TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Ashla- I just went to a breat cancer support group and I got the name of a plastic microsurgeon at MD Anderson in Texas that he is doing this surgery. The PS speaker at the group that night told me. So exciting!

Lago ...great diagram! Now I know what everyone is talking about axillary.....I thought they were ALL under the arm!

Forever- it looks like we have very similar diagnoses and timetable. My surgery is currently looking to be end of Feb or beginning of March. I am on same treatment as you, with the addition of Tykerb, for twelve weeks once a week (halfway through!! Yay!). Then on to AC for 12 weeks, every 3 weeks I think. Then surgery.



I brought the ALND issue up to my BS the first time I met with her and she said it was absolutely necessary. They have biopsies one of my lymph nodes and it was malignant. The scans showed at least 4 lymph nodes involved. Maybe that makes a difference? By the time of my surgery, though, the cancer may be undetectable anywhere. ("a complete something response" they call it) Even then, she said, they would all need to come out because she said there could be traces that just aren't being picked up on the scans. ???



I was not prepared with my research at the time, but you bet I'm gonna be the next time. I have 5 kids under age 10, most of which still like to be picked up, among the dozens of other lifting I do all day every day for my kids and family. I am pretty sure I would completely fail at keeping LE at bay.



Good news is I have another breast MRI this coming Monday to see if the meds are working. My tumor, even though it is massive - the size of a Twinkie- has never been palpable. Nor can it be seen on mammo or ultrasound. Just MRI. So I have had no way of feeling it to see if it's shrinking. I am praying we're moving in the right direction!!

Jenn you sound happy. Sounds like you're doing great just give yourself time to heal. I didn't do TRAM and I needed a several weeks to feel better

And if you find a doctor that says they don't feel comfortable with study results please know that studies like Z11 give us statistical proofs which override the personal views of surgeons. Surgeons are human like the rest of us and some resist change just like the rest of us.



In approaching my drs I have always asked them "what do the studies say" or "what do the statistics show" rather than "what is your opinion" or "what do you think". Working in cancer clinical research myself I am very stats driven and will go with stats rather than a doctor's "personal experience" every time.



I had lost sight of that when I was initially talked out of the BMX I wanted - if I had stuck with the recurrence stats the BMX would have been the sensible option right from the start ie: lump/rads still leaves a higher statistical likelihood of local recurrence than BMX.



Jenn

Rozem I had only level I removed. The thing I'm not sure is if this diagram shows all the lymph nodes in this area. I don't know if there are more associated with the breast or if these are it. I also don't think they are able to remove some of those nodes… go to the source linky and print out the page and ask your BS to explain it to you. Also you need to know what they mean by "small tumor". I anything over 5cm is not small but not sure what size the study refers to. Best to print out that study too.

I am triple positive Stage 3 grade 3. I have completed chemo and am about to start radiation! Had mastectomy in may!

Thank you!! 

krifit37 Mastectomy done, Chemo done, now rads. You're are getting closer to the finish line. Yay!

Welcome krifit37. 

You'll find great information and great friends here.

Shore:  I didn't drink Green Tea during chemo because I was told it fights with the chemo but I'm drinking it now.

Welcome krifit37--wow u'r on u'r way. How are u feelin now? U will find so many amazing people here and knowledgeable (not me) but u can feel comfortable asking or telling whatever u'd like and someone will know believe me. (not me) I'm on alot but I just try to learn from everyone, I'm old and slow and can't type but I still come by. These ladies are so nice so this is a great support place to come.

Cam-you make me laugh! Thank you. This week, I need it. My friends and family keep asking 'so, how are you doing.' I respond back, ' oh great! They are are going to slice my chest open, push a port in, and then pump toxins into me the next day. But yeah, I'm fine.' I know they mean well, but distract me, make me laugh! So, thank you Cam, today I laughed.

Welcome krift! These ladies are wonderful. Every so often, I put my two cents in, but really, I'm with cam, theses ladies are teaching me.

Lago- so no antioxidants at all?

Hi everyone!  Kayb invited me to come hang out here as a triple positive gal.

I have a question--I found out about the cancer on September 26th and didn't cry much, just when I talked to my mother on the phone.  I haven't really cried at all.  I'm not mad either, just kind of resigned, like let's get this over with.

This morning I threw up after I woke up.  I do have a tendency to take stress out on my GI tract, but I don't ever throw up.  Think that is just nerves and bottled-up emotion?  I'm a scientist and I know I can be a little too stoic sometimes. 

How did you all react in those early weeks?  I tell you, I have been very scared as the diagnosis and treatment plan is all falling into place.

Welcome pbrain!  kayb - you said it well.  Keep a little notebook of stuff, questions, appt cards, symptoms, whatever is on your mind write it down so you don't have to remember to remember it.