Calling all TNs

cocker....now that's a lap dog!  I want one.......can you talk to my hubby for me??

Born......That just made my heart a little lighter.  Thank you for that.  Especially today.  I think I could have ripped the head off any slow moving living thing today.  Slow moving only because I'm so dragass.  God help me and those around me within arms length.

Luv.....It is a bit mind boggling isn't it?  Did you also check out the vaccine trial.  I believe it's heading into phase 2 right now.  I thought I saw they were doing it in Chicago as well as Seattle, but if not you can always stay here.  As a matter of fact if you end up looking at a trial in this area and it fits your needs, please don't hesitate to tell me your move in date and I will put fresh sheets on the bed and flowers on the nightstand.

Oh Mags.......I'm sorry that sucks.  You can get it bilaterally.  Seriously?  Ugh.....this cancer fucking onion just has tears and surprises with each layer.  

Oh and have I mentioned I've turned into some kind of O'douls swilling potty mouthed longshoreman.  I could embarass the paint off of a brothel with my language right now.  I must say some of the looks I've gotten have made me laugh.  I will take the chuckles wherever and whenever I can get them these days.

Again ladies, I would seriously be in the loonie bin if it were not for you all.  I will now go try to medicate my way closer to sanity.  Wish me luck!

Has anyone heard from Minxie? 

A Scotsman, an Englishman and an Irishman want to get into the Olympics but they haven't got tickets. The Scotsman picks up a manhole-cover, tucks it under his arm and walks to the gate. "McTavish, Scotland" he says, "Discus", and in he walks. The Englishman picks up a length of scaffolding and slings it over his shoulder. "Waddington-Smythe, England," he says, "Pole vault," and in he walks. The Irishman looks around, picks up a roll of barbed wire and tucks it under his arm. "O'Malley, Ireland," he says, "Fencing."

Can I join in on the hug?? Enough is enough!!! Inmate keep pushing my sister keep pushing.

CS-thinking of you and your daughter Mandy. Things will work out and I so glad she is following up on this.

As for me I am dealing with the heat and trying to enjoy the rest of the summer. I just need a vacation this whole summer has been all work and no play. I am trying to rebuild my leave again from multiple Dr. appts.

Ok help me!! Went to see surgeon yesterday. She says that I will probably only need a lumpectomy. I need opinions from others with triple negative bc. Tell me your thoughts on lumpectomy vs mastectomy. I am IDC grade 3 and am on 38 years old. She doesn't think the cancer has spread won't know for sure until all tests are done...MRI, chest xray, pet scan, lab work, genetic testing. Any advice...I want to make the best decision.

the5owens:  Mine was 3.2cms and level 3 IDC triple negative.  I was 33 @ diagnosis and 34 now.  I opted for the double mastectomy because I knew this was the right decision for me.  I wanted to do whatever I could to try and limit the risk of it coming back.  I knew if I left a breast that I'd worry with every little twinge, pain or bump.  I never wanted to have to make the decision again about what to do and I thought it would give me a good shot.  My surgeon said he'd get all mine with a lumpectomy but the double mx was my choice.  I felt I owed it to my kids to try everything I could.  At the end of the day, it's anyone's guess about what could or will happen so I tried to control what I could in the moment. Just know that whatever you decide needs to be right for you - and will be.  It's a very tough call.  I just didn't want to look back (if it were to recurre) and said "I should have......I wish I had of".  Good luck in the decision and sorry that you even have to make that decision.

the5owens I opted for a lumpectomy based on my BS and PS's advise.

The only issue with lumpectomy is acheiving clean margins, and that cannot be known until after pathology. If margins are positive or dirty (my case) the next route will be reexcision, (not advisible in my situation) MX, or a wait and see with chemo and rads. Many have had dirty/pos margins and have fared well .

 Each case is different and only YOU can decide what you are comfortable with.

I will not know until my treatment is complete. Just another worry really.

Good luck with what ever you choose. 

