemo days and the first few days afterward.   

There is good info on this site and in the discussions regarding radiation and care of the skin during tx.  There is also a web site just for trip. neg. with good info.  It's tnbcfoundation.org (or could be .com).

Regarding your mom's staging & grade diagnosis.  She should get a complete biopsy pathology report from her doctor.  Also, she should get her chemo orders and her labs each time she has an infusion.  If she becomes ill during chemo she should call her doc and make sure her concerns/needs are met.   

This type of cancer can have recurrence sooner than other types, but not always, some are lucky.  Your mom needs to stay vigilant and continue to do self exams following treatment.  

Good luck, your mom is lucky to have you  

Evita,

Your instinct to try to learn as much about your mom's situation is a good thing.  She may need an advocate on her side and sometimes that can result in a better care.  And I understand also that it's overwhelming you or anyone to learn all of these medical stuff, but over time it'll get easier.

I agree with Glostagirl you can start with getting copies of mom's pathology report.  This will tell you the specifics of the tumor.  You can ask the oncologist if he did any Tumor Marker test (blood test).  It may be helpful also to ask for the names of the drug(s) used in your mom's chemo treatment.  Most people will get a standard "ACT" (stands for Adriamycin+Cytoxan for 4x, then Taxol for either 4x or 12x on lower dose), but there's some variation of that standard.  Again, I agree with Glostagirl it sounds like your mom's either getting AC, or TAC, or TC (Taxotere+Cytoxan).

Whether triple negative is an aggressive disease, the answer is yes.  But it's not hopeless.  Having an aggressive disease just calls for an aggressive fight back, aggressive treatment.

Best wishes for both you and mom!

Evita, glad you've found this site for support. The tumor probably did not grow, that was just what size it was imaging and then after the surgery they were able to get an accurate read on its size. Triple neg is not that poor of a prognosis. It's just that after chemo and rads there is no other drugs to help fend off the bc like those who are er/pr positive.

Sounds like you and your mom are extremely close. She's lucky to have you there to support her. 

Honey, I am in my 11th year after treatment and just fine.  Triple Negative is just fine if you can get  by 2 to 3 years, it almost never returns.  So that is a bit of good news.  Being Her2neu negative is good.  The bad thing about the other two negatives is she wouldn't benefit from Tamoxifen or its newer types because they bind with the two hormones and block them.  But back when I was diagnosed, they didn't know much about TriNegs, so no one said anything.

I was so stupid I was GLAD I didn't need the Tamoxifen.  My, how things change.

But your mom should do well.  80% of us recover.  

Gentle hugs, Shirlann