So scared... Need to hear some positive stories!

Hi - I'm so very sorry you're dealing with this. Mine had not spread to the opposite nodes but was in the nodes on the same time when it was found and I will never forget how it felt to learn that. I'm sure you're even more shocked and scared than I was.

As Meow has pointed out, above, Herceptin in addition to other treatments, will most likely have a powerful effect on your cancer. I know things look grim now but try not to get too far ahead of yourself with worry. (I know - that's much easier said than done.) If at all possible, ask your doctor for some anti-anxiety drugs to help get you through this. If ever there is a time for such drugs, it is going through these first steps of finding out just what you are dealing with.

Sending supportive thought to you.

hi hon, that would be very unusual. Distant spread usually starts in the sentinel then axiliary nodes - same side, then bones, lungs, liver, etc. I have never heard of it jumping to the other side. Could you have another primary tumor on the other side? I know that sounds awful, but does NOT mean stage 4. Having young kids...it's so awful. It's so frightening. But it's not a death sentence. Feel free to PM me.

Hi Nlunn,

So sorry you are going through this. I've been there too and it's terrifying. But if they're biopsying your lymph nodes on the opposite side, it does NOT mean it's stage 4 if they are positive. It might mean you have cancer on the other side too, and having positive lymph nodes might alter their recommendation for what surgery to have and which chemo drugs to give you. My scans showed enlarged lymph nodes on both sides. I had 3 fine needle aspirations of lymph nodes. They were positive on the side of the cancer and negative on the other side. My PET scan additionally showed probable cancer in the chest muscle lymph nodes, but that still makes it stage 3, not 4. The good thing with FNA biopsies is the pathologist was in the room while they did it and I got the results right away. I would recommend taking someone with you.

What did your PET results say? Did they scan your whole body? If they didn't find anything in your brain, liver, lungs, or bones, (or somewhere else beyond the breast and surrounding lymph nodes), then you don't have distant metastasis (stage 4). Cancer in lymph nodes is common and considered "regional metastasis". Can be stage 2 or 3 depending on the extent. It's curable with some combo of chemo/surgery/radiation. Chemo also takes care of any small cancer cells that may have made it into your blood stream and be lurking somewhere else.

I hope you get some relief tomorrow. For me the terror died down a lot once they stopped doing those horrible scans and I started on the chemo. Feel free to message me any time, I am a couple of months ahead of you in this terrible process with a similar type of cancer

Hugs to you. I would be terrified, too, but even if the worst happens, you are so very lucky that Herceptin and Perjeta will work on you. My MO has treated many, many women with stage IV cancer all over their bodies, and he has seen Herceptin clear it up entirely. Forever. Cured. He insists that he's seen it happen many times.

I wanted to start chemo immediately, too, but it was delayed due to multiple biopsies. The docs said waiting a few weeks wouldn't matter. Although a study has shown that waiting two months to start Herceptin is not good. But weeks? You'll be okay.

Snuggle your boys and just take it day by day. That's what my friend with stage IV says: When she feels overwhelmed, she says to herself, I'm just going to do the laundry, go to the park, and do the day. Do the day. (And yes, tell your doctor you need Ativan or some kind of anti-anxiety medication. The first weeks after diagnosis are the most stressful. It gets better.) Be good to yourself today.

I know the feeling. I just broke the news to my 10 year old that I have BC. I had been feeling great and really positive but then today when the dr was putting the clip in it wouldn't go. After two attempts it finally went in. I am having neoaduvent treatment due to the size of the tumor. I was convinced something else was wrong. This anxious feeling is horribl

Just found you guys. I'm scared and unhappy. I keep thinking, of all the problems now this! So, I just decided to look for women like me and to get positive from their stories and support. I don't know if changing my diet will do any good because I'm already a vegetarian nearly 20 years. I stopped sugar 4 years ago but I really wonder if there's a link between Truvia and breast cancer or Truvia, soy food and breast cancer. I have to say, its been weighing on my mind. Plus I have CREST. Whoopie. Someone told me to watch funny films and read funny stories. I was diagnosed in Feb, seen JohnsHopkins/Columbia Presbyterian doctors for second opinion. One was a medical oncologist who explained to me the difference between an actual medical oncologist and a breast surgeon in oncology. Really opened my eyes! Waiting for surgery. I'm 64 and this is no where in my family! That's whats so upsetting and scary. Did Genetic Testing this past week, waiting for the results. They already know I'm TNBC. Why am I so scared? Why do I break into wailing (smile), its true. I already know why. I'm am so very happy to have found this board. I felt so alone. Then after I Googled TNBC and read all the dire and disheartening reports, I thought I'd keel over. Warning, if you've not read them, DON'T! They are QN (quadruple negative). Guys I am so happy to find you all here. Thank you for the encouragement. I'll be here, most likely, every day! I'm going back and start at the first topic and work my way through!

okay1, glad you found us but sorry about the cancer. Believe me you did not do anything to cause your cancer. I had super healthy lifestyle before I got my cancer.

The first thing I ask the doctors was what did I do they all said nothing. All the crud about living well is well and good but cancer loves healthy bodies too.

okay1:

This is a very stressful time. As Hydranne noted, "neoadjuvant chemotherapy" given prior to surgery is very common with triple-negative disease, particularly with large tumors such as yours (now estimated to be 7 cms). A major advantage is that it can provide information about "pathological response", meaning they can monitor during treatment and at later surgical removal, if the tumor responds / responded to the chemotherapy regimen (shrinks or disappears completely (i.e., "pathological complete response")). This is valuable information. If the response is not adequate, this information allows a switch to a different regimen.

In contrast, if you had surgery first to remove the local disease, and received chemotherapy post-surgery to address the possibility of distant spread, you would just have to assume the chemotherapy was working. With "triple-negative" disease, you do not have the option of endocrine therapy, so there is more of a premium on chemotherapy efficacy.

If you receive neoadjuvant treatment, lumpectomy may be an option. However, you can still elect mastectomy at that time, if that is your preference. It is important to understand that radiation is sometimes needed even with mastectomy. However, perhaps by having neoadjuvant treatment followed by mastectomy, you can increase the chances that no radiation will be needed. Please ask your team for case-specific advice on this question.

Please note that the findings of the recent "90 days" study do not apply to the neoadjuvant setting, as the study did not include any patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The patients included received no treatment at all while they awaited surgery.

http://oncology.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?artic...

"Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. . ."

There is a "Triple-Negative Breast Cancer" forum here where you can post and learn more:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/72

You may introduce yourself in the "Calling all TNs" thread here:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/72/topics...

You can see from the profiles that many received neoadjuvant treatment prior to surgery.

Sending good thoughts your way.

BarredOwl

I had the absolute worst night and then came and read all your replies. I didn't know they'd be here or that anyone would have read my 'desperate' whine. Woke up and had a screaming-mimi fit at my husband who took it and could only respond after I pulled it out of him 'I'm scared'. That brought it to a close. My moods are all over the place and then some. I'm very grateful to all of you and especially for the explanation of the tissue being cut and chemo being unable to get to the cells. Thank you. I feel more hopeful after a night and day of asking "Why?' I even looked up TNBC as holy punishment and saw how 'not' that was at a great online site. I don't go to support groups, this is hard to talk about in person to anyone outside my immediate family. I actually feel somewhat embarrassed. And my life seems so strange, different. Okay, this has helped a great deal...I'll go through with the Port Catheter surgery on Tues and then the Chemo begins on Friday. Here is my only outlet. TNBC is very very frightening. Before coming to the post I read about some new therapy call PARP, just FYI. Thanks guys, this will help me get through the weekend.