Stage 3 Breast Cancer

It's a lot to process when you first get the news. But know that once you have a treatment plan in place, it does get easier. The not knowing and the waiting was the worst for me. And the majority of all bc pts these days do live longer lives. Look at wallan above. 13 years out! There are threads here where people have posted their 5 year, 10 year, 15 year anniversary of being cancer free. And note that many members here have left the boards because they are far enough out and are doing well. Some of us stick around afterwards to help others and also keep informed. There's a lot of new stuff coming down the pike. The meds I'm on now I may not need to be on for the next 10 years. There may be something out even better that replaces this and for a shorter time. Who knows. So try not to think too far ahead. It sounds like you're in the meeting phase. Once the scans they want you to do are done then starts forming the treatment plan. Most of us had sx first but there are some who had chemo first. All depends on your profile.

What I suggest. Be your own advocate. You came to the right place for info esp since a lot of it docs don't have time to give everything. I bought a planner which had a ton of space under each day. You'll need a good calendar for all the appts. In black I'd write my question. Leave some space. Took it with me to the appt and wrote the answer in red. Journaling also helped me. On another board I have a diary that's mainly for myself but others have been following it too. It's not organized and it's very long, personal stuff mixed in, which is why I don't link it here. Too hard to follow as my goal was to get my thoughts out and to jot what I learned down for myself.

Keep busy. 4 kids ought to do it. I had 2 months before sx so it was a long wait for me. I just dug in these boards, journaled and was determined to become very informed and smart about this, not to just rely on the docs. I took it as a challenge, not a fun one, but one nonetheless.

Best wishes. Hang in there and read and post. Tons of info and support here.

This part is truly the worst. I'm coming up to one year of my diagnosis and it's unbelievable to be here now, looking back. I never thought life would ever be normal again. I never thought I'd survive. And yet here I am after mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. I lost the breast and I lost my hair and now, looking at me, you'd never know that I spent seven months going through cancer treatment. Of course, it's part of your life in big and small ways, but I promise, it gets easier. You'll get a plan in place and then you'll set milestones, and in between these milestones you'll have some normalcy. Kids force you into that. You take it one step at a time, one treatment at a time. And it feels endless and hopeless and so scary, and then...it's the other side. Be patient with yourself. Know that this feeling won't last forever. Know that we've all been there, been in that same moment, lived those same fears. You've got this, mama. We've got you.

dearest, I am so sorry that you are dealing with this in your life. This time is the most diifficult. Starting treatments, having surgery and the fear of it all. Once Settled on your treatment plan and you get started you will feel more in control, which in its way is comforting.

BUT you will get through it all. We've all been there. Check out the stage III board, and you gets lots of reassurance.

I was where you are 12 years ago. With a stage III C diagnosis, and am sbsoultely fine nowCome on these boards often, it will help. You will be okay

Some will do neoadjuvant (presurgery) Chemo, some will do adjuvant (post surgery) Chemo and a few of us will do both neoadjuvant and adjuvant. If neoadjuvant Chemo is done, it will usually consist of 2 different 'batches' of Chemo (1 example - 4 DD A/C followed by 12 weekly Taxol or other combinations). Neoadjuvant chemo has been used for years with IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) to get it to form a 'lump' as it forms as a 'nest' or in 'bands' making surgery less than optimal. It is now being used more often with other types of BC to get the lump to shrink the mass, get good margins and sometimes even gets a complete response. This allows for less invasive surgery and a better prognosis.

A very few of us will do both neoadjuvant and adjuvant Chemo. I did 4 DD A/C (Dense Dose Adriacymin and Cytoxan every 2 weeks) neoadjuvant. Then 2 weeks after last A/C had UMX (had formed a 'lump', shrunk and good margins) and 3 weeks later started adjuvant. Then a week after last Taxol, started 25 rads. My Drs (Chemo and Surgeon) had never expected a complete response but wanted to get 'it' to where Surgeon had a chance of getting it out and then would do adjuvant Chemo (12 weekly Taxol) to 'mop up' any cells that might have 'escaped' surgery.

There is no 'One Size Fits All' when it comes to each of us - individually. What is 'right' for one may not at all be correct for someone else. We each enter the 'battle' as different persons just as while there may be similarities for some - no one is exactly the same. Some of us have health issues that have to also be dealt with along with BC TX but some of us have no (or very small/minor) health issues to deal with, different ages, outlooks on life are but a few of the infinity of differences between us all. Our Drs are also very different in their outlook on which TX would be best for each individual.

Hi sweetie, don't worry too much about making the right decision about the treatment regimen. All oncologists pretty much fooolow a protocol depending on stage. Also, neoadjuavnt ( Chemo before surgery ) is typically recomended if the tumor is a bit large. either way , there is no real conclusive data to say one is better then the next, I would say this, you absolutely do not. Have to decide on the type of reconstruction now. It can always be done after your completed with your chemo and rads.

Have faith with your Oncs, deal with the crap to get rid of the Bc, THen do therecon.

That helped me a lot.

God bless!

Hey Mommie, I had a similar dx to you nearly two years ago (see my stats). Sorry to hear about your dx, but once you have begun a treatment plan things will get better. I had surgery before chemo, because they thought the tumour was smaller than it was..little did they know. I had mastectomy with lymph node on the spot.

I have just been scheduled for my lat dorsi recon in June and that was my choice. In retrospect I'm glad I waited..I took a long time to take everything in,be sure and decide which recon would be right.

These classes encourage you to bring the person who will be helping you, so definitely go with your spouse. It'll also give him a chance to get his questions addressed, which is just as important.

Yes - a spouse (or friend) will be allowed if you choose to have to have someone with you. The object of the class is for you to gain information about the drugs being used (not just the Chemo drugs but also the other ones used along with the infusions) and the other drugs/medications you will be taking orally before and after.

There will be so much info given about a multitude of topics that are important to know.

Different Facilities will have different ways the handle the Chemo Education Class(es). For me, the first Chemo Education class (before A/C) took close to an hour with one of the Chemo RNs then straight to infusion. The 2nd Education class was before Taxol and was about 1/2 hour then to infusion. My classes were 1 on 1 with an RN but I have seen some 'here' say they had gone to a class that had several in the class and was not immediately before the infusion.

I was given a notebook that had all the information to be discussed. Included was the info pn the chemo and related drugs/meds that would be used. It was intended to be a Reference Source. Still have my book.

Questions were asked throughout to be sure 'you' understood what she was telling you Questions from 'you' were encouraged. As Section by Section were gone through the RN would use Highliter on the areas most pertinent to 'you'.

As I said - this was how my Facility did it but others could be different.

I'm sorry! I don't have much advice but I wanted to tell you that my Aunt was diagnosed at 42, stage 3c, 13 positive nodes. She has 3 kids and her youngest at the time was only 4. It was a nightmare for her and it was hard.

That was 17 years ago. She made it and so will you!