Calling all TNs

Jianchi,

My onc said it made no difference in effective treatment whether you have chemo before or after. I chose before because I wanted to know if the cancer shrank. I had the kind of tumors (4) that could not be felt. They were strait ions rather than lumps.

I had mixed feelings when my post chemo post mastectomy results came back. The chemo had killed over 80 per cent of the cancer cells biopsied before and after. That was good news but not the Holy Grail of this protocol--a pathologically complete result.

So, there was some disappointment and worry there because of data I wouldn't have had if I had done surgery first. But I'm one of those people who do better with complete info even if the info is not wholly positive.

So, in the end, it's a personal decision, according to my onc. I hate all the uncertainty still in cancer treatment. I thought we'd be further along in the "war on cancer"!

Hugs,

Peggy

Kathy's surgery was a smashing success! No surprises! No complications! Minimal blood loss. Doc saw no signs of cancer anywhere (but still needs to be confirmed by lab). Bilateral Salpingo oophorectomy and hysterectomy using Da Vinci robot. She spent the night in ICU (ICU is just the doc's preference. He told us she would be there before the operation) and is home and resting. Only real discomfort is cramping. Next stop, reconstruction exchange surgery. Then by the grace of God this will all hopefully be in the rear view mirror. Lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Can't wait for New Year's Eve to kiss this year goodbye!

ALH great news about Kathy. Another down and one to go. Have a great thanksgiving.

Marsha,

I am so sorry for all the complications in treatment you've been through! Treatment of BC is difficult enough without having allergies to the chemo and then having to opt for something else that also caused more problems. I was able to finish chemo but was so sick for the first 2 months all I could do was lay on the couch.

Are you going to get radiation once your current health problems are cleared?

I know women doing well with surgery and radiation and no chemo. Your tumor is. Very small.

A healthy diet and exercise will go a long way too.

BTW, I love your yoga pose! I post a lot. And would like if you posted more often. It's nice to know how people are doing and your unique experiences could help other women. In any case good to hear from you today!

Hugs,

Peggy

Lookingforward66-sending prayers and hugs your way...

Hi everyone!

I had my 3 month checkup today and it started out fine. First had a bone density scan, then a chest xray, of course it was a young male tech and I had to take my bra/boobs off. I felt very insecure but he was of course professional ( I still had on my tee shirt), then on to labs, had to wait quite awhile. Then to my mo's office, which I was 15 minutes early. This is the second time to see her, my other mo retired. My last mo I always had to wait a minimum of 1 hour, usually 3 to 4 hours for my appointment, no joke he consistently ran that late. Well, today after waiting 40 minutes plus the 15 minutes from being early, I totally had a panic/anxiety attack. I just did not want to sit in a doctor's office one minute longer, I had it! I asked the receptionist how much longer and he did not know but said it would most likely be awhile. I asked him if he could please just have my doc call or email my xray and lab results and told him I was leaving. And I left. Does anybody's doctor run somewhat on time? I was hopeful with a new doc I would have a chance of having a doc that would at least only be 30 minutes late, but the first time I saw her I had to wait 90 minutes and it is looking like this is an ongoing thing for her too. I really like her but I have way too much anxiety to be waiting in an office for that long. Am I being unreasonable? Should I look for another doc? I loved my last mo, but so many hours I lost sitting in that darn waiting room, I just don't want to continue that pattern. For years I took my dad to his mo appointments, waiting, waiting waiting, and his doc was better about not running hours late, but was usually was at least 30 min late, and now with this being my second time around with cancer I just don't want to spend that much time at appointments. I HATE CANCER! I hate what it has done to me. I hate that it has killed so many of our friends here online and has killed both my parents, my nephew, my best friend, 2 of my aunts and so many others, way before their time. I hate that it is probably going to kill me, but I hate more about how it has forced me into this life revolved around doctor appointments and constant worry about it coming back. I should delete this post, but I feel like many of you will understand.

BAK I totally understand it as well. Nothing makes me more mad than waiting in a doctor's waiting room for hours. Every time I go to my Doc she keeps me waiting at least an hour. It brasses me off something rotten. Sure emergencies comes up and that's fair enough but every time!!! Why the hell do they give you a time, what is the point of an "appointment" not only that I think it's really damn rude to keep somebody waiting that is paying you. I hope they do ring you back. The last time I went my appointment was supposedly at 10.00am but I finally got out at 11.50. I don't think you are being unreasonable at all but I think if you like her might be better to stay because some other doctor will only do the same. Yep I get the I hate cancer too. I try not to let it destroy my life and people say forget the 'what if's' but they are always there, some days worse than others. Just keep on going as best you can girl and you will get there.

