Chemo for triple negative breast cancer

There are a lot of gals in here with TNBC and very few that have not gone through chemo. Since, as I'm sure you know, there is no targeted therapy for TNBC beyond chemo and rads most women want to throw everything they can at it to improve their odds at survival.

It's late, and I'm not one for lengthy post writing but I'm sure others will chime in soon. I would never attempt to argue the "quality vs. quantity" discussion with anyone. I know what I want---- quantity, no doubt about it.

I breezed through chemo, but it is different for everyone.

Ladies--- this thread has not generated the replies I'd expected. Why don't you mosey on over to the "Calling all TNS" thread where most of us TNBC gals hang out? LOTS of good support there!

lilyrose---Just wanted to add to what the other ladies have posted.  I was told that I had a 30% chance of a recurrence if I did not do the chemo.  With chemo, I could cut that down by half.  It was a no-brainer for me---I had the chemo. 

I'd also like to point out that your % of a recurrence would probably be a little higher as you had 2 neg. nodes----I didn't have any.  I would guess that you would be closer to dawn31337's %.  But only your oncologist would be able to give you a more accurate estimate for you. I'm surprised that he/she hasn't already done so.  Perhaps you haven't talked to an oncologist yet?

With node involvement, though, it would be wise to have the chemo just in case a piece might have broken off and is traveling in your blood system. The bad thing about trip neg is that it is a very aggressive and fast growing cancer and the chemo is the only thing we have to fight it. 

The chemo for early stage bc is quite doable. It's certainly not as intensive as Stage 3 or 4. You're only 'pumped up with poisons' for a very short time---a few months (maybe 6 w/node involvement) and you don't get it everyday for that entire length of time.  I had 4 rounds of chemo during a 3-month period and I'd have to say that I was 'under the weather' a total of less than a couple weeks spread out over that 3-month period.  I don't feel that I lost any quality of life.  Not anymore so than if you had the flu or a bad cold for a few weeks. It did give me a bit of relief knowing that I've done everything I can right now to prevent a recurrence. 

I'm assuming that the 'mets' you refer to in your bio are the node involvement? Because you couldn't be a Stage IIb if you had mets.

To be honest with you, if I had a positive receptor, being that I was early stage, I highly doubt that I would have had the chemo. But with trip neg, there's just no choice---not for me anyway.

You might want to check out the National Cancer Institute SEER stats. Here's a link to it:   http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.htm   Perhaps you'll find what you're looking for here. But remember that these stats are based on old data from a few years back. There have been advances made in chemo drugs which may affect these stats. 

Good luck in your decision. Please let us know what you decide. There are lots of women on this board that will help you get thru the chemo if you chose that route.  

I was cured with chemo. Let me repeat, I was cured with chemo. I had six months of chemo first and then my mastectomy and at the time of my mastectomy there was no disease found. It killed all of the cancer that was in my breast and there was quite a bit of it too.



Ive read that since I had no evidence of disease at the time of surgery that my odds are pretty great for survival. Chemo wasn't too bad and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I too am triple negative and hit my third anniversary since diagnose February 23rd.  My oncologist was a strong proponent of hitting it as aggressively as possible.  Let me also add that I was 62 at diagnose, totally healthy other than the BC (that sure sounds stupid!) - a widow raising my then 14 year old grand-daughter and work full time to support us.  I had 4 DD A/C, one taxol (instant neuropathy) and switched to 3 more rounds of taxotere.  Unfortunately for me, unlike others that have posted - I had one hell of a time with the chemo.  It was a nasty ride for me, but I was able to work throughout it all other than my day of infusion.  Had it on a thursday, went for Neulasta shot friday a.m. prior to work, and felt like crappola over the weekend, but managed to drag myself in to work on Monday.  It was not a pleasant trip for me, however, I am forever thankful I did it.  While there are no guarantees that you will never see it progress or recur, I can't imagine being triple negative and not hitting it with everything possible.  I will repeat what I wrote above once again and also stress the importance that you can't go back and re-do.  You only have this one shot at kicking this beast to the curb, please realize that.  I respect your right to make whatever decision you choose for yourself, but just wanted to give my opinion being a triple neg myself.  Good luck and God bless,

Linda

P.S, yes, please come on over to the triple neg "calling all TN's" - a wonderful group of women that will be by your side no matter what your choice.

Anamerty,



I am triple negative Stage 1 to my MO, stage 2 to my BS. In any case, I was told, after chemo and bilateral mastectomy, that I too have a 20% chance of recurrence.



It seems to me I've seen this 20% figure in a few forums by women quoting their doctors. In my readings, the research on tnbc started not too long ago. The majority of clinical trials are for women who are stage IV (which makes sense given that if or when one reaches that stage the researchers need to come up with drugs to save or greatly extend your life ASAP).



I my opinion, given the relative lack of data for stage 1 and 2 tnbcs, this risk of 20% recurrence stat is old news being recited because they don't have new data on early stage tnbc, just like they don't have much new in the way of chemo for us.



I have decided not to waste my time worrying about recurrence that may never happen to me.I have had aggressive treatment and I am eating a plant based diet and am exercising daily. The diet and exercise many tnbcs consider as our substitute for the tamoxifen our estrogen positive sisters get after they are finished with chemo, surgery, rads, etc.



The hell with the 20% scare. When NEW research is able to predict who is going to be in what percentage of risk in early stage tnbc, I'll rethink it. But for now I am going to assume that my treatment and post-treatment lifestyle changes have stopped my cancer in its tracks.



Just my opinion but I hope it helps.



Peggy