Calling all TNs

Julie...welcome to the club no woman wants to join‼️I found a lump in my breast October 15th, 2015. Made an appointment for a mammogram the next day. To keep myself stable and upbeat, I began a list of friends who were breast cancer survivors. They all had surgery, radiation and took a little pill. All 36 were perfectly fine. "I can do this too", I said on my way to the mammogram. But, before long, after the results, I sat down again, somewhat shell shocked, to make another list of women I knew with TNBC. Blank page‼️ To make matters worse, I had just heard of a new movie where a young woman dies from breast cancer. What type? You can guess on your own. During my treatment I became a Google addict, even waking up at night to pee and then searching for some promising info on TN. Not too much to be found, EXCEPT, there is approximately an 80% chance of no recurrence. Today, my lumpectomy, chemo and radiation are behind me. Most of my hair is back. I look and feel good. But, sorry to say I think about cancer EVERY day. Several times a day it will pop up in my thoughts. I try to be busy, happy, positive. Friends and family say I'm amazing. I truly believe I will die from this cancer and hope it won't be for a very long time. Just like I can't believe I got this monster, I can't really let myself believe it won't take me down. You will get many responses here from amazingly caring women. But, I think all will say that the easy part was getting the cancer out of their bodies. The mind is another story. I sincerely welcome you to our group and wish you exactly what I wish for all of us...never to have to deal with cancer again.

Julie, Welcome! There are days we feel the heavy weight of TNBC, so do not apologize. Your bright days will return. Good news about TNBC, is that it is very responsive to chemo, more so than some cancers, so see where one door closes, another swings open. I know it is hard to believe, but one day cancer will not be the first thing you think of in the morning, or even at all that day. And yours was caught early, very good. Your good health going into treatment is a big plus, you will be able to fight hard and return to good health. You can do this! And we will help however we can.

Julie - I'm right there with you. Just diagnosed early March and my emotions are everywhere. I'm 41 with four daughters and scared that I'm going to keep hearing more bad news from the doctors. Had a PET scan Sunday and lost it after I was done. I've never been an emotional person, so I don't know what to do with myself. I'm a nurse and love what I do and hearing from my oncologist that I can't work for probably a year was stunning. I'm reading every reputable study and trying to get information so that I can make the most informed decisions about my care. I find if I concentrate on that and approach this as analytically as possible, then I can keep my emotions under control. This will be the toughest week so far. My surgery is Tuesday and I will find out the pathology and PET scan results. Hoping for once that I hear good news - no node involvement, no mets, tumor is smaller than what the MRI states, etc. I never thought I would be looking for good news with cancer.

Hi all! Just wanted to take a minute to share that over the weekend we celebrated my wife Kathy's 4 year cancer-versary. I am pleased to say we are BOTH in a far, far better place than we were 4 years ago at this time...ESPECIALLY KATHY. A lot of great things have happened in that 4 years...including our becoming first time grandparents a couple of weeks ago. For all of you who are newly diagnosed, know that there are many on this thread who were just as scared, uncertain and anxious as you and your families are now. But more important to know is that fact that this beast CAN be defeated and you WILL get there! Keep your heads up and keep up the fight. YOU WILL DEFEAT IT!

Al, Such great news celebrating 4 wonderful years! Please tell Kathy congratulations for me, for us. I am sure COCKER will chime in to as soon as she sees your post.

Brown, hang in there. Of course every person has their own situation, but I am sure as a nurse you have seen women in treatment return to work before one year....is it possible for you if you feel like you can? I for one, expect you to kick.....you know what!!....and feel better before a year. Hoping this it true, sending strong support your way.

(((Another)))!

(((ANNIE)))

LOVE TO ALL!

Congratulations Al and kathy great news gives us all something to look forward to.

Brneyegrl6608 stay positive and strong. You got this.

Wecome Julie you came to the right place. Lots of support from alot of wonderful people!

Dova that surprise trip was a great idea! Trip will definitely do all of you good. Have lits of fun and i hope you hit the jackpot!

Michcali, Welcome! We are so glad you found us too. Congrats on finishing chemo...that is a great feeling, yes? And no lymph involvement, very good. You got this!

DiV, how are you getting along? Are you adjusting ok to learning how things are after your surgery? Please update on how you are.

Brownie, yes, floor nursing is so busy, and I can see your point about the time involved. Hugs.

DiV,

So happy to hear that you're doing so well. It's amazing the things we can adjust to when we have to. Just wish you didn't have to!

Just wrote a long post about my surgery on the 2017 Diep flap reconstruction thread. Mostly just to say everything went well.

Been thinking a lot about you, DiV. I was worried about how you would do. I shouldn't have. You're such a fighter. You'll do just fine.

Warm and happy hugs.

Trish

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is hanging in there.

For the newcomers - This forum has a wealth of information and lots of helpful members. When I first joined (October 2016), I felt like I was lost, but as others told me, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will be starting radiation soon (did chemotherapy first, then had surgery second). It feels like my life / routine will be headed back to normal in the next month or two. Thank God!

MichCali,

Welcome! Not where any of us would choose to be, but such a great group of women for information and support.

Glad to hear you're planning Diep flap. It was my first choice for recon, and I'm so happy with the results, even this early on. I wanted something that felt like me, and it does.

The biggest advice i could give you is to build up your thigh muscles as much as possible. It sounds weird, but you won't be able to use your abdomen or arms, so you will use them as your "go to" muscles after your surgery. I think the reason I've done so well is that I do have strong thighs.

The other advice I would give you is to take it easy. Let others do everything for you for at least the first two weeks. Make sure you get good protein and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! (Even before surgery)

Good luck!

Trish

Thank you for the advice Trishyla. Did you do squats and lunges? I appreciate the advice.

Cassylou, I'm sure I will be contacting you.

I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend.

(((BanR)))

InspiredbyDolce, thanks for posting a link for the video. It's very interesting. I hope the cancer moonshot does not lose funding. There is research all over the country that is making progress--I wish it was faster, but it is encouraging.

Cathytoo! Thats terrific!!

Hope all here had a good holiday, are enjoying spring and are feeling well!

hugs from NYC!