Calling all TNs

I had found mine lump. Mis-diagnosed @ mammogram later found my pain in shoulder was swollen lymphnodes. Had chemo prior to surgery LX since I still needed radiation. This all happened this year..reasoning of chemo before surgery is to try to reduce the size.LX is bcuz skin needed to heal and reduce the amount of possible complications.

HopeBry - I received chemo after lumpectomy, but I didn’t know I had TN tumor until pathology came back after surgery - the two that were found on the mammogram were hiding the third, which was the TN tumor.

Once I found that out, I panicked and considered getting a mastectomy. However, after speaking with my cancer team, I am at a highly recommended cancer center, I was 100% fine with my decision. I’m very happy to have my breast, but I completely understand why others make the choice of a mastectomy.

Thank you all for the feedback. I have not had my genetic test results yet but want to lesson my chances of reoccurrence. My young daughter lost her dad to colon cancer this year. She does not know yet of my diagnosis. Trying to figure out when to tell her. Shes 9 and still having a hard time. I want to eliminate the cancer ever coming back if possible. Want to be here for my baby. I like to hear other peoples experiences. thanks

Thanks for your story

Good luck, Hopebry! It’s hard making all these decisions and juggling little ones. My twins were 6 when I was diagnosed and they are 8 now. They have been the driving force in most of my decisions. I’ve also gotten some good ideas for empowering them and tons of support from fellow BC survivors. PM me if i cnhelp!

HopeBry

I found my lump about a month before my mammogram. I can't explain really, but I knew without a doubt it was breast cancer. This was later confirmed with biopsy. My lump was 2.2cm. I was misdiagnosed as estrogen positive due to my 1%, so I had my surgery prior to chemo. I was upset once I found out I actually had TN, but all I could do was move forward. But I will say some parts of me were glad the cancer was out. I had clear margins and 2 nodes/sentinel were tested and were negative. I also had no vascular invasion. I did 4 dose dense AC and 4 DD taxol. That was it. I had a right sided mastectomy so no radiation. I actually wanted radiation but my MO didn't agree I needed it. I sure hope she was right! So now I'm 3 months out and trying my best To put this behind me. This is my story. Hope it's helps in some way! Good luck.

Thank you jenjenl...words and perspective to live by!

Congrats on 6 yes, and many, many more to come! ☺️

Good afternoon . I come on once every so often. I finished my 12 taxols, and Wednesday will receive my 2nd of 4 rounds of a/c. I am tnbc. I just have been feeling very overwhelmed about everything. I started feeling positive now closer I get to ending chemo I feel panicked. I keep reading about tnbc and I fear all this chemo isn't working, I just needed a little pick me up today. I have like 4 eyelashes left on one eye and know whatever has grown back on my head will fall out again. I am tired of people saying it is only hair also. Anyway if anyone experienced all this negativity and panic please share how you get through it.

I don't think I've ever posted on this TN thread before, though I've been reading it. Volleyballmom2008, for what it's worth, I was very much in the same place emotionally. There came a point where I realized nothing "sensible" other than exercising was going to ease my anxiety (like concentrating on work or meditating or doing relaxation exercises or journaling, etc.). I resorted to binge watching stuff on TV or Netflix or Prime and occasionally taking Valium, especially to help me sleep. I hear you on the hair. I found it beyond absurd to realize that emotionally, I was more disturbed by my hair loss than the life and death situation I was in. My last chemo was at the end of August, and my hair is growing in fairly thick by oh so slowly. My eyebrows are more or less back as are my eyelashes, though they're not long enough or strong enough for mascara.

I feel very lucky to have gotten a PCR and clear nodes, and I hope the same for you. However, I know it's no guarantee, so the worries will probably continue indefinitely. The panic has faded, though, thankfully.

The truth is that no one “gets it” unless she’s gone through it. It is just such an overwhelming experience - emotionally, physically and mentally. Some days you’ll feel you’re in control and maybe have a grasp of things and then the next day you’re a weeping mess.

I marvel at the strength , respect and compassion on these threads - we are never alone.

sillyoldrabbit - we followed the same coping manual! I exercised, binge watched and took some drugs to sleep!

I did also journal, but mostly just to rage. My plan is to burn it on a camp fire at some point in the future.

I also found doing normal things I did before diagnosis helped me find a new normal and feel like the whole world wasn’t crashing around me.

hi all.

So I’ve been out of treatment about 3 months. I have a stressful day here and there but I’ve really been doing pretty well- staying out of my head. That is until last Friday my dr called and said my labs were great except my vitamin d was really low. She promised she wasn’t hiding any bad news from me and said I need to start on a supplement and we will redraw labs in 3 months. So the past few days my knees have been really achy and I’m scared. Maybe I shouldn’t be. Can this still be an effect from chemo or the low vitamin d? Thanks for any info!

VL22,

Thank you for easing my mind a little

elindy,

Thank you :-)