Is chemo mandatory for TN?

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slcst12
slcst12 Member Posts: 161
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

I'm just wondering, who gets chemo and who doesn't?

I guess I just wonder is there a protocol out there that gives guidelines? 

Or if it's just obligatory for triple negatives.

Thanks!

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited November 2010

    If your cancer is very tiny, I think it's 5mm, possibly 7mm or smaller, I know some gals did not have the chemo, just lumpectomy and rads  or mastectomy.  Anything larger, it is highly recommended to use the big guns on it as surgery, chemo and rads (if you have lumpectomy) are the only shot we have at this.  You only get this one chance.  That is the standard of care for triple negs.  Different oncs use different combos.  I myself had 4 DD A/C followed by 4 DD Taxol.  Unfortunately, I developed neuropathy immediately in hands and feet on first Taxol, so I was switched for the remaining 3 doses of Taxotere which is a bit easier on the neuropathy (and it was).  I am not going to lie, it was the worst 6 months of my life, but I thank God I saw it through to the end and have it behind me.  No guarantee I won't recur, but had I not done it, I am sure that this sneaky insidious disease would be throughout me.  Also so important are all the scans prior to treatment - to make sure there is nothing hiding anywhere else.  Hope this helps a bit.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    I don't know what the new studies are saying but with TNBC, knowing that it is usually aggressive, i would do chemo and rads with a lumpectomy or chemo and NO rads with a mastectomy..I think.....

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  • Meggy
    Meggy Member Posts: 530
    edited November 2010

    I would do chemo...it works really well on triple negatives and it is really all we have.  There is no pill for us to take after chemo.  I found chemo to be very doable.  You feel crappy the few days after the infusion and then you feel gradually better.  If you have A/C...ask for ativan and zophren and a pill you take for 3 days....they really do control nasuea so well.  It goes by quickly.  So much better to take the chemo now and not get a recurrrance.  If you get a recurrance....you'll be on chemo off and on for the rest of your life...at least that is my understanding.

    hit hard now in hopes of never having to do this again.  It's not like the movies...there are drugs that really make it so doable.  

    Good luck sister.

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  • lmc1970
    lmc1970 Member Posts: 168
    edited November 2010

    I didn't have Chemo the first time and I ended up getting cancer twice after that. I am now doing chemo....

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2010

    I don't think it's mandatory, but from what I've read it seems that everyone dx'd with TN has chemo, it's standard protocol because TN is so aggressive.  TN cancer responds well to chemo and TN cancer doesn't have anything other than chemo or radiation to fight with.

    Chemo isn't a walk in the park, but it is doable. 

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