Surgery before chemo with TNBC

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cccmc2
cccmc2 Member Posts: 131
edited July 2018 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi all.

I was originally diagnosed in March with E+P- breast cancer . I had a right mastectomy within 2 weeks only to find out later that my cancer is TNBC. I had a sentinel node biopsy which was clear and clear margins. I know I can’t change what is done I just hope this doesn’t lower my chances of staying cancer free. Shouldn’t I have had more nodes tested too? So frustrating I’ll never know if the chemo is actually working

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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited July 2018

    I didn’t know my cancer was TN until after surgery either. Many hospitals still do surgery first with small TN tumors.

    As far as more nodes being taken out - my Dr said not necessary and I really trust him- I’m at a top cancer facility.

    I too worried about having surgery first, but not anymore. There is always something to worry about. If I did get chemo first and didn’t get a complete response I’d be a basket case. And the truth is some women who get one get cancer again and so many who don’t never get it again!

    Some women diagnosed with a tiny tumor and no nodes are stage 4 in a year and others are diagnosed stage 3 and 5 years out are cancer free.

    You’ve done all you can do and I he numbers are highly in your favor. We all still worry, but I’ve really been concentrating on living.

    Hugs.

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

    I had surgery first too (& we thought I was ER+ then) & like VL22 says, many oncologists still prefer to do surgery first, even for tnbc. Surgery is still the mainstay of treatment & gives the biggest benefits. While it gives me a little thrill to read about tumor that actually shrink during chemo, there are unfortunately also those for whom the chemo doesn't work and it actually grows on chemo. I guess on one hand your team finds out that a certain chemo regimen is not useful; otoh, if there isn't another chemo regimen avail, then what?

    My tumor was a Grade 3 and growing rapidly. I'm glad we got it out quickly.

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  • cccmc2
    cccmc2 Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2018

    thank you for your responses! It helps me to put things in perspective

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