Calling all TNs

I know sometimes this is hard to take but if we look around we find something to help us go on.

I agree, Cocker!  Sometimes we need to be reminded.  Today my oldest daughter stopped by with a big container of homemade chicken noodle soup, and brought her youngest children along.  So I got to see my newest (5 weeks old) granddaughter today!  That sure brightened me up!

ALHusband - great news for you and your wife!  We love hearing the good stuff here.

Bluebird- hope things continue to look up for you!

Hugs to all,  lilyrose

Great news ALHusband. Mompy sorry to see you  here but glad you found us.  I remember being where you are just a few short months ago.  I cried the first time I read about TNBC.also. Hello to everyone out there this morning. I am doing Taxol weekly and I am so tired lately. I am a diabetic and I am going to ask my PCP for metformin.  Last time she ask me and I told her I think so let me check into it and it sounds vague but why not.

Yes Simple, I am so glad for you. Go girl!,

Jianchi,

When I had an MRI last year, I wanted to get closure on a piece of scar tissue, that my PS, Onc and BS thought was probably scar tissue.  The MRI with DWI (diffusion weighted imaging) came back a birads 3 (probably benign) and the breast surgeon's office told me to come back in 4 months for a follow-up ultrasound.  I then posted a question online to John Hopkins to see what % of birads 3 comes back as malignant. I read their answer, and I decided for me, that I didn't want to have to go through the uncertainty of not knowing for 4 months. All I could think of is 4 months is a long time that, if it were something, had a lot of time to shed non-healthy cells. I then followed-up and asked John Hopkins if it's reasonable to request a biopsy at this time and they responded that yes it was.

I approached my PS for assistance, because I knew the other members of my team felt confident on the wait, but I was not confident to wait 4 months. I was in a unique position though, because I was having my implants exchanged very soon after that MRI, so I asked if he could just remove this at the time of surgery.  He originally said he would do a biopsy, and then I asked can't we just remove it, you're going to be right there.  He removed 5 lumps during the surgery of where I had felt little things near base of implants (non-visible), he sent all to lab and results were non-malignant.

Is biopsy the only option? Are you able to get an MRI with DWI? Diffusion weighted MRIs are considered to have an advantage in certain cases, by preventing false positives and preventing unnecessary biopsies. The MRI technician said my Radiologist adds this to all the MRI orders for patients coming through with a prior history of breast cancer.

When I was going through this, these are the questions I asked myself:

• What are the % it could be something serious
• Can I personally handle the waiting, the delay, for a more finite answer
• What procedure will I have done to resolve this matter (ie: a biopsy or removal, different type of surveillance, etc.)
• If I wait and it comes back as something, how would I respond knowing I didn't have this procedure or surveillance done sooner
• What does my gut or instinct tell me?

In your particular case, I would also consider your personal background.  Have you had cysts before?  If not, ask how are cysts developed? When was your last surveillance? Can they compare the prior u/s to this u/s in regards to this specific location?

I wish you the best and soon your breast surgeon will provide more information. Try not to let your mind wander, as you go through this - your team is very talented and has a lot of information about your case that we don't see.  Positive thinking and deep breaths!  Sending you a big hug wrapped in chocolate!  

-John Hopkins Breast Cancer Center has a free question-and-answer service, and they provide answers to a wide range of topics from symptoms of breast cancer, to breast cancer diagnosis, question about breast cancer risk, mastectomy, radiation and many other topics. Ask An Expert: John Hopkins Breast Cancer: http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/services/ask_ex...

BanR, that's exactly how we found out my lump was not a cyst, by a FNA.  After I found my suspicious lump, the mammogram showed nothing and the u/s verified the lump but breast cancer was not ruled in or not - they needed more info.  Talked to Radiologist, and he set me up for a cyst aspiration 2 days later, we were all going in hopeful it was a cyst. During that cyst aspiration process, when nothing would drain, he went right into prepping me for a biopsy and we did it right then, no additional appointment needed. For my cyst aspiration procedure, they inserted a needle using imaging to guide them, and tried to extract fluid which would have been sent to pathology, even if it had successfully been drained.

