Calling all TNs

I'm still in early treatment but wanted to share some good stuff from last week.  Friday I had my drain out (from my recent surgery on June 4th).  I feel so much better, I can drive!  (Taking out the drain didn't really hurt either).  I also got my first saline injection in my TE, no problem.  I was filled half way during surgery so I'm pretty full up. During the appointment my plastic surgeon told me he is leaving the hospital where I am being treated and I started crying because I like and trust him so much.  But he will be moving to another excellent facility just as near to where I live, (he's not allowed to tell me where, but I can figure it out) so I will still go to him when I get to my transfer, which is a long time away because I have to do chemo).  But it was (and is still) very upsetting because I feel like my medical team is being broken apart.  Anyway I will be back to work Wednesday which I know will be good for me.  July 18 is when I meet my MO, who I've been referred to by my BS.  I've read her bio and think she has an excellent background, but I've also read that I should interview others.  Quite frankly, I wouldn't even know how to do that, and what to ask.  As a TNBC patient facing adjuvant chemo (and I'm not sure why I am adjuvant vs neo, but I asked my BS and he said no to neo, and I trust him, although I don't always get the "whys" that I would like and I just don't think to ask during the appointments.)  But honestly I ask a LOT of questions (because I am on Dr Google too much, even my husband said so.)  At this point, I am still in the partially terrified state but am getting better each day.  My biggest thought in my head now, is, (besides being TN) is how could I have a 3.4 cm tumor and negative nodes, how could that big of a tumor not spread?  In the beginning I had 3 small tumors, all less than 1 cm, but I guess since there was so much fibrocystic stuff in my breast, they just couldn't see it was one big tumor.  So my fear is how could I possibly have this big of a tumor and it hasn't gotten to another part of my body.  And how many BC patients (especially TN) actually survive with that big of a tumor.  All questions I will ask my MO but I know there just won't be any real answers.  Sorry for the rant, tough morning, at home alone, hubby at work, and mind is wondering.  I plan to get busy and have a productive day since I have two days before back to work (which will be crazy busy....)  So I guess I really was wondering if you all interviewed other MOs or did you go with your BS referral?  I'm at Hopkins, so I think they have got to be good and I'm hesitant to have doctors at a bunch of different places.   My other option would be to try Georgetown, but it feels like a daunting task to try and set that up.  OK, promise my future posts will NOT be this long.  Thanks for your support. 

SweetMaggie,

I didn't interview anyone....but I'm a chicken about those things. I go to a cancer center so everyone is all in the same place. I went online and researched all the doctors there, then read patient reviews. Each time I was supposed to get a new doctors ps, onc, etc, I requested the one I had chosen online.

So happy for you StupidBoob!!

Mags- still hoping that it is nothing- will be thinking about you tomorrow!

Happy Monday ladies!!

I am 6 weeks post lumpectomy and done my first cycle of AC. I had my rad consult and asked about BMX. Clinically, it isn't indicated. She did say that if I want to do the BMX to wait until after the rads. She says I may feel differently in a year. I want these suckers gone! LOL 

Sweetmaggie, my tumor was 3.5 cm and my nodes were clear also. I completed treatment last August and still have the what if's. Who knows why yours didn't spread but be thankful it didn't. I never asked my Oncologist or surgeon why my nodes were clear. I never though of that until recently. I'll be interested to hear what your doctor tells you. Keep us posted. 

SweetMaggie - LOL, I love Seinfeld...still watch it!  That's so us!

SweetMaggie - my vascular invasion was also deemed indeterminate. My BS explained it to me as the pathology wasn't clearly negative, but not clearly positive either, so it's considered indeterminate...although she felt most who are indeterminate are positive. It's for this reason my radiation oncologist has suggested I do radiation after BMX although I'm node negative. Hope you're able to discuss everything with your team and get some answers. 

My last chemo is coming up in a couple weeks and I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a little something to give my onc nurses along with a card and note of thanks. I found these angel wing keychains online and think they're perfect in terms of expressing how I feel about them. They have been guardian angels to me, always smiling and laughing, but never blowing off how hard this has been. They actually make chemo enjoyable. However, I'm unsure of their religious beliefs and do not want to offend them. Do you think something like this would be appropriate? I am planning on baking something that day as well, but wanted to do something a little special for the 3 nurses I've bonded with. I was thinking of giving this to my BS and onc, too. Again, though, I'm worried of the religious implications and offending them. So, what do you guys think? Here's a link to show you what I'm talking about. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77268943/angel-wing-keychain-silver-antiqued

Allydp Lisa said it all.  Nurses are angels and I think your gift is just perfect.  Same for the Doc's.  If you didn't feel like baking,  chocolates always go down a treat with Nurses.  Congratulations on completing chemo.  You have done it girl, its almost over.  Have you got rads next, if so I found it a breeze so hopefully it will be for you.

Mags in your pocket and hoping all is well. 

Cat in your pocket too.  How are you going lately.

And Fighter also in your pocket.

Oh and Slowloris.

It's a good thing there is a lot of me to go around lol   

Hi to BAK, Titan, Linda, Luah, Gillyone, Lovelyface, BAR and all the lovely ladies on this thread, Stupidboob, Jan and Kathy if you are around.   Have a good day everyone.  

Alicia, you got this!  So happy to hear you are almost done with chemo.  That is a huge milestone.

Ally, those are beautiful gifts. I'm really into birds so to me a wing is a beautiful thing!  ( I happen to like angels too.)  Another possibility is a silver heart if you're worried about the angel wing.But I like what you picked out.

Congratulations on getting done the chemo milestone. 

Why are women told to have the uterus removed with triple negative? I know the ovaries and tubes must come out because of the difficulty in catching ovarian cancer, but endometrial cancer is usually self contained if it happens and hormones don't contribute to cancer growth. I guess it is better safe than sorry later.

My gynocologist told me it was better to keep the uterus for some hormones, and I would hate to give up yet another organ that is used during sex. Okay, that is blunt but I do enjoy the earthquakes!  (orgasm contractions)

Bluebird,

I'm keeping my uterus! Lol

Mags(((hugs))) hoping it's just scar tissue! In my thoughts and prayers...

Mags I think it's good they are being watchful, although I can understand how you feel, hugs. Hoping it's nothing and goes quick and painless. I will be thinking of you Mon.

mags, hang in there! We will all be in your pocket! 

Meadow and radical, I just feel like there's hardly any "me" left! Lost my breasts, chest numb, 25 " incision across abdomen which is also numb. So I'm not sure how lucky mr. Bluebird is, but at least I have one part of me that functions well! Lol. And he's always game to try so I'm the lucky one.  We've been together since I was 17, and he's still the best thing in my life 32 years later.