Just told I an Triple Negative

There are many of us on here including TN dicussion groups.  Try the "calling all TN'" which has a great group of women with TN.  It just means it is not a hormonally receptive breast cancer.  On the one hand it can be more aggressive on the other hand, if caught early, it can be treated easily with chemo and surgery.  Do you have your pathology report?  Do you know what grade you are?  Do you know the size of your tumor?  Do you know if you have any lymph node involvement?  There is information of this site to help you determine these if you don't know.  Also, very important.  Get 3 opinions and do a bit of research so you are able to make a decision that is right for you.  Every thing you do can increase.your survival.  I am glad that I have triple negative because mine was easily treated.  But sometimes things can get complicated but there are women here who will help and support you in any way they can.  Also, there is a site TNBC.com that is strictly for tn's.

good luck and feel free to pm me if you want to ask questions or get help.

Hugs,

Mary

 Dear mbj,  I notice everyone on the tncb forum was given chemo,  my surgeon said i need radiation.  I wonder if its b/c i didnt have a lump,  just DCIS non invasive,  was picked up as calcifications on mammo.  Im a bit nervous since i hear this type of cancer responds very well with the chemo  i do trust my surgeon but would like to hear from others that were given radiation for it as treatment.  I am also going to go to intergrative dr.  as i see you have and that it has helped you.  

hope i am not alone on this.  also seeing radiologist on monday june 21, hope he knows why i am being given rads and not chemo. scary, i want to do the best i can to NEVER have a recurrence. 

Maryvanessa,

I too just saw your post...I did radiation due to only achieving a 1 mm margin from the chest wall. this was determined in the final path report after surgery. The other consideration was my tumor size...4 cm.  I felt like I was in the middle between radiation and oncology wanting me to have it, and plastic surgery scaring me off it a bit.  I was told you won't like how your reconstruction looks and it was inferred I might need a skin graft.  I also had the added issue of having alread begun the process of reconstruction, because my nodes were negative at surgery.  The plan was if it was in the nodes, they would have held off on the reconstruction and only do the one side for MX, waiting until all tx was completed before doing the elective side.

I was quite stressed and upset about being in this position...but at the end of the day, I chose a friendlier radiologist to take me through...and the stats were VERY clear regarding benefit in my case.

I have very fair skin, and frankly...it went quite well.  I do have some range of motion issues, but I am a swimmer...so I do my PT that way...and I swim just fine.  My skin is a little drier towards the center of my chest, but I think it feels fine.  I have to wait another four months before I get my new boobs...and I have yet to see my plastic surgeon for follow up after rads...but my radiologist was very pleased as well.

I'm glad I did it...it was under some duress, but I don't ever want to face chemo again.  This will hopefully keep that away.

please let me know if you have any other questions, and I wish you the best with your decision making.  Your answer will come to you, and listen to your gut

traci 

maryvanessa; you will most likely not need chemo b/c yours was DCIS and not invasive. 

I have red hair, light eyes and skin.    Never should have had radiation.  Several docs have expressed shock at my radiated breast b/c the burning was SO bad.    It has never felt like a normal breast again so I am having mastectomy.      I do not want to scare people; but I went for the radiation and lumpectomy option w/o knowing how awful it is for people with my coloring.  Otherly complected women are quite happy with results.   

Hi Eileen,

I am fair, blonde and blue-eyed and had no problems with radiation burns or after-effects. I had 33 treatments, that included 5 boost doses at the end.

Kathy

Hi Kmartin,

 Thank you so much for the reply! We will definetly get working on getting a referral to see the oncologist. I'm thinking they will suggest chemo, but I was really hoping she wouldn't have to go through that .  Thanks again. Any specific questions I should ask?

Wow, questions to ask about chemotherapy. Well a good medical oncologist should present to you a strong argument for whatever treatment is recommended. I advise people to audiotape the conversation for future reference, and also to bring someone just to listen.

I would ask to see the difference in survival numbers with and without chemo for your mom's situation. I would also understand the drugs and their side effects and any interactions with current medications or conditions your mom may have. You may want to get more than one opinion. Also, if chemo is recommended I would ask if she needs a vascular access device, a port.

These are just a few of the many questions you may have,

Kathy

Awesome! Thank you. We have set my mom up with an appointment to see the oncologist next Tuesday.  I hope everything goes well. I can't believe we didn't set this up sooner. I wonder what they will suggest. I hope it doesn't add more stress to my mom's already full platter