Triple negative beyond 2 years- What was your treatment?

I waited 3 months between diagnoses and chemo (neaoajuvant) treatment.  As soon as my blood counts came back up.. about 5 weeks I had a bliateral mastectomy.  2 radiology oncologist plus my medical oncologist said no to radiation- the risks far outweighed the benefits in my case.  The initial diagnoses path showed there was no lymphovascular invasion, plus I had no positive nodes.  I was prepared for rads even though I had tissue expanders placed and exchange surgery scheduled as I believe in hitting it hard upfront.. 6x FEC for chemo after Taxol failed.  After hearing about long term health problems the rads could cause I backed down a bit.  My signiture pretty much says it all.

Wishing all a long healthy life..

xoxo

I will be 2 years out of treatment in Sept. I am BRACA 1 positive and although I was leaning toward a bilateral mastectomy this made me 100% decided. I also had a profolatic hysterectomy to try to avoid cervical/ovarian cancer at a later time. Had chemo 4 adro/cytoxin and 12 taxol.

My ONC did not see need for any scans but have since had MRI brain and lung CT due to spot on x-ray. All turned out OK for now. Will rescan in 6 mo. Makes me nercous but also makes me feel better knowing we can catch as early as possible.

Mari, chemo before surgery is becoming more common, especially in TN so that oncs can monitor the effectiveness of the chemo regime and switch it up if necessary. 

Mari - in the U.S., the most common first-line chemo regime for TN is dose dense 4 AC, followed by 4 or 12weekly T... sometimes the T(axol) is given first now as there is some recent evidence that it may be more effective in that order. Smart to do the SNB at the same time as the port, so you'll know if there's any lymph involvement from the get-go. Good luck with the procedures, keep us posted. (Feel free to come on over to the Calling all TNs thread, that's where we all hang out.)

Well, I just spotted my post from over three years ago.  Here to update.  I did lumpectomies, two of them.  The second one was for a dirty margin of high grade DCIS.  My primary was an agressive triple negative with an explosive growth rate.

Three years and three months have passed since dx and surgery.  Although we never know what lurks, I am enjoying very robust health.

I did not do chemo or rads, against repeated advice.  It was a terrifying choice to make, but I had secondary health issues which were not compatible with TC x4, the recommended protocol.  I would not have resisted the recommendation had I had more advanced stages, however.  Being triple negative, it was not an easy out by any means.  One could be stage 1, have clean nodes, but still have cells which got out through other pathways; that is what adjuvant chemo is there to knock down,  but in my gut feeling, I could not comply.  

I am avoiding mammos, but did one to appease my onc and radiologist (mine were unreadable and my primary was invisible eventhough we knew exactily where to look).  I am using other forms of monitoring, primarily sonocine, which is a form of super ultrasound.

Also, I am using specific compounds, and supplements, along with some exercise and emotional supports.  I renewed my connections to all things living.  I also maintain a wildlife space for urban wildlife and birds.  They struggle so much for each day and that has an impact on my perspective. 

I have no idea if any of these measures had an effect, but I am going to continue on this course for the foreseeable future.

Lkpolasek, glad to see you are here, a 5 yr surviver...pls post more often and we like to hear from you and about you.