Hello - I am new to this site but not to TN breast cancer.  Eight years ago I was diagnosed with TN in my right breast.  I opted for a lumpectomy. At the time I returned to the surgeon's office he said that the margins were clean as were the nodes.  I was surprised to learn that I needed to do chemo because of the cancer being TN.  After the chemo I did six weeks of radiation and had been cancer free until recently.  Originally, I did not realized what the TN diagnosis meant.

A recent MRI showed a potential problem.  An ultra-sound guided needle biopsy showed cancer cells in my left breast in two locations.  I recently had a masectomy and am now being advised to have a series of four chemo treatments.  Again, the cancer was found very early. The tumor size was 0.8.  Five nodes were tested and none were positive.

My oncologist has said that my chance for a reoccurence is approx. 15% and if I have chemo that is reduced to approx. 9%.  I am reluctant to repeat chemo and wondering if anyone else with a similiar prognosis could share their thoughts on what helped them to reach their treatment decision.

I appreciate this forum and will look to read how others are coping on their cancer journey.  There are many brave people out there and I wish you all well. 

Hello bak94

I was reading through the blogs on TN and came across yours.  I, too, was diagnosed over eight years ago with BC in my right breast and had a lumpectomy, followed by chemo and then weeks of radiation.  Again this Sept. I learned that I had cancer cells in my left breast.  I opted for a masectomy since the tumors, while very small, were in two locations.  I again learned that they are TN.  I have had the BRAC test and the BART test and I do not have the gene.  I guess it's unusual to have two diagnosis of TN.  

What treatment was recommended this time and have you decided to follow the doctor's recommendation.  My cancer was found on a MRI and was so small that had it been smaller they would not have been able to do a needle biopsy.  There were five nodes tested and none found positive.  My oncologist said I have a approx. 15% chance of reoccurence without chemo and with chemo the odds drop to aprox. 9%.  I'm reluctant to repeat chemo.  Would apreciate you sharing your thoughts and what treatment you are doing.  I will keep you in my prayers.

Good morning.  I'm new to blogging - tho not to BC.  Could you tell me what AC treatment is?  I'm not sure and am trying to follow along!  Thank you.

thank you Veggy - I had that the first time - was supposed to have four treatments but after a negative reaction they cut the series to three.  My oncologist said I shouldn't repeat....which is fine with me.

The A stands for Adriamycin and the C stands for Cytoxan...One is red which they will inject and the other is a clear liquid which they will they infuse

Both very strong chemo drugs... 

Hi Sharon,

I am so glad they found yours early. Mine was not found early either time, seemed to grow right between my mammos and my insurance was reluctant to pay for mri's after 5 years of being cancer free. I sought two opinions and went with the more aggressive one, which included ac for a second time. I think with triple neg it is better to do the more aggressive treatment, but that is just my opinion. I am brca 1 positive and I have heard that it is not that uncommon to have a second breast cancer. Chemo was a bit more difficult a second time, but doable. It seems to be a more difficult decision in your case about doing chemo as it only makes a 6% difference, my decision to to chemo was quite easy as I am at least a stage 3.  I did chemo first and had a complete response, then bmx and next radiation. Good luck with your decision, it is such a personal choice, but you will pick what is right for you. Please keep me posted on your decision and feel free to ask anymore questions!

Thank you for your response.  I wish you well on your journey.  

bak94

I apologize if my response to you wasn't clearly addressed.  I did select the post a reply button under your response but being new to this I'm not sure how this works.  My reply showed up in order of the time it was sent and I didn't put your username on it.  I do appreciate the thought you put into your response and your opinion.   

A TNBC diagnosis is very scary.  I am not as brave as most women with BC.  I am now being treated for a secondary cancer caused by my chemotherapy and radiation for the TNBC (leukemia).  Anyway, I take Xanax every day to calm my fears and I do not feel guilty for taking it.  It really helps.

Once you fire your first onc., it gets much easier.  Take your time, maybe find a local support group, ask around about oncologists and consider trading up.

I was dx in 05 with high gradestage 2 IDC, had ac, taxol, and 37 rads, have some ongoing after effects from taxol but i am here.

Hang in there.   Hugs

MC

Hi Zoe

If you look at it another way, there's a 60% chance that it won't come back!

Have a look at the link below. Not perfect but may help!

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/768161 

Alicethecat

Yes, sadly it is a rare side-effect of chemo and rads.  The same happened to my Mom.. but she only had radiation with a radical mastectomy.  They do relay it back to her BC. Back then things were different.  I was on a chemo, FEC x 6 which also carries that risk.  Rads defo play into it too. As I said, it wasn't chemo in Mom's case.. it was the radiation.

My prayers are with you niciop... please keep us posted!

i still have my port in and every  6 weeks when they flush my port they check what is called a ca27-29. twelve weeks ago my numbers were 38 which is good 6 weeks later it was 43 and then this last time was 109, so my oncologist ordered a cat and pet which has showed something going on. they biosped a spot on my sternum last week waiting for the results tomorrow. i think it is worth the blood work i would rather have false positives than not, and unfortunately it is,so i pray it is early enough i just finished chemo 9 months ago and rad. 6 months ago