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sillyoldrabbit
sillyoldrabbit Member Posts: 124
edited March 2018 in Just Diagnosed

Found a lump on February 16 which has now been diagnosed as IDC, stage 2, triple negative and extremely aggressive. Because of its aggressiveness, I'll be doing chemo first, starting on March 20. Will be having a port implanted next Friday. 16 rounds to look forward to. Surgery to follow - type dependent on results of Braca test.

I wanted to post earlier, but was so paralyzed with fear that I couldn't concentrate long enough to write a coherent sentence. Now that I've got a treatment plan and have met the oncologist and surgeon, I feel a lot more sane, though it's difficult to stop worrying. My doctors are very upbeat about it, but I'm 70 so don't know how well my body will handle the chemo.

Scheduled for a PET scan and brain MRI next week, both of which scare me because I'm afraid of what they'll find. The breast MRI showed no lymph node involvement, but that doesn't mean the wicked little beasties haven't found a home elsewhere. I am NOT in the mood to die.

Any hand-holding would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to making new friends here.

--Diane

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited March 2018

    So sorry you have been diagnosed but happy you have a plan for treatment in place and that you found this site for support.

    I am surprised they are doing a BRCA test at age 70 because usually those positive will have developed cancer at a much younger age. My sisters and daughters didn’t qualify for testing because I was 66 at diagnosis.

    Anyway many people here managed chemo with few problems but it is a good idea to read up on what to expect and how to prepare.

    Hoping for a smooth ride for you and welcome.

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  • sillyoldrabbit
    sillyoldrabbit Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2018

    Thank you, Wrenn. Nice to "meet" you. That's really interesting information about the BRCA test (gotta learn these acronyms). I think the test was ordered because I'm in an ethnic group that has a higher incidence of the gene.

    How did they treat you when chemo failed? (One of my worries!)

    --Diane



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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited March 2018

    I haven’t had any treatment and am doing fine. I had a pre existing diverticulosis and was warned it could be a problem and it was. Everyone is unique in this cancer thing. Keep asking questions and vent away if you are anxious.

    There are many here who are very knowledgeable and very supportive

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2018

    Welcome, Diane! Glad you found us, though we hate that you have to be here, but we're sure you'll find support and encouragement in this wonderful Community!

    Good luck with further tests, and please know that we're all here to support you!

    The Mods

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  • Shellsatthebeach
    Shellsatthebeach Member Posts: 316
    edited March 2018

    Welcome Dianne! I Don't know much about triple negative, but there is a wonderful group of women who post on the triple negative thread far more knowlegable than I.

    What I have heard is that chemo usually works best for more aggressive cancers. I did not get a complete response, but had surgery to remove all remaining cancer and am on several treatments for the long haul.

    Wishing you good vibes and luck on this journey!

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2018

    Sorry you are joining us here! Hang in there, someday you will be on the other side looking back at all of this!

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited March 2018

    Sorry you are joining us but a great place to get support, learn and yes, sometimes laugh too. Keep saying "I've got this". You will get to the other side of this. We are here for you.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2018

    Welcome to the elite club with really horrible membership qualifications....;)

    If I could offer some positivity about aggressiveness--that type seems to respond better to chemo than the less aggressive site, so I hope your treatment kicks little c to the curb once and for all.

    I say little c because I refuse to give it any power.

    Side effects and chemo--I felt like all the fear about it comes from decades old reports when we didn't have drugs and other ways, like moderate exercise, to relieve the side effects. I didn't "cold cap" but many do and they don't even lose their hair. There will probably be a chemo group gathering on the discussion boards for the month and year you begin. Check it out, and join them. That particular forum was great for good suggestions about relieving side effects.

    Hugs,

    Claire in AZ

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited March 2018

    Hi Diane: still early stage and they give chemo to people older than we are and sometimes we do better on it than younger people. Triple negative responds well to chemo so hang in there...I didn't have this diagnosis, but being node negative is very good news and I doubt being very aggressive, it would have miss them. So, likelihood, the cells are contained within the breast which means VERY treatable. You will know how well the chemo works doing it first; that said, there are so many varieties to try out if one doesn't produce results. Hang in there!!!! Steph

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  • sillyoldrabbit
    sillyoldrabbit Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2018

    Thank you, all, so much for your responses. I have "ChemoTeach" on Monday and will be spending the weekend combing these forums for topics to discuss. I'd never even heard of cold capping until Claire mentioned it, so that sounds like a "hot" one. And I'm sure I read somewhere about icing your hands and feet to prevent neuropathy. That's important to me because one of my main happy places is doing pottery, and sensitive finger tips are a necessity. Anyway, thank you for being there. It's not a journey you'd want to travel alone.

