Calling all TNs

LoveMyVizsla, I had lumpectomy in April 2019 and reduction of the other breast in November. My recovery was very similar, other than I was already worn out in November due to all the other treatment all year. Neither surgery caused me much pain. I didn't take any prescription pain meds either time. I didn't have drains or infections or any problems at all.

The reduction surgery was more extensive. For the lumpectomy, I have one linear scar on the upper, outer quadrant of my left breast. For the reduction, I have an anchor scar. It circumscribes my nipple, runs to the bottom edge of my breast, and then goes to both the left and right of that line. Fortunately I have good healing, so now 10 months later, the scars are visible but not outrageous at all. My nipples are pale, but if they were rosier you probably wouldn't see the scar around it, and the lower lines are hidden under the curve. My nipples have never been very sensitive, so I don't have much sense of what the surgery did to that. I am very very very happy I did it. I went from a C/D cup (pre cancer) to a B/C cup, so not much change, but I'm shockingly symmetrical now.

YAY Martaj, that is such wonderful news!!! I am so glad to hear it!! xxxx

Hi TulaMarie, sorry you find yourself here. yes, an MRI can usually detect spread. Some MO's prefer CT, some MRI but either should tell you your current situation.

Have you been tested for BRCA yet?

The monthly chemo threads are a great resource & I'd suggest joining the October 2020 thread. Also, if you read through some of the older threads, you can learn about common side effects and coping techniques. It's weird but soon all the medical appts become your new normal . The first days and weeks after dx are the worst - it gets better

Best wishes

Hey TulaMarie, I was diagnosed at 30 so I 100% feel you with the unexpectedness of it all. This thread is a great place to come for support and hope so I’m happy you found it. As far as the needles go once (if?) you get a port it will get a lot easier. They can use cryo-spray or emla cream to numb it, and if you really hate needles some places give you the choice of having the nurse draw your labs through your port when they hook you up before chemo. It can mean a bit longer of an appointment but might be worth it if you really don’t like pokes.

Moth is right; the first bit is the hardest part. Once you have an action plan and a better idea of where you stand you can focus on that. Treatment isn’t fun but it’s nice to feel like you’re actively doing something. On a side note, if you haven’t gotten tested for gene mutations make sure you know the repercussions first. I got tested and found out I’m BRCA1 positive which is good to know for prevention, but now I will never be able to get life insurance other than through work benefits even if it’s been decades since my diagnosis. It may not have changed my mind about getting the test but I wish I’d known so I could make that choice knowingly.

Hi TulaMarie,

I'm chiming in even though I'm older than you are - 53 - and just about two years out. I agree with all that's been said so far, but wanted you to know that I'm from Atlanta, too, and if you have any questions that might benefit from a more local perspective, just let me know. Have you figured out to do private messaging yet? Hang in there! You'll get through this!

Congrats love!!! Gives me hope for sure!

LoveMyVizsla, great news! That must be very reassuring.

I'm just 13 months past final treatment, so I still have a ways to go. I search for some means to control my fate. I've been doing intermittent fasting since June, trying to push down my (already healthy) glucose. But it hasn't budged. Sure, I can still change what I eat around the edges. Yesterday I talked with a registered dietician. She said I might want to work on a diabetes diet/lifestyle, that it might help.

But as I talked with her, and later with my husband, and just thinking more about it since then, I think that "control" is largely an illusion. You know, aside from the cancer thing, I'm really healthy! That's true for a lot of us. I'm the right weight, I'm active, careful to eat mostly real food, have good relationships with people, yada yada. I don't have other illnesses or conditions. And still this happened. It's random shitty luck.

It reminded me of when my daughter was anorexic, about 30 years ago. At the time (and likely theories have been updated since then,) the theory was that anorexics were trying to take control over the ONE THING in their lives that they could. Everything else was beyond their control, but they could decide what and how much they'd eat. No one could force them to do something different if they didn't want to.

So is my search for a "better, healthier" diet or way of eating just a search for control over random shitty luck? Obviously, it's easy to eat in unhealthy ways, with a lot of highly processed foods and sugars and too much alcohol. But if you already have a decent diet and habits, how much difference can you make by being more obsessive about it? Probably not much. Some small % reduction of the risk multiplier. From 13% probability of death from bc in the next 9 years (my stat, as per Predict) to 12.4%? Or not??

And what's that 13% based on? The whole population of women like me relative to a few specific stats, but who are unlike me in a wide range of other ways. Argh. I wish I didn't know anything about probability and statistics.

Another one of my long musings here, because I know you all understand. Thanks for letting me share.

Congrats Visla!!!

Regarding control/fear - I find comfort in 'doing what I can' re diet, exercise and supplements. I think I am in MUCH better health than I was at diagnosis. I have lost about 20 lbs and kept it off, I have no more inflammation/achy-joint symptoms, and more energy. Good sleep in a black cold room promotes brown (metabolically active) fat which you want for fat.

I have intermittent fears, like if I have a random ache somewhere my mind goes to C very quickly -- but so far none of my random aches has lasted.

My MO offered me imaging if I couldn't stand *not* having it but so far I have not. I think maybe next year, crossing that year 3 line, I will ask for a MRI or petscan to take a look at the rest of my body and know nothing is brewing.

Sending hope and love to my TNBC sisters.

My first mammo after all the treatment and surgery was read as normal with post-op changes!!!! so excited

Wonderful Martaj!!!!!!

Hello friends. just checking in.
Seven years ago I finished my last chemo for my second triple negative breast cancer. First dx in 2009-had lumpectomy, ACT chemo and rads. Local recurrence in April 2013. Bilateral Mx with Diep. Carboplatin and Taxotere.

I can’t come in here often as it triggers me a little. I spend as little time possible thinking about breast cancer. I have yearly breast MRIs. My diet is not as good as it should be and I drink wine but thanks be to God, still NED.

Just want you newly diagnosed to see this 7 year survivor and also know my good friend is 19 years out from triple negative. She was one of the first treated in California when the sub type was new.

Live each day one day at a time to avoid cancer stealing your joy

My prayers are with you. ❤️❤️❤️

Martaj congrats on passing your first mammo!

MountainMia, truncal/breast lymphedema is what I have too. It may not concern them, but it can be rather painful. I've had multiple PT sessions for it, but try to control it myself now.

Thanks for the reminder Trish I have done brushing in the past and I am going to find my brush and start doing it again. Astounding results sounds good to me

Good info, MountainMia.

I use my dry brush to move lymph in much the same way my PT uses touch. I keep the strokes light, always working with my lymph pathways. I have a lymph drainage chart, as well as the self help information from my PT to guide me.

Trish

Thanks for that info! I have a dry brush, but would never have thought to use it for LE.