Calling all TNs

Hi ladies! Just wanted to stop in and give hugs where needed! Hang in there and remember there is light at the end of this crappy tunnel called active cancer treatment. Today is my 4 year cancerversary! There have been so many days when I thought I would never make it this far-convinced I would never see my children grow up. While I am by no means out of the woods, nor will I ever be, I do have some hope now that maybe I will be around for awhile. I still get freaked out with unusual aches and pains, but as we all know that is just a part of life now. Thanks to all of you for the great support and information these last 4 years!! I think I am going to take the kids out and get a big fat Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen!! That's about the fanciest dessert I can get in this little town!!

Congrats Gram!!! Hoping all is well with you!!

Jan- my husband doesn't even get it. I mentioned to him this morning that today was my 4 year anniversary and all he said was "oh, yeah"? I think he just tries to act like I'm cured and that we will never have to deal with it again. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. I don't even try to talk to about my fears or concerns anymore with him. It's not that he doesn't care, he just doesn't understand what it means to me. Thank goodness all of you get it!!

Tif andGram, so happy for you both. Celebrating with you.

Hello everyone!  I'm just checking in.  I almost never come to the boards anymore, but I feel it's so very important to check in with everyone so you know that many of us who aren't here are out living our lives.  Today marks 4 years.  I'm so anxious to check in next year!  I'm doing well, and burning the candle at both ends like I always have.  I've noticed some things I don't like as a result of all I went through.  I'm sure it's a combination of things... chemo, bilat ooph, instant menopause, and whatever normal aging I would have had anyway.  Things that bother me are:  I'm at -2.1 for osteoporosis (-2.2 is considered osteoporosis); My close vision is pretty much gone (and of course I'm in denial and so far refuse wearing glasses unless I'm digging out a splinter or threading a needle);  I can't type as well as I used to (I used to type 70 wpm with almost zero errors... now I find I sometimes mix up letters.. not often, but some); I have difficulty trying to think of a word or phrase to use especially when describing something (that about drives me nuts too, since I will usually sit staring off into space until I think of the blasted word!).  I wish all of you the best.... you're in my thoughts and prayers!

Angelisa congrats and I almost mirror your thoughts

TiFJ,

Congratulations on 4 years!  It is good to hear from people who are closing in on the end of the high risk 5 year period!

Hugs,

Peggy

TifJ - Congratulations!  We are both on the same timeline.  I was diagnosed 4 years ago on labor day weekend.  What a contrast this past weekend was to four years ago.  And for the first time, I didn't even think about it being my cancerversary going into the weekend.  It wasn't until I was at a concert Friday night when my daughter said, "Mom, I'd much rather be at this concert with you then having the conversation we had 4 years ago!"  Wow, I didn't think that would every happen.  That's not to say that breast cancer isn't on my mind very often, but I was encouraged to realize that it doesn't consume me as much as it used to.  Time is a great healer.  Congrats to all those celebrating these milestones!

Kathy

Hi, everyone.

Question, please.  I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer on June 16th, 2014.  

I had never heard of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, so I did a lot of reading.  

Something, I read about on this site really interested me, it is called:  MammaPrint Test.

I would very much like to have this test.  Not for helping me decide whether or not to have chemo

because I already made that decision.  

I'd like to know how likely my cancer is to return.  I will be having my 4th and last Taxol treatment on

Sept. 11th, then I will have 4 A/C treatments along with a double mastectomy. 

And I am already worried about this cancer coming back someplace else.  Ugh, as if we don't have 

enough to think about :-(

Weeks ago, I asked my MO about this test and he said it is *not* for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

I know he is the professional, but I wanted to ask all of you here, if any of you had this test?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you, Kathy :-)

That is GREAT news about you hitting the 4 year mark!   All I can say is, WOW!!

I can't wait to be able to say that.

Take care.

Congrats to all who have reached those important milestones.  We all rejoice right along with you and look forward to our own in the future!!

Ladies, I will soon be seeing my MO after rads at the end of the month, and have been emailing her regarding various post treatments to prevent recurrence.  I recently asked her about Metformin, as several of you have been prescribed it by your MO's.  Here's a link she sent me from the Nat'l Cancer Institute re Metformin.  She says there was a discussion at ASCO as well, that indicates the data is not yet in.  She thinks there may be a role for metformin but suspects it would more likely be beneficial for women who are overweight with insulin resistance.  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/research-updates/2013/metformin/print

for those on metformin, what do they want to see your glucose numbers at.....around 100 is the norm, yes? below that? Thanks

Titan, thanks and beautiful!

Recently started metformin and glucose level (tested for insurance reasons only) was 87. Slowly increasing dose until get to 2xday 850 mg each dose. Now at 850 in morning and 425 eve. No side effects/symptoms noticed so far. Mo prescribed it on my recommendation of researching it further and she felt it was worthwhile. She even spoke to an endocrinologist about it and he felt it was ok. I'm not diabetic and she said with a healthy pancreas it should not adversely affect blood sugar

Titan: So nice to hear from you! Lurker, ha... you're the one who brought us all together, and I am still grateful for that five years on. Hope your family's all doing well. I still try to walk/jog 5 km a few times a week... plus we have a mountain nearby for cycling and skiing. I agree, it IS great for mental as well as physical well-being. 

Tif, CC, and Titan.....congrats on your anniversaries!  I love hearing that kind of news.

Titan, thanks for the reminder about the walking and jogging.  I agree that getting daily exercise is such a good thing.  Not only does it reduce the risk of recurrence, it just feels so darn good!

Ally, I'm really happy for your pCR.  Whenever you are feeling aches and pains from the chemo...just think pCR, pCR!  

Lynda, it will be interesting to see what your MO says about the mammaprint test.  I think with TNBC, most MO's don't do that test because it's not particularly useful in terms of determining treatment plans.

I'm happy because my hubby and I just spent the last couple days on a short vacation to visit friends in KY and go hiking and checking out caves.  The weather was wonderful and I even had moments where BC was far from my mind.  That felt wonderful.  I need more days like that.