Clear Margins and Clear Lymph Nodes, but Triple Negative

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lovelifeBR
lovelifeBR Member Posts: 41
edited August 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I was recently diagnosed with triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer in my left breast. Tumor size was 1.1 cm and I recently had a lumpectomy. I received the results yesterday and had clear margins and clear (negative) lymph node results as well. Is Chemo necessary?

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  • PamelaC47
    PamelaC47 Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015

    Did your oncologist discuss with you the high risk of reoccurrence associated with TN? I am also TN, had a tumor under 2 cm, no nodes, clear margins, and was told in no uncertain terms that the only way to fight against reoccurrence was chemo. It's the only follow up treatment there is currently. Was triple negative explained to you in depth by your oncologist yet?


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  • lovelifeBR
    lovelifeBR Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015

    I meet with my doctor next Wednesday and then I'm sure it's on to the oncologist to discuss everything. How long ago were you diagnosed? What has your treatment plan been like? I know everyone is different, but I am really scared to say the least.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    In my understanding, chemo is always necessary for triple negative disease. That and radiation are all we have to fight it. That being said, it responds very well to chemo- better than other cancers. I just finished up dose dense (every 2 weeks) AC +T. When I found out I had cancer, I asked for the most aggressive treatment possible. It was tough, but doable. Its nothing to be scared of. There are threads for each month starting chemo- read through those to get some idea of what you will be facing. You can absolutely do this. Hugs!

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  • PamelaC47
    PamelaC47 Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015

    I did AC-T chemo, 8 treatments every other week for 16 weeks. My oncologist told me I absolutely had to have it, there was no question with TN. I had electively had a bilateral mastectomy (could have had a lumpectomy but I chose to be aggressive). Had surgery in August, did my chemo two years ago from September through December. Because I had no positive lymph nodes, clear margins, and had a mastectomy I did not have radiation. There is no follow up treatment with TN, no targeted therapies like other forms of breast cancer have. That's why the chemo is a must.

    I have blood work every two months and a CT scan every year. I just passed two years, so far so good. Don't be afraid of chemo, believe me, you want it. It's effective against TN and it's the only available thing we have to fight it. I promise you, it goes very fast

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  • lovelifeBR
    lovelifeBR Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015
    Thanks--that is what I have been reading is that chemo is absolutely necessary plus radiation if you don't have a mastectomy. I will also ask for the most aggressive treatment possible as I want to get this treated and get on with life. I have a positive attitude and I am ready for the battle. Good Luck with your treatments. Keep me updated. Hugs to you!
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  • lovelifeBR
    lovelifeBR Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015
    Pam:

    Thanks for sharing your treatment plan with me. I just had my surgery on 8/04/2015 and will have my follow-up visit on 8/12/2015. So hopefully I can be done with chemo by Christmas time and move on to radiation.

    Glad to hear that your scans have been negative. Keep fighting. Appreciate you talking with me.

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  • PamelaC47
    PamelaC47 Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015

    love life, that's the same timeline I had - surgery was two years ago on August 2, started chemo I think September 20- I finished three days after Christmas :). It went by very quickly, it's a busy time of year. And probably the best time if you want to do a wig - more comfortable in the cooler weather, and through the winter I wore a lot of the hats with hair.

    Your positive attitude is going to set the tone for the experience for you. Don't get hung up on statistics - my oncologist is very positive, and she had me take my port out immediately - she tells me to keep moving forward, and I am! If you ever have a question feel free to PM me :

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  • lovelifeBR
    lovelifeBR Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015

    Thanks so much Pam. I know I will definitely have questions as I begin my journey. Glad to hear that it went by quickly. My doctor told me to keep enjoying life and doing what I have been doing, so that is what I have been doing. My appointment is this Wednesday....

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  • Leighrh
    Leighrh Member Posts: 317
    edited August 2015

    Hi LovelifeBR.... Just noticed your name... are you in Baton Rouge? I live there... just curious if that was the BR in your name.

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  • lovelifeBR
    lovelifeBR Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2015

    @Lieghrh: Hello there! I am actually not from there, but have visited a couple of times

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