not fitting the profile

I didn't think I fit the profile either, caucasian and dx at 50, but I tested positive for the BRCA1 mutation. There is a high percentage of BRCA positives that are TN. Last year when I was dx, I opted for a unilateral mx, but once I tested positive for BRCA, I opted for the prophylactic mx on the other side as the chance for recurrence in the other breast while BRCA positive is like 85%. I will also have the full prophylactic hysterectomy as that also cuts down your chance of recurrence and ovarian cancer. The risk of ovarian cancer is sky high with this gene before/around the age of 70. Genetic testing may be something you want to look into before surgery. I wish I would have had the testing done, and saved myself a second surgery. I did 4 DD A/C and 4 DD taxol finishing up last Oct.

Ok.razorrob..you piqued my curiosity about age and tn..so I took a couple of minutes (not long because my attention span is way too short)..anyway..I went through about 20 pages of the tn thread and wrote down the ages..didn't go through the whole thing and some of us did not give our ages but here goes:

3 age 31, 1 age 32, 3 age 34, 3 age 36, 6 age 37, 1 age 38, 6 age 39, 3 age 40, 4 age 41, 3 age 43, 3 age 44, 3 age 45, 1 age 48, 4 age 49, 4 age 50 1 age 51, 1 age 52, 2 age 53, 1 age 54, 6 age 55, 1 age 58, 1 age 59 1 age 62, 1 age 64, 2 age 68.

Way too many..of any age 

Ok..we will throw you in there.I read your "bio" but didn't see your age!  And didn't want to guess!

Razorrob - So sorry you have to join us here, but without the gals on this board, I think I would have gone 100% nuts, instead of the 99% I became after diagnose.  I too was 62 years old when diagnosed with this lovely triple negative crap and was shell shocked for quite awhile. Through chemo, rads, and just in my general walk of life, have met 7 black sisters since I was diagnosed (all younger than I am) and not one of them are triple neg, so I often wonder where they get these statistics about how it afflicts more blacks than any other group of women.  Perhaps they are correct, but I haven't seen it in my personal journey.  I could not get the BRCA test done as I am the only one on either side of my family to have any type of cancer whatsoever - guess someone has to start it in each family, and it turned out to be me.  So they felt, with my history of no cancer whatsoever in anyone, and my age, that it was probably not BRCA, and if I really wanted to find out, I would have to pay the $3,500 myself.  I skipped it, but am after my two daughters to look into it as their tests would be covered by insurance.  I had a large lumpectomy as my nodule was only 1.2 cms, but 5 cms deep below the nipple and my BS did some fancy dancy "Bat Wing" surgery that when stretched out straight is about 7 inches long.  I would have done the mastectomy, but she said it was overkill.  1 and 1/2 years later, I still have a lot of pain in that breast, scar can barely be seen, but also was left with 23 clips internally.  And I wonder why it still hurts!  If I had it to do over again, I am pretty sure I'd choose the mast. over the lump. only because of the pain I still have and the fact that I have one breast a c cup and the other a d.  Will have to live in sports bras forever, unless I get the larger one made smaller.  Am thinking of doing that, but get scared to even screw around with it, so I keep putting it off.  As long as I only wear black clothing, it doesn't show the disparity in size.  The black kind of matches my mood since being diagnosed anyway!

Want to wish you a safe and uneventful journey and whatever way you choose to go, be confident that it's the right way for you.

God bless -

Linda

I don't fit the profile either. Diagnosed at 54, caucasian, BRCA negative. I had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection, am finishing up TC chemo, and have 33 rads coning up.

Hi sister, I was 63, nursed my babies (3), had a late start to my periods, and early menopause, have no relatives with breast cancer.

BUT, I am a Triple Negative. 

The good news is I am 12 years post treatment and so far I am fine. 

Gentle hugs, Shirlann

I wish you all the best in your treatment and fight, Razor. (Hugs)

My MSK doctor said there was "no difference in outcome" between lumpectomy and masectomy, and so I had a lumpectomy. Having said that, I think your MD neighbor has excellent questions and you are smart to give this serious thought.

Shirlann, Yours is the kind of story we really like to hear!

Razorrob, you're most definitely not alone.  I was 58 at the time of diagnosis, I'm caucasian, post-menopausal and there is no history of breast cancer on either side of my family.  But here I am, in the triple negative boat anyways.  I truly have no faith in any of the medical statistics when it comes to breast cancer as it seems to be a unique beast that reacts differently in every woman.  No set of statistics can ever accurately tell the tale.

Add my mom - she was 82 at diagnosis (AUG 2010) and turns 83 this week!

My daughter was diagnosed triple neg in 2005 at age 34. I was diagnosed 2007 HER2/nue at age 57. She was stage 2; I was stage 3. She had a lumpectomy; I had mastectomy and DIEP flap. We are both happy with the decisions we made about our surgeries. Both treated in Boston. She had the opportunity to meet with a research scientist at our hospital and learned that there is still much to be discovered about triple neg. But the one thing that they DO know is: if it does not return in 3 years, it is rare to never that there is a recurrance!

I've talked with a lot of women about their surgeries. One thing that I can say about having a mastectomy is: your plastic surgeon has a "clean slate" to work on if you do go the route of reconstruction. DIEP flap is not for "whimps and sissies". It's a tough surgery. But I am VERY pleased with the results. 

Well than Titan, I guess "us here ol' timers" are here to say, "You can doit!" and to cheer you on with each survival birthday that you pass!! I know it feels like forever when you are going through this and you still question what is in your future.

Although I was technically diagnosed in May 2007, my final reconstruction step wasn't finished until Dec. 2009. Keep in mind that we had only finished with my daughters diagnosis and treatment when I got mine. It all felt like we were living in "Ground Hog Day". But you know what? My daughter and I look at each other and blink in amazement. SHE is already a 5 year survivor and at my 3 year check-up my surgeon told me "I was perfect" to which I immediately turned to my husband and said, "Did you hear that? 'I'm perfect!'". LOL

"You go, Girls!!!

I've just joined the tnbc club and certainly do not fit the profile.  I was 52 when originally diagnosed with breast cancer: ER-/PR- and HER2+.  After 2 previous reoccurrances and 3 series of chemos, my last biopsy showed a molecular change to HER2-, thus ending 5 years on Herceptin. I am interested on what treatments have been successful for tnbc.

laynetx -

Thanks so much for the encouragement and prayers. I'm researching as much as I can and appreciate all of the input. I have a new granddaughter and her 7 year old brother to fight for...

Carolyn