Friggin hell BAK. You have every right to have an explanation of anything that shows up on your tests. As far as I know linear opacity is a benign condition and nothing to worry about but with borderline cardiomegaly I would be asking my doctor for a referral to a cardiologist for a CT scan. If he bulks at that I would be reminding him that you have a right to know everything that is going on with your body and that you should have been informed of it by him. I was warned by my Radiaton Oncologist that with radiation it can irritate a small part of the heart and lungs if you have treatment on the left side and it can cause inflammation of those areas. She said they do their very best to avoid those areas but it sometimes happens. It probably won't be anything for you to worry about but hearing that from a cardiologist would be much better and put your mind at ease.

Hi All,

I've only posted here a couple times, but I was having a particularly bad day and came here to just read the last couple days of posting on this thread. I'm on #10 of 12 taxol then will have AC before surgery and radiation. I'm been really down about how what at crapshoot it is with TNBC and survival. It's helped me to read this thread today and other people's thoughts about the same thing. It helps me to know that I'm not alone in my fears and frustrations, and all I can do is just keep on keeping on. Most of the time, I can stay somewhat upbeat, but it seems like somewhere around day two or three post chemo, I tend to really crash and get depressed. I've kind of learned that I just need to go to bed and sleep it off or veg out in front of the TV if I can't sleep until the worst of it passes. I hate TNBC.

Thanks Kruise. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. What a shock....it was helpful that you shared it to help me put things in context. I appreciate your kind words.

Simplelife- Kruise and Titan are so right. Some days are just tough, no matter how upbeat you are. Are they giving you steroids? I always had a crash day or more after the steroids would wear off. It sounds perfect that you go to bed or veg when feeling like that, you need your rest. It will get better. I was like Titan, I did way better on AC than on taxol, so maybe you will too and you are getting the worst part over first.

Titan and Cocker-Thank you, I always feel a bit embarrassed after I go on one of my rants! It is strange nobody told me this stuff though. I had a muga scan of my heart before every ac treatment and I had one before my bmx and everyone said my heart was fine, they also did many ekg's and I had a stress test when I was done with treatment. Nothing ever mentioned. I forgot about all those tests I had. I am pretty sure the stress test was after the xray that says I have an enlarged heart. I will probably call my primary doc and have her refer me to a cardiologist. Do you think that is the right doc? My MO is just so busy, she took on a lot of my retired doc's patients and she was already busy before and she does not work a full schedule.

On a positive note, we got together with my brother and sisters, niece and great niece for my great niece and my birthday (early for my bday) and we had a great time. My niece got engaged this week and seems so happy and I really like her fiancé! I got my great niece, who is ten a really cute charm bracelet and my hubby got me a matching one! She was so excited! My niece has the best kids ever! Unfortunately my 12 year old great nephew couldn't make it, he was in a basketball tourney that lasted longer than expected. I just love those kids, I never had children and I just feel so fortunate to have them in my life!

Tomorrow is mammo time on righty. 11am. Nerves are gradually creeping in. It is only next door to our surgery so not far to go and they have an experienced radiologist who can tell me straight away if he see's anything. Nice to know not long to wait for a change.

BAK don't ever be embarrassed. My God if anyone rants on here its me. It makes my day to see your posts. This is what we are here for as you are for us. I think my Doc would refer me to a cardiologist but Titan might be able to answer you better as I am not in your country and don't know your system.

Glad you had a great time with your family. So sorry you never had children of your own but its also nice you can give them back when you need to and sometimes when my girls were small I would like to have given mine back at times!!!. Also your beautiful dog on your avatar can make up for children. He/she is gorgeous.

That is amazing and very encouraging that you went for 11 years before a recurrence. Now you will go on for another 11 years (or more). I think that will give us girls a boost on here more than anything else so thank you for that.

Kruise everything you say is spot on but that was a terrible thing to happen to your friends friend. You just never know. Live for today and take joy out of every little thing like BAK's 11 years.

Kruise, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. That is a horrible shock.

Bak, It's good to see you here. I'm not on here much lately, but stop in and read every now and then.

Simplelife, you are really close to me! I am in Chattanooga. I was originally diagnosed triple negative but after my neoadjuvant chemo they found a low level of ER receptors so I take tamoxifen. I was stage 2b also and didn't have a good response to the neoadjuvant chemo, but I am still here, almost 3 years post diagnosis. Hang in there. Like BAK said, the steroids cause a crash a couple days afterward. I had to constantly remind myself that my perspective was gloomier than normal those few days because of chemical disruption within my body.

Hi to all,

For my update since my appt this morning with my MO. No direct felt lumps or pain symptoms but PET scan is scheduled as my low B12 levels & continued weight loss the reason. So now I wait until the 20th for the scan then get appt the following Monday for results. Can't have CT scan as not able to take the iodine contrast meds. All my allergies do make it difficult to get some tests done.

My MO wants me to add the the cancer antigen test to my blood work from now on. CA 27.29

This is added to my current cancer antigen tests of:

CEA

CA 15-3

CA 125

Do any if you get any different tests done?

She also wants my thyroid checked. So now for my next hurdles.

Take care all I trying to keep it together.

Marsha