Hi to everyone

I think the statistics are relatively the same for LX with rads vs MX.  As for BMX, well, that is a personal decision.  I had a LX the first time, then when it recurred I went with the BMX thinking I was going to prevent another recurrence.  But that didn't work out for me.  I think if you are BRCA 1/2 positive, then going with the BMX is an easier decision.  Bottom line - whichever gives the most peace of mind is the one that's right for you, regardless of any statistics.  I think I said this before...it either recurs or it doesn't.  I have defied every odd with my BC, in a negative way.  So statistics are just one small part of the decision.

Inmate - hope you are having a better day today!  Weren't you due for a scan?

I had my visit with my local MO today and it was kind of a "non-event" as she is deferring decisions to Dr. Chen at Dana Farber in Boston.  So I have an appointment there on Friday at 3 p.m.  She did ask me what treatment I would prefer, and I said I'd like to do the following clinical trial:

http://www.dana-farber.org/research/clinical-trials/clinical-trial.aspx?tid=2410

There are some 40 trials underway using MK-2206 including at Dana Farber and MD Anderson.  That gives me reason to think that this drug is showing some significant promise.

I asked her what she'd like to see me do if I didn't enter a trial and she said either carboplatin with Gemzar or Ixempra alone.  I am going to check out the Stage IV discussions on these options to see how well they are being tolerated.  I have an idea that Ixempra is an ass-kicker, which would be OK if it also kicks cancer's ass!

I also have to consider that we are going to Hawaii in October, and I have no plans to cancel or postpone that trip.  So any clinical trial will have to be flexible enough to work with my two weeks away, or I'll skip a clinical trial this time around, go with the carboplatin/gemzar routine and take a chemo holiday for Hawaii, get scanned when we return and hope for the best.

OMG - that is one adorable little dog!!!  I want one!!!

Kathy - your beach story is too funny!  I can picture it and see you laughing hysterically!

bornto survive    so happy for your great news!

the5owens: Here is an interesting study, albeit with limitations (it is retrospective) that suggests Lx with rads may have better outcomes in TN than Mx (without rads). http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2011/06/29/JCO.2010.33.4714.abstract?elq=4fb8490e0ed5444ab6225f74da463b8f  

On the other hand, there is a recent thread on this board with a study showing 3X risk of local recurrence with Lx over Mx - though the actual risk level is not stated (it could be quite low, who knows?). You might want to do a search to locate that discussion here.

There is also this discussion from the Ask the Experts section of BCO.org, so you can hear the medical point of view:  http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/ask_expert/2008_07/#q20

One thing I would like to clarify is that local recurrence is possible even with Mx... there is some tissue that remains... though it is uncommon. Unfortunately this disease brings no guarantees. 

In the end your surgical choice is a personal decision. For me (and my BS who I loved and trusted), Mx seemed like an overkill intervention. If the path report showed dirty margins, I'd opt for a Mx then. I did have a close 1 mm margin but that was against the chest wall and a Mx wouldn't have made any difference anyway. I did radiation of course. I didn't know my TN status until path report, and at that point, I was more keen to get on with chemo because, as my surgeon said, no one dies of cancer in the breast. And Titan is right - TN is more likely than ER+ tumours to recur somewhere distant.

That was my logic, but this decision can also be emotionally charged, and you need to listen to your heart as well as your head.   

Inmate - Cancer does suck! Your recent test results are distressing but let's hope they find the right cocktail for you! Sending you strength and attitude - kick cancer's ass!

(((Inmate))) - so sorry you got such sucky news. You've put up such a good fight and the FC just doesn't play fair!  When you're ready, and if you have the energy for additional discussion threads, please join us over on the Metastatic/Stage IV forum. I think there is a thread somewhere dedicated to Ixempra.  You've certainly got the right attitude along with courage, and strength. 

CS or anyone else - do you know what kind of dog is in that picture? I'm obsessed and I want one just like it. I've been talking about getting a dog for quite a while. And I think the time will be right after we get back from our trip in October. I love small, cuddly dogs and that little girl puppy is irresistable.

Crap, inmate, so wish it had been better news. You and your docs are so good at staying on top of things... I'm hopeful you can get ahead of the little bugger with the right treatment and kick it to the curb. 

ditto sugar's mesage