Calling all TNs

Hi all. I hope people are doing okay, and your families and loved ones are healthy, too.

Short update on me, basically to say, I'm almost 1.5 years past diagnosis and more than a year since final chemo. I feel pretty well and could say that it's almost as good as pre-diagnosis. A year ago I couldn't walk down the block and my legs were buckling from chemo fatigue. Now I can walk as far as I want. A year ago I was bald, and now I fret about my hair being too long. (It's short! and my husband has been cutting it since mid-March. It looks okay, but a pro-haircut would be great!) I would love to go to the gym but even though it's open, I don't feel safe for that. I'm bored staying at home but grateful that my treatment was last year and not this year, and am glad I'm not going to the hospital much this year. Mixed bag, just like any normal human has.

I'm starting to not feel doomed, but also have a greater sense of peace about whatever my personal fate is. I might live 40 more years, I might live 40 more months. In truth, either one is okay.

Thanks to all those who come around to this thread to offer encouragement.

MtnMia I love everything about your post. So beautifully put!!!! We are right with you and a few months behind you!! So very grateful to be where we are and not where we were a year ago. Blessings to you and yours!

Jay

Hi Mountainmia and Jrom,

I remember you from our May 2019 chemo group. Glad you are both doing well. I am feeling great. Will have follow ups with SO and MO soon. Had a clear mammo and MRI at the end of March. My hubby will be retiring at the end of this month, so will be entering into a new phase for us. Wishing to travel to visit friends and family when it is safe to do so. Keep in touch.💞🙏 Pat

https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20200730/fda-grants-priority-review-to-keytruda-for-triplenegative-breast-cancer

So this is my first post in this forum. I've posted in my chemo group, but not here yet. I love reading the amazing posts from everyone sharing their experiences.

I'm 1 year (2 days ago) from my final treatment. I had surgery, chemo (AC+T finished 6/13/19) and radiation (finished 8/1/19). I am approaching my official 1 year cancer free (8/26/20) although I'm kind of afraid to say that out loud - bad karma and all. I have been feeling pretty good and been dieting, to get not only the 9 pounds of COVID weight, but the 20 pounds of treatment weight off. I've been exercising and generally feeling pretty good. Much of my inner me was left at the alter of treatment. I am now post-menopausal. My skin is not the same as when I had hormones coursing through my body. My eyebrows and eyelashes just aren't the same. I have hair growing placed I never thought I'd see. But for the most part I felt like I've weathered the storm. I'm HERE! I'm ALIVE!

I've been dealing with little to no hair followed by the crazy chemo curls. This is after a lifetime of thick, long, poker straight hair. Today I finally felt like my hair might be long enough to try to straighten it. To look a little more like the "old me". I have to say I think it was a mistake. It made me see that I've been fooling myself and my hair is a lot thinner than before treatment. I realize that this shouldn't matter because again...I'm HERE! I'm ALIVE! I feel weak. I should be focusing on the cancerversaries, but instead I'm mourning my hair and wondering if I just need more time for it to fill in. I'm going to ask my oncologist at the end of the month, even though I'm pretty sure of the answer already. I will acknowledge my sadness and move on, but I just wondered if any of the long time posters here had any hope for me that it will fully come back?

Thank you all for jumping in and updating so much recently. When I'm having a hard day I go back through and read this thread to remind myself that it's possible for me to come through to the other side of this

Lillierose, your post was particularly therapeutic for me to read. Our stats are pretty similar and I was pregnant when diagnosed at 30 so it's been hard to find a lot of people who have a similar situation to me and are through it.

I'm making good progress and am almost through chemo with my surgical date locked down for September. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement

Martaj,

Congratulations on your cancerversary! I'm so glad you're doing well. Curly white hair sounds beautiful! It's so interesting how our hair changes so much when it comes back. Not having to shave legs was definitely one of the few perks to treatment.

Congrats Martaj. Sending virtual hugs.

https://www.clinicalomics.com/topics/oncology/breast-cancer/new-targets-for-triple-negative-breast-cancer-therapies-uncovered/

Has anyone been cured of triple negative breast cancer without chemo?

I think what I had was considered 2nd generation chemo for tnbc. I had 4x AC, dose dense. Taxotere disagreed with me, so we switched to adriamycin.

This is my first response to a forum so bare with me....I am ready to tell my (current) story. Okay, my Triple Negative "journey" goes a little like this.....

At the beginning of 2020, while nursing my 3rd and final child I noticed a rather large lump deep inside my left breast. After the obligatory visits to the OB/GYN, then the Breast center for my first mammogram ever (because I am still in my 30's), then for a biopsy (any other nursing mom's here that have had a biopsy?!... because it's hilarious.....milk coming from everywhere like a sprinkler!! Trying to find the humor in this). Then the meeting when the nurse told me what was what but all I really heard was "Cancer Cancer Caner Cancer! Cancer? Cancer Cancer!!" After I calmed down I found out that I was the "lucky" recipient of:

-Triple Negative, stage 3 high grade invasive mammary carcinoma

BOOOOO! Worst prize ever.

From there it was 21 weeks of chemotherapy followed by a Bilateral total mastectomy. I am 3+ weeks post op and feeling "eh" but I am ready to get back on that Peloton! Ha!

This week has been the first time I could even muster enough courage to come onto this site and join forums. I joke and mess around but this has been so hard. I feel like I am WAAAAAY out of my wheelhouse here. The Triple Negative diagnosis didn't even really hit me either until a few weeks ago. What the heck made me grow a grody cancerous tumor in my body?!?!? Getting genetic tested is my next step...another fear...what if I pass this ability to grow grody cancerous tumors on to my kids?!

I will start reading but I would love to know if many TN's have reoccurring Cancer because I told my husband that I will NOT be getting Cancer again!!! HA! I can not wait to read other people's Journeys. I have learned that everyone's is different and what worked for you may not work for others. I am the Queen of NOT giving unsolicited advice so I am hear to listen and learn! You all seem to be amazing, caring people with stories worth hearing!

I love this thread

Diagnosed Stage ll, Grade 3 Triple Negative IDC when i was 28 years old, 8/11/2017

Chemo AC/T, Lumpectomy, Radiation finishing treatment 04/2018

So 3 years out from diagnosis for me about to turn 32. I had my little miracle baby 8/2019. We had been trying for 5+ years before cancer and then after treatment they told me my chances where slim as i could not afford to harvest eggs. But here he is and he is perfect. Just turned one.

I saw someone every 3 months till this last visit and now i see someone every 6 month NED as far as i know

Turbokitten88: wow, congrats on the baby! That is such wonderful news!

Hi, Carley! I like you already because you're half my age, but say "Grody." 😄 I know this is a scary time. Many of us experience that weird letdown when we complete treatment. During active treatment, we're focused on "I need to be at my appointment with Dr. X on Monday, then see Dr. Y the following Tuesday. Be sure to have these bras on hand and that prescription filled, etc." Then, all of a sudden, that flurry of focused activity is over and we often turn inward. Along the lines of what Moth said, do what you reasonably can to reduce your risk, but not to a point where doing so becomes obsessive and adversely affects your quality of life. Your Peloton awaits!

To offer encouragement to you and others, I'm pleased to share that I've had another clear mammogram and good CA27-29 blood test results. (Disclaimer: The CA 27-29 test is not a definitive test; rather, an increased level may be an indicator of a problem.) I'm now more than 4 years out from my initial diagnosis. These forums were a huge help for me in terma of information and emotional support. Thank you!

Lyn