triple negative and radition after chemo/double mastectomy

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bjoangtx
bjoangtx Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi, I have stage 2 triple negative BC. Started TAC every 3 weeks in August and finished (6 treatemtns) in Nov. It was effective. Had a 2CM tumor that shrunk and nodes in my left arm (where the tumor was) were gone. 2 were biopsied both negative. Also 1 node from right breast (double mastectomy) also negative after neoadjavent chemo. My Breast surgeon is now pushing for radiation. I had an infection in 1 breats (left where CA was) and had to have a small second procedure but the expander had to be removed from the infected breast. The rerconstructive surgeon says that he can't do expanders w/implants after radiation that it would have to be tram flaps. I don't want tram flaps but am unsure what to do. I am requesting a second opinion from both an oncologist and a breast reconstruction person. Anyone know anything about this? I am kind of thin 5'9" about 112lbs after chemo. The chemo seems to have worked well all nodes negative and I tolerated it well. I don't really want the radiation (costs alot $2000 in copay for 6 weeks and I don't want the tram/rather hafve the expander w/implant? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

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  • cheranthia
    cheranthia Member Posts: 65
    edited January 2010

    Hi bjoanbtx,

    First of all, congratulations on your excellent response to neoadjuvant chemo! Do you know why your surgeon wants you to have radiation after having a mastecomy? He or she must have a reason because most people get either a lumpectomy + radiation OR a mastectomy. Of course, some do still get radiation after a mastectomy, but I think it's more the exception than the rule. Was the tumor very close to the chest wall or some place where he could not get clean margins? I would certainly go for those second opinions. Maybe you could ask both a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist what they think.

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  • bjoangtx
    bjoangtx Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2010

    It was close to the chest wall but he felt that we should use the most agressive qpproach possible so that I wouldnlt look back and regret the decision. Frankly my feelihgs are that f/t screena dn apprts are regular and close spaced/3atched. If something showed early on I believe he'd whack it with more chem and then I would consider radiation. I am tired of surgery right now. I am exhausted all the tike and I frankly don't have the $2000 dollors for radiation right now. I tolerated the chemo well and would be more than will to undergo another course.I'm kind of getting off on the bald thing. I have some gret heats. and if I weren't so cyber-clumsy i could figure out how to load the pictures. I feel emotionally battered right now. The 2 operations have sucked my emotional reserves. A man I was seeing decided to leaver beacuse Zi blew up at him one night. A person I had considered a friend feel I hame not healthy to be around now because she doesn't eant to tolerate my anger. i need a rest. I have a second appt with a reconstructive surgean and a second opinion fro an oncologist. You get no guarantee either was but i get some of my life back one way. I appreciate your comment are you a survivor, family member or professional? I'd have a pictue (actually 2 post but i'm cyber-challenged and i can't figure out how to upload.

    Diagnosis 8/053/09. Started TAC Chemo 8/11/09 and finshed 6 sessions w/all three drugs. 1st operation 11 Dec. Double mastectomy w/2 node removoved L side bot negative, one noe removed R side negative.2nd operation to address infection in breats with cancer. necrotic tissue apparent too thin to graft well. The L side removed expanderr 12/30.09.  Anticipate that w/o radiation I can have expeander replaced in April expanded over a could of  months. Then silicone implants and a return to a semblance of a life. Any suggestion, experience advice wuold be appreciated.

     I'm inclinde to put off radiation. The last operation really made me sick and I was depressed andangry about the infection. The odds look negligible. But again I'm looking for opinions/experience. Thanks.

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  • bjoangtx
    bjoangtx Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2010

    how do you add a picture tyo this site. I am cyber challenged.

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  • yellow
    yellow Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2010

    hi,

    im 32 stage 3 triple negative. my dr. told me that I have to have chemo, surgery and radiation. I would say to do the radiation because if anything happens down the line lets hope not but if it happens you know that you did everything that they told you.  I know you get tired of all this procedures but they are necessary for us triple negatives.  we dont have other options like the hormone positive breast cancer they have the hormone therapy to help them.

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  • cvstearns
    cvstearns Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2010

    I am triple negative, just had a reoccurance after double masectomy, tram flap recon and 6 rounds of ACT chemo, I wish someone would have offer me radiation, I just had a 2.1 cm tumor removed from my pectoral muscle. Now my case is going back to the tumor board to see what we should do next. Before the surgery we thought it would be 6 weeks of radiation, now I don't know but believe me no one should have to have ACT more then once!!

    Good luck with your decision!

    Carolyn

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited February 2010

    The problem with having chemo before is that it can temporarily get rid of the cancer--it may not be  permanent.  I am in the middle of having chemo and have 2 to go and I too hope to have the expanders first but I will still have radiation if I have to just to up my odds.  I too had a tumor start to invade the chest wall and was told it could kill me.

     good luck with your decision.

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  • angelsabove
    angelsabove Member Posts: 363
    edited February 2010

    I am TN...see signature below. I had Double Mastectomy before my chemo started. I did double mastectomy in May 2009.....Started Chemo June -------- November------------ Started Radiation in December and just completed 32 treatments last Friday....

    I was told that we should do ALL we can.....that way you can tell yourself I DID IT ALL.....

    Again had radiation AFTER double mastectomy......maybe it is to get any stray cells running around.......

    May God Bless Us All 

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  • sharonculian
    sharonculian Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2010

    My daughter now has triple negative.  She had Hodgkins in 1990 and had radiation.  She just had surgery and has started with the expanders.  So far, no problem.

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