Calling all TNs

My BS first suggested a lx on my first visit with her. We were going from an ultrasound and a more thorough mammogram on my left breast, which showed the tumor as about 2.9cm. Then she ordered an mri and decided from it that the tumor was larger than we first thought so she suggested either a mastectomy or chemo to try to shrink it down to a size that the lx might work. I opted for a mastectomy because my breasts were already pretty small and I really didn't feel safe waiting for the months that it would take to do chemo, just to later find out it didn't work as expected and then I would be in real trouble. She also sent off the oncotype test at that time. So I had an expander in place and was up to my very last expansion when the onco came back that I'm actually a TN. So everything has been put on hold and I got my brand new port today. I will start on chemo next Tuesday, thanks to a post on here about leaving the port insertion plenty of time to heal before chemo! (Thank you!!) Once they actually had the tumor it turned out that the invasive part of it was 2.9cm but there was actually another 1.4cm of less invasive cancerous material around it, so the mx turned out to be a very good decision. If I had known when I had the left mx that I was TN I most likely would have had them do the other one, too, just to be sure. I almost did anyway, but decided not to.

Good luck to everyone with all procedures and operations coming up and thank you so much to everyone on here for offering support and encouragement to women who REALLY need it at this time.

teresa008 I had chemo the day after my port was inserted. They gave me an Emla patch to put on an hour beforehand and I never felt a thing.  Hope everything goes well for you. Big hugs.  

There are so many I could have sent you Titan to make you laugh but this one tickles me every time.

I will make it my aim for a "Cheer up Titan" week.  I know what you mean about March. Every time I sit at this computer and look out the window it's like going back a year and gives me a funny unpleasant feeling. Roll on next Wednesday and we'll party, party.

21 days until my last chemo!!!!

Love that picture, Cocker. 

Congrats to you Titan.  Celebrate, celebrate and celebrate some more!!

My 2 cents on the current discussion:

At the time of my DX, I also was given the choice of LX, UniMX or BMX.  With the understanding that any surgery that I chose along with appropriate chemo/rads, would all have the same stats for survival.  I am grateful that I had a choice.  And I am comfortable with it.   And I believe that is the key....to feel as good as possible about your options and your choices.

In memory of our lost sisters:  The best thing that happened to me today: A skype call from my Navyson.  Its been 3 weeks since we talked and he looked wonderful to this mom's eyes!

A request to please pray for the world's leaders to make good choices and that our military personel stay safe and can all return to their families.  Thanks

OBXK..Good luck tomorrow. What type of chemo are you having?

Karen - bugger.  Will they use it or will they try and find a vein.  Do you put some numbing cream on first? How are you with this combination chemo.  What side effects do you get.  Is it the same as your first lot?  Thinking of you for tomorrow and sending big hugs.  

OBXK, good luck today.  Hoping for healing on that port scar.

Welcome to the new gals.  Glad you found us, sad that you even had to look for us.

I saw my BS for a 6 mo check up on March 4.  Good to go except for some axillary scar tissue.  So I am back in breast PT  for a few sessions.   

Have a good day everyone.

syl58: Just wanted to reply to the very important point you raised about mets. I am not aware of research looking at Lx versus Mx for mets occurence; however, there are plenty of studies that show overall survival for Lx + rads being equivalent Mx (with or without rads)... this clearly relates to mets because as my BS said, "no one dies of cancer in the breast."

So mets of course are the big worry... and unfortunately the patterns of recurrence for TN show that it is more likely than ER+ BC to recur as mets and in soft tissue. That's why chemo (being systemic to control risk of mets) is such an important part of our treatment. That said, the vast majority of women with TN don't recur - and it's important to remember that!  

I wish you well with your decision-making and treatment.We're all here for you.

Karen: Sending a gentle hug today as you go through chemo. 

Hi NavyMom - just got back from chemo, I've had a bit of a rough time.  I did a couple cycles of carbo and it did absolutely nothing - my tumor markers doubled.  So we switched to gemzar, I had one cycle that affected my blood counts enough that the next week I got a half dose.  Last Wednesday my counts were so bad I needed two units of blood.  I felt lots better after that.  Today's and future treatments will be at 50%.  I do think it is working as the cough I was having is completely gone.  If this works, it will be the first one in a year.  I'm having a scan after this cycle and I'll find out my tumor markers on Friday.

In the meantime, we are flying to Phoenix next Wednesday night so that DH can meet up with some golf buddies and have some fun.  He deserves it!  I will be hanging out by the pool while he's playing and then we'll get together in the evening for dinner with the guys.

You gotta love Skype!

At the end of January, 2013, results were posted in many different journals, papers, etc. about the latest results of mastectomy vs. lumpectomy in early cancers.  If you google same you will find all the abstracts and reports.  They are seeing much less recurrence in those having chose lumpectomy over mastectomy.  I am posting the Medscape report here for all to peruse:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778276

Minxie - yah to those dopey moments!!!

I had a cold a few months ago - JUST LIKE EVERYONE I knew - I was just being NORMAL!!!

I had an even more dopey moment... My hair has grown back and is healthy, but the first time I saw loose strands...OH NO, NOT AGAIN!!!!!!!!

DUH - we normally lose about a 100 hairs a day.

At least we can laugh about it now ~ Shar

Morning ladies good to see LUV and Minxie posting. 

All I can say Minxie is thank god for the flu though not something we would normally thank him for!! 

LUV so sorry you are having a hard time but I am sure this will kick that cancer hard.  Just hang in there girl and enjoy your time away in Pheonix.

LRM its a bugger about the last paragraph of your post.  Keeping my fingers crossed. 

Spica my hair is still short.  Not sure I've got enough for 100 hairs to fall out each day lol.

Karen hope you are ok and your port has healed nicely.  Thinking of you today.

Onvacation thank god for small lump, no nodes and clear margin.  Great news.

No cleaning left to do so unsure what to do with myself.  Just don't fancy doing too much today.  Might go and see my old fellar and my daughter at the cafe and try and scrounge lunch.

Big hugs to all.  Luv Annie   

I don't talk housework because I'm not really interested in it. Plus I'm in the fortunate position that I have someone come and clean, just 3 hours every two weeks. Now ironing is another matter. I'm a good ironer and iron every week. That is not typical in the US.

(But I wish I know how to get rid of the hard water stains on my shower glass.)