Jianchi BanR is right an FNA is an easier procedure.  An FNA is a fine needle aspiration which is done under an ultrasound guided  biopsy.  A thin needle is inserted into the mass for sampling and it often avoids a surgical excision biopsy. An FNA is considered a safer procedure.  If you are concerned and do not want to wait four months you could get your BS's opinion on this procedure for you when you see him.  

When I was going through menopause I had four lumps, two each in breast. aspirated by this method.  Even without a numbing agent I didn't have pain but if you have this done I think you will find they will do it under local anaesthetic .  If it is a cyst the fluid is aspirated and the cyst immediately goes.  My daughter also had this procedure done when she had a lump and all was benign luckily.

Oh Cat!! (((hugs))) Prayers that you are a candidate for this next one and for an excellent follow up scan. How soon until you find out if you qualify?

I should hear in 2 weeks about the Her2 test results in Chattanooga.

Jianchi - hope you get some sort of definite answer on those lumps sooner than later.  I know how that must bug the heck out of you!

cocker and cat, thank you both so much for dropping a line for me.  Yes, if I insist, they will biopsy the two tiny lumps (FNA).  After my radiation today, I had a talk with my Radoation Oncologist.  She felt the lumps, and told me that she did not think they are worrisome, and the lumps are in an awkward position (right under my nipple and pretty close to the skin).  She thinks they are probably cysts that my body generated as my hot flash has lessened, and my period my come again soon.  She knows I am worried, so she suggests that I go have an ultrasound after one month rather than four month to see whether the limps has grown.  She will also talk to my one of my BS (I have two BS as I went for a second opinion) who works in the same hospital tomorrow and discuss this.  I also have made an appointment with this BS next Thursday.  Fingers crossed.  

Thank you ladies for all your advice and kind words.  I so need them!

Cat, I hope taxol works well for you and you get the other trial!

Hugs to you all!

Hello ladies. I've been off this board for a year but wanted to check in and say that my 4 year mammogram was fine. I'm well and healthy. When I started this journey, April 2010, I was so scared and it seemed like I never saw posts here from women who had gone through treatment and were healthy.  I promised myself that if I made it through I would post and say hello.  

Interestingly though every checkup and blood test has been normal, the Doc at Sloan Kettering changed my once a year checkups to every six months, with a ultrasound in between mammograms. I suspect that is inline with studies showing that Triple Negs have a higher rate of BC in the other breast. 

This is a wonderful board and my heart and love go out to each of you. 

Lisa, 

Yes I had radiation after the chemo. I went to Sloan Kettering in NYC for the surgery and for a treatment plan, and I go back there for my check ups. I did the chemo protocol that Sloan Kettering recommended, and the radiation, closer to home. 

Shari,

I think my information is actually old, not new, but I read the article on the Breast cancer.org site  http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20090710?utm_source=Personalization&utm_medium=accounts&utm_campaign=27

I do have dense breasts, and they say that dense breasts should be monitored with ultrasound or MRI as well as mammograms. So, Sloan Kettering said to have the ultrasound (or MRI) in between yearly mammograms.  

I know its hard to believe for those who are still in shock from their diagnosis or undergoing treatment, but I never even think about having had breast cancer anymore, except when my check up times roll around. 

Love to you all. 

I just listened to the webinar on managing the fear of recurrence with tnbc through LBBC.org. It was very good. You can still listen to it as well as the first part which was on medical advances with tnbc (I didn't listen to this one but now I'm going to go back and listen). Go to LBBC.org/events and look for the April webinar, from 4/17 and 4/24. Its free and was very good.

Thank you Cocker Spaniel.  I'm wishing you good health and happy days.