Triple Negative- anything positive?

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited August 2012

    Mumtobe: It seems test protocols vary from place to place, and doctor to doctor. Prior to surgery (which I had first), I had abdominal U/S, chest Xray and bone scan (nuclear imaging). Also a breast MRI to confirm location/size of tumours (I had 2) and to rule out evidence of other disease. Had any of these tests showed spread of my cancer, presumably they would have skipped surgery and gone straight to chemo.

    I am not sure, in the case of women like you who do neoadjuvent chemo (which is a very good choice, by the way, because they can monitor the effects on the tumour and adjust chemo if warranted) what types of tests are done during that phase, and immediately following before surgery... perhaps someone will be along shortly to describe their experience.

    Post treatment, some women gets CTs or PET scans along with regular mammography or MRIs. Many docs prefer to stick with regular clinical exams and scan only if symptoms arise.    

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited August 2012

    Hi Luah,

    Thanks for your reply. Had my third AC treatment yesterday and asked the nurse about further testing after baby is born and surgery particulary the bone scan and she assured me that I don't need a bone scan as my bloods are very good and any of cancer in the marrow would be indicated in my bloods so that was reassuring. I will be having a CT scan prior to radiotherapy. I asked yesterday if it was possible for me to have another breast ultrasound in the coming weeks (was told this isn't the norm but my nurse will ask my oncologist if I can have one). It is mainly for my own peace of mind, which is invaluable at times. Sometimes the battle in your mind is nearly harder than the battle in your body. I think I will try to speak up a bit more and insist of regular scanning. God forbid if anything else was to occur, I'd like to catch it early! Also have a silly question, so many women seem to know the stage and grade of their cancer. What is the difference between the stage & grade?

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited August 2012

    Mum: It'd be good to get a scan to see if the chemo is doing its job and diminishing the tumour. Sometimes they don't do this until further on, though, or they wait and do the surgery.... and the pathology report will tell all. Usually the grade/stage is confirmed by the surgical path report, but I don't know in the case of neoadjuvent therapy... perhaps they decide on stage based on their best estimate of tumour size at time of diagnosis. Grade reflects how aggressive the cancer is, and has to do with the nature and behaviour of the cells -- TN is almost always grade 3 - and stage is determined by the size of tumour, no. of affected lymph nodes and whether or not distant disease is present (stage 4). If you go to breastcancer.org home page, there is oodles of information on BC, including how these things are determined. 

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited August 2012

    Thanks so much Luah, you have been so helpful! Weirdly enough my breast feels tender while I'm going about my daily business but when I examine myself it doesn't feel as tender as I expect it to, is that just plain weird? Steroids have taken their toll on me at the minute, am up half the night, can't take any relaxers due to pregnancy, which has decided to now hit me with heartburn, ick! Hope you're well x

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