Calling all TNs

LookingUpward, welcome and I'm sorry to see you here. There is a chemo group every month, where people can compare notes and support each other. Look for the January 2021 group.

As to diet, you might find that it changes simply because different foods appeal to you (or repulse you!) than you usually eat. Drinking lots of water, eating a little light especially in the first couple of days, will probably help you with nausea. Also you will be prescribed probably at least two different nausea drugs. Don't hesitate to use them if needed. Don't wait until you're in the midst of a bad session to start taking them. If you start to feel queasy, go for it, because waiting will make it harder to settle.

That said, I had very little nausea with chemo, though I didn't have Taxotere. (mine was adriamycin and cytoxan.)

Overall, chemo side effects vary widely. Don't assume that you will react the same as anyone else. You might sail through with little trouble, or maybe not. Your MO will be able to help a lot, though. ASK for help if you need it. That's what they are there for.

Feel free to come through here and ask TN-specific questions. It's not an especially active thread generally, so your month chemo group will often be more help.

Hi friends - its been a while! I've hit 8 yrs since dx. I actually got approved for life insurance, which I'm thrilled about. This has allowed me to look for different career opportunities. I'm reaching out on a special ask.

I am working with a hospital on how patients search for doctors. I'd like to share my thoughts and query this group for additional perspective.

Aside from standard search capabilities of name, office name, location/proximity:

1) more granular filters to include specialties ( i.e. triple negative) vs high level (i.e. oncology or breast cancer)

2) bar at the top what says, I'm looking for a doctor for (insert name)

3) method to indicate whether a doctor is researching/leading/participating in a clinical trial (route to it, if possible)

4) method to indicate if the Doctor has published medical journals (route to it, if possible)

5) better promotion of doctor satisfaction rating from patients (better method to engage/collect)

What are some other details or ways you search for Doctors?

Thank you, 5andcounting. That's a great message for me today. Congratulations on your good health.

Poppy, I can't help you about not thinking about recurrence! I think about it every day. But I try to stay realistic in my thinking, reminding myself that 1) it will happen or not, and I can't change that by ruminating about it; 2) my Predict stats show the probability of death from tnbc (my stats only, not yours!) are vastly in my favor, even if not as good as I want; 3) I get to decide what "vastly in my favor" means. And 4) I always have plenty to do TODAY, so I should get busy doing it.

And for me, today, that means now I need to get up from the computer and go do something else! I'll come back and check later, though, as I'd love to see if other people chime in.

Kathryn--that cake is the bomb, and congrats on your milestone. Keep up the good work!

Hello all. I've recently been diagnosed with IDC, IBC, and discovered by reading my doctor's visit followup report last night that since my "PR" value is only 12% he considers me "TN." Oh, goody. Since I really am clueless about everything breast-cancer related, I'm on a roller coaster of emotions this week. I am well past menopause so I'm wondering how the whole hormone thing will affect my treatment.

I have a brain MRI tomorrow and an echo-cardiogram later in the week, on the home stretch to having my port installed. I'm waiting on PET scan results and learning an entire new language that I hoped I'd never have to know. I'm going to read this thread from the beginning and see what I can learn from you all.

LW422,

It is overwhelming, especially at first. I think that this website is very helpful. I wish I had discovered it when I was first diagnosed in June 2019. I’m glad for you that your doctors are doing the PET scan. I had brain MRI, breast MRI, bone scan, full body CT, and echocardiogram before I started chemo but no PET. All the tests were done in a week because they had to rush me into chemo since the tumor seemed to be growing very quickly. I had to get my port implanted after my first infusion because there wasn’t enough time to do it before I began chemo. Once I was in active treatment, I focused on managing side effects from the treatment. This website has great info. on dealing with side effects. For example, I was totally prepared for nausea and vomiting with Adriamycin and cytoxan (which fortunately for me, I didn’t have), but I was not prepared for the hemorrhoids (TMI?) or shingles. My Onc. Nurses were very helpful, but I wish I had discovered this website during my Ac-T chemo treatment. The ladies here will be helpful to you. Hang in there

Thanks, NorCalS and Mia. Naturally I'm really scared about chemo and hoping side effects are manageable. I have been spending far too much time on this forum, trying to absorb everything, though I'll admit that some information adds to my anxiety. I have an aggressive cancer (IBC) so things have been happening pretty fast which I suppose is a good thing, but it has me reeling.

I appreciate the good wishes and I am hopeful that we all have a good outcome.

Hello All,

Just wanted to come on here to say that I am 3 YEARS out from a TNBC diagnosis! I had surgery 1/25/18. I pray that I can come back here to say I reached the 5 year milestone

Hugs and best wishes to everyone!

LW422,

My understanding is that aggressive TN cancer responds well to chemo. The AC part is tough, but doable. I felt like my tumor responded the fastest to AC. I hope the chemo is effective for you as well. There may be some weird side effects, but there are so many ladies who have gone through this on this board, that there will be someone who wean give you some tips and tricks. In fact, I think there is a thread for tips for handling chemo. We’re here for you.

Yes, hooray! Three years, big sigh of relief!! Here's to 3 more!

Krissy37 congrats on the three years!!

Well, this is a club I never thought I would be a member of. I was diagnosed on 2/4/21 with Triple Negative IDC. I was prepared for the cancer diagnosis but not the triple negative! Terrifying to say the least. Thursday I saw my breast surgeon, plastic surgeon and geneticist. My tumor is on the left side, 3mm in size and no apparent lymph nodes affected. It was decided to do a double mastectomy on 3/3 followed with chemo. I will meet with my oncologist 2 weeks after surgery. I’m in the DC area and feel I have found a good team. I have my game face on for my family and friends and trying to only think positive thoughts but man this is a monster. Glad I found this forum. Need all the good advice and support.

1414 - I too am TN, diagnosed last March, in fact it was the the day my state began its stay at home order due to covid. Because of this my MO needed to get me going ASAP so I did chemo first and then surgery. I went from being diagnosed on Thursday to meeting my MO and BS on Tuesday and starting chemo on Wednesday. Everything was so rushed, to say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement, but it was doable.

Chemo was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I had my moments, but nothing horrible. Recovery from surgery, for me, was a breeze. I was actually surprised how well I felt. I did not need pain meds and was able to get by on Advil and Tylenol. I had an issue with one drain, but it was more of a nuisance than anything else. I hope you have a similar, if not better, experience.

Poppy_90 has given you some great advice, please do be kind to yourself! If you need anything, please feel free to reach out! Sending you a virtual hug!

Yay, Flynn! Congratulations on hitting your four year mark. I'm coming up on four years since my surgery in April. It's amazing how these anniversaries mean so much to us triple negatives.

Here's hoping for many, many, many more years with your sons.

Trish

Martaj & Flynn - congrats on your anniversary, Trishyla on the upcoming anniversary. I hope and pray to get there as I do for all the others going through bc and any other type of cancer.

I see my MO tomorrow after a 8 week break from Xeloda as we thