Calling all TNs

I'm still not too old to look................................. at the ocean

I have stared for quite a while and there is no damn ocean in that pic...cocker you are trying to decieve us all...that is however a very fine specimin of the male species and one spectacular arse!

Maggie

Hi ladies, I just want to check in with you all. Today is my 1 year cancerversary. I'm scheduled for a CT scan next month but right now things look great! You all have been an amazing support group!

OBXK - Sending you more ((hugs)). I'm so sorry to hear that.

On the speed of our frickin TN tumors - I had a mammo in October 2010, then a gyn appointment the first week of July 2011, when I know he did a good check because I thought I had felt something on my left side, which turned out to be nothing. One week later - slam - there was a bump on my right side. I assume that's when it first went from DCIS to IDC. Aug biopsy sized it at 1.7 cm, by my late October surgery it was over 3 cm. All three surgeons I went to for opinions, when I wanted things sped up, said 'prognosis doesn't change within a three month window.' I don't understand why they could make such a blanket statement when we already know how aggressive TN is...

I'm off for a D&C/hysteroscopy tomorrow. Hope the polyps are nothing. 

Spica16 - Thank you so much for the very clear explanation.  Wow! what an amazing job you have.  You have my admiration.  Now I understand.  I swear, I used to call the lab and question the receptionist and couldn't understand at all.  Now I do.  Sounds like such a long tedious process.

Englishrose - My path report reads as follows:  Immunohistochemical tests for estrogen and progesterone receptors were performed by manual morphometry on block B2.

The test for estrogen receptors is negative.  There is 2+ nuclear staining in rare tumor cells, but in less than 1% of tumor cells.  Internal positive control is positive.

The test for progesterone receptors is weakly positive.  There is 2+ nuclear staining in 5% of tumor cells.  internal positive control is positive.

HER2 test: the invasive carcinoma is negative for HER2 oncoprotein over-expression.

Received from John Muir Medical Center:  - 32 slides, 1 block, SUR-10-8393, procedure date 7/27/2010.

My Oncologist told me that I am basically a triple negative, however, they did believe that any amount of positivity, no matter how small, should be treated as a hormone positive cancer. Let me know if I can tell you more out of my reports.

Navymom and Sugar-Thank you so much for welcoming to this thread. I sure wish none of us had to be here, but I'm grateful for your support.

Cocker Spaniel-Loved the oceanview!

Inmate-Wow, words cannot convey how much I appreciate you spending the time to write to me. I have been following this thread for a bit, and I know you have been having a tough time lately, so THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for reaching out to me. I live in California; yes, medical marijuana is legal here. I have printed out the studies regarding the benefits of CBD compound in pot to present to my oncologist. She's pretty conservative, so I'm not sure what her reaction will be...but the worst she can say is no, right? Then I may go the route of the alternative practitioners to get a prescription. Good to know the edible stuff works for you. That's probably what I would go for, but definitely looking for low THC. Don't want to be getting high in front of my teenagers! I'll take a look at stickyguide.com. This is a whole new world for me!

I've heard that chemo can change your vision...I sure as heck can't see the ocean!

Luah-Thanks for the welcome and for reading the article about medical marijuana.

Quote from it: A growing body of early research shows a compound found in marijuana - one that does not produce the plant's psychotropic high - seems to have the ability to "turn off" the activity of a gene responsible for metastasis in breast and other types of cancers...deciding to concentrate their research on metastatic cells of a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer called "triple negative."

Inmate- send me some brownies

CS...what ocean????   LOL.

TLYM....Go for it!   Lots of women on BCO believe heavily in the advantages of adding supplements to their current treatment regimen.  Vitamins and Herbals and the like.  IMO  if doing something, taking something or whatever it is, makes you feel like you are actively trying kill the beast or keep it away, then it can be a good thing. especially if it helps you feel better.  Problem is, it takes such a long time for research to be completed and for results to be published.....

And while on the topic of research.....Just want say thank you to all those who are participating in current trials.  Without people like you, the rest of us and those before us would not be where we are today.

(((OBXK)))- I hate this disease.. I agree with all we need a circle hug..

I had my first mammo since completing treatment on my birthday, day before yesterday- I go the all clear.

Inmate- Good info and glad to see you checking in. My State does not have medical marijuana, but the state next to us does. There was a huge article in the paper regarding this and those of us Idaho'ns traveling across state lines to get meds. I have read and re-read the articles regarding the oil, and what it can do. I just wish every state had the same rules.

Spica- thank you for that down to earth explanation, and I agree with others, wow what a interesting and great job you have.

Cocker- I do not see any ocean, nor do I see a head on that ass.. yowzers

Cocker--full on belly laugh! Yes, rotate 180 degrees please...

Thanks Christina, Lovelyface and Sylvia for the information.  I love this group.  You're amazing.

So, had my meeting with the oncologist yesterday and went in with reams of paper, sections underlined, notes in the margin, list of questions at hand.  I'm sure I saw him let out a discrete sigh as I pulled all my research out of my bag! We went through the pathology report in detail and I think I understand as much of the content as I ever will.  We talked alot about the PR status.  This information came in a separate test afterwards and was listed as "3/4". Even my oncologist didn't know exactly what this meant since here they score ER/PR status out of 8 (my ER status was 0/8).  So, does this mean 3.5/8, or 6/8? He is confirming this with the Pathology Dept.

In any case, his view was that whatever it is "there's definitely something there" and this warrants a discussion about hormonal treatment.  Since many strongly ER+ people who take this don't benefit, the chances that I will would be even less, but we agreed that anything's worth a shot. If the side effects are particularly bad, he said he'd be more inclined to take me off it, weighing risks and potential benefits.  He said that it is unusual to be ER-/PR+ and confirmed that it's only about 3% of all BCs.  Lucky me! I asked him about re-testing and he was adamant that the guidelines over here were such that a false result would be highly unlikely. I may have to just trust him on that.

I was also wondering if anyone here knows anything about aspirin as helpful in preventing recurrence. I've seen a few studies that imply that it helps. Grasping at straws, I know...

Starting the Taxotere portion of my chemo next week. Not looking forward to it. The steroids that I've had for the first three have made me a crazy woman--apparently they double the dosage for the Taxotere. I've told my husband to buy some kevlar...it's going to be ugly!