    -- Diane

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  • KSteve
    KSteve Member Posts: 486
    edited March 2018

    Diane - You've got this! All good advice from the other bc sisters who have replied so far. Gotta love this site. It can join us from across the world like no other traditional support group can do. I want to recommend that you check out the thread "Calling all TNs". It's a great group of loving, supportive women who also have triple negative. It does typically respond very well to chemo because of the aggressiveness of it. You can see my stats below my signature line (also triple negative) and I'm happy to say that I'm 7-1/2 years out and doing great! Sounds like you have a great team in place, and you're ready to fight this beast. Take it one day at a time and reach out for help or questions whenever you need it. We're all here for you!

    Hugs,

    Kathy

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2018

    Welcome, but sorry you find yourself here. Some people do very well during chemo. I was one of them. I highly encourage you to join the March chemo group. My chemo group was my lifesaver (both times), and I still am in close touch with many of my chemo paks

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited March 2018

    HI Diane, you're among friends

    You can do this. Chemo has come a long way and the management of side effects is really very good now. I agree to check out some of the TN threads - I'm sort of an honorary TN so I'm on some of the threads. Lots of good info there & yes, TN responds super well to chemo. I said somewhere in a thread that the way I try to look at it is that my cancer is a puny weak type of cancer and has no guts in the face of chemo drugs. It runs away crying.

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  • Starlo
    Starlo Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2018

    Welcome from a fellow triple negative! You'll find that triple negative is unique in its aggressiveness and may find the Triple Negative group helpful. One piece of advice I have to add is to suck on ice chips while you're receiving chemo that causes mouth sores (like A/C). It's a similar concept to cold capping (reduces blood flow and therefore chemo drug/potential side effect buildup). Not every treatment center will offer, but it is standard protocol at mine and I didn't get any mouth sores (hurray!). Good luck on your journey!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited March 2018

    Welcome! I wish our club were even more elite. Too many people qualify :)

    My mother wasn't BRCA tested at 70 though we're Ashkenazi. Once I was diagnosed, however, my sister was able to get tested and better imaging (even though I wasn't BRCA+).

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  • Meg101
    Meg101 Member Posts: 175
    edited March 2018

    Welcome sillyoldrabbit !! I'm not Triple Negative, but I am 70 yrs old and recently finished a chemo treatment plan which is similar to your treatment plan. Mine included Adriamycin and Taxotere instead of Taxol. Taxotere & Taxol are similar because they are both Taxanes). Both are considered strong, which is a good thing, and I breezed through both chemos with few side effects. The key is to make sure you oncologist prescribes good meds, and take them as prescribed. For example, even if you don't feel nauseous, take the anti-nausea meds on time. If you wait until you feel nauseous, it will be too late. As you read through the various threads, you'll find great tips on how to keep SEs at bay. You will likely lose your hair approx 14 days after the first infusion of chemo. We are all here for you, so don't hesitate to ask questions. Wishing you the best. Oh, by the way, I like your name "sillyoldrabbit".

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  • sillyoldrabbit
    sillyoldrabbit Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2018

    I'm just so grateful to you all for your comments and advice.

    Meg101, you and I must have grown up listening to that same commercial. Never cared much for the cereal, though. My hair is nothing to write home about, so I won't shed too many tears when it goes.

    ksusan, you nailed it. Another Ashkenazi here. I have progressive sensorineural hearing loss which has also been attributed to my lucky genes. What are you gonna do?

    Starlo, thanks for the tip about ice chips. I'll be joining the Triple Negative forum shortly.

    Moth, hi again, fellow plantivore!

    Karen, it's so good to know it's possible to sail through this. I was able to find the March Chemo forum and have joined it.

    Kathy, can I please be you? It must be so great to see this in your rear view mirror.

    I didn't thank everyone by name who posted earlier. Just gave a generic thank you message. But want to emphasize how much I appreciate everything you've said.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2018

    SOR,

    I can sure see your need for doing everything you can to avoid neuropathy. Don't let your oncologist pooh-pooh both icing (packages of frozen peas--I put my fingers inside the bags when I was getting infused during Taxol); the nurses let me store them in their fridge-freezer and a supplement (see below).

    Here's research you may find helpful. I took this supplement (L-glutamine, powder form; found at GNC) and had no neuropathy problems at all, although some have told me Taxol is less likely to cause problems than Taxotere. I wasn't taking any chances.

    https://depts.washington.edu/integonc/clinicians/spc/l-glutamine.shtml

    Claire in AZ

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  • LeMo
    LeMo Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2018

    Hi, I just joined the group as well! I think that we have found ourselves a great support grooup here. Good luck in your treatment!!

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  • LeMo
    LeMo Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2018

    Hi, I just joined the group as well! I think that we have found ourselves a great support grooup here. Good luck in your treatment!!

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