Hi Laura:

I am 62 and a busy active healthy woman. I felt the lump myself. It felt huge.

I was diagnosed on 10/8 with invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2 stage 2 or 3 still not sure of the size. I am also TN. My only receptor was estrogen at 20%.

I had several biopsies, MRI's and sentinel node biopsy done. The US indicated the mass was 2.1 cm but the MRI said it could be 5.6 cm. That is why the question of stage 2 or stage 3. I had bilateral mastectomies even though the Left breast mass biopsy was negative. I just felt better getting them both off and reconstructing after everything is said and done. The surgery was 11/12. The left procedure was simple mastectomy and the right was radical mastectomy with breast lymph node dissection. I chose a surgeon who does lymph node mapping so she could identify the nodes to take for the breast lymphatics and leave the arm lymphatic nodes to reduce the chances of lymphedema.

I decided to take both breasts so I don't have to worry about it again. I had breast augmentation 15 years ago and they were able to leave the implants in place instead of using tissue expanders. Its funny, I thought they were even but the left implant is smaller and a little awkwardly positioned. Anyway. I look horrible but I know it will all be fine a year from now. With reconstruction, I can have them both look as symmetrical as possible. The breast that had cancer will be radiated along with the lymph nodes so we are not sure how easy that will be to reconstruct later. Time will tell.

Its only been 5 days. I still have drains and am draining serous fluid. They'll come out next week. It is not really that painful physically, just psychically and emotionally. Sleeping is awkward.

I'll be doing the A/C & T chemo starting mid December so know I'll be challenged with that. Radiation to follow in the spring.

The information gathering and the decision making is the hardest part. Honestly I felt like celebrating when I finally made some decisions and began treatment.

Its very challenging to navigate all the options and issues. Please let me know if I can help you. Cathy

Hi, LSLEAL. I'm sorry that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and triple negative at that. I was diagnosed on 09/18/13 with Triple Negative Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma with the Ki-67 protein, which made the tumor and the cancer even more aggressive than it already was. I was Stage II Grade 3 and, on the date I was diagnosed, my tumor was 1.5 cm in diameter. I decided to have a bilateral/double mastectomy, as Triple Negative has a higher risk of recurrence. On the day of my surgery (11/14/13), the tumor had grown to 2.1 cm in diameter. All of the cancer was removed during surgery and no lymph nodes were removed, but because I had Triple Negative, the oncologist had me go through 4 rounds of chemotherapy. The chemo medications used were Taxotere and Cytoxin. I had complications after surgery, but they were not because of the surgery or the surgeon or the cancer. Currently, I am in remission. Hopefully, my body and I won't have to deal with cancer again, but if I do, I'll fight it with everything I have.

I hope my sharing my experience and choices will help you at least a little. My advice to you would be to ask your best specialist what all of your options are. Also, I would recommend that you look for a breast specialist rather that just a breast surgeon. Often, breast specialists can perform both lumpectomies/mastectomy and breast reconstruction, whereas abreast surgeon usually only performs lumpectomies and mastectomies. Some patients are able to have nipple sparing mastectomies,worth reconstruction immediately following. Others have to wait. Also, there are several newer reconstruction procedures that use the patient's own tissue to reconstruct the breast(s). Don't be afraid to consult 2 or 3 specialists to get a good consensus from them about what they suggest you do, based on your diagnosis and pathology report.

The other thing I strongly recommend is that you use this site and other legitimate websites for research and learning. If you are looking for support, there is a sport site on the Web solely for those diagnosed with Triple Negative. If you do go through chemo, buzz cut your hair when you first start losing it, rather than completely shaving it. This will prevent twisted hair follicles. Also, there is a website where you can get a free head scarf. I believe the name of the website is bestwishes.com,goodwishes,com or something like that. If you have a nurse navigator following your case, she may know the Web address.



That's what I can think of at the moment. If there is anything I might be able to do to help. Please let me know. I wish you the best of luck. Be positive and stay strong. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.