Breastcancer.org Blog: You CAN Survive Triple-Negative

Hi- I am celebrating 13 yrs, triple neg, Braca- no cancer whatsoever but i have arthritis!

Wow. So awesome to hear about 13 and 25 years. Thank you!!

I have just been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Five years I was diagnosed with HER-2 positive. I had right masectomony at that time. They are planning chemo first before mastectomy on left breast. When do they do the radiation?

Welcome to BCO sureCat.

I'm so sorry to hear that you have to go through this again. What a shock that must be.

I had my radiation about a month after surgery. I think it's pretty standard to have it after. Please let us know how you are doing. In the meantime you've picked a good place to come for support. Sending you best wishes and a gentle hug.

Sorry I didn't see this until now. I would hope the hospitals and doctors would work with you. Usually they are pretty good if you can just pay a little bit each month. You probably want to talk to the administration department where you're getting treatment.

I did not work during treatments. However, many women on BCO did work through treatment. Everyone is so different, it's hard to know what side effects you will have.

July 1st is coming up pretty quickly. Please make sure you stay hydrated during your treatment. Once you start, and you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. If I don't have the answer, someone else will be along that can help. I added this to my favorites so I can keep track of you.

You also may want to join a thread of women/men going through chemo at the same time as you. Here is a link to one with people starting in July.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/832782?page=1#post_4426703

They started my first chemo today. I have taken zofran.

Today is the first day that I started to feel better. I feel nausea and take compazine and zophran at least once a day. Tomorrow I need to go to work. I hope I feel well enough in the morning. Thanks for thinking of me!

Hi sureCat, Thinking of you today as you returned to work. Sending good thoughts your way!!

Just FYI-ing on Pet scans

Hey Gang,
Had my Pet scan today and would appreciate prayers that all will be clear. We are checking an area where the cancer returned that lit up a bit more last time, hoping it was inflammation. I wanted to let you all know of some new info. on the Pet scan incase you are not aware of it yet. They said it was new findings. They are now requesting that patients wear long sleeves, long pants or skirt and shoes that cover your whole foot and not let the A/C blow directly on you on your way there. They said that when the skin got cold it was showing up brown on the scans and brown means trouble. Even if your place has not told you to do this you might want to. I belong to a big cancer center here in Atlanta, Ga and they get info. a lot faster at these places. Just wanted to share it with you just for your information.

Meadow that is what they said we needed to do...............not sure what made them find that.

Great to hear of a 13 year survivor! I was just diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer Sept 24, 2015. Trying to decide about treatment. Sounds as if chemo is the way to go! I am apprehensive about everything at this point! I thought radiation was all I was going to require and then the triple negative was dropped on me! Reading the internet scares me! Survival rate doesn't sound good! But your post was encouraging! Thank you

Hi everyone,

My mom is not one to write about her experience in discussion boards.

As her daughter who helped her through her breast cancer experience 4-5 years ago (actually I posted here a while back),

I just wanted to give an update and bring a message of hope to all you going through this.

My mom was diagnosed at age 59 with Stage 1(1.2 cm lump) moderately aggressive Triple Negative Breast cancer.

There was no history in the family, she never smoked, ate well etc so it basically came out of nowhere (at least it feels that way)

She underwent several chemotherapy sessions followed by a lumpectomy and many radiation treatments.

I can never forget the experience which in the end brought us closer. She is now 64 years old and doing very well. Her latest appointment with her oncologist was last week. Nothing is ever seems official with cancer but she is going on five years. Most importantly, she is healthy and happy and carrying on. I just wanted to share her story to share good news with you on this type of cancer. Be strong ladies.

Vanessa, Thanks for sharing your moms story!!

Sburch, Welcome to BCO. So glad you found us!! As Meadow said, TN does respond well to TN. I was fortunate to have neoadjuvant chemo (chemo before surgery), and I was able to see my TN tumor shrink to almost nothing. Please let us know how you're doing when you can!! Gentle hugs to you!!

Vanessa:

Thank-you for the update about your mom. That is awesome news. All the best to her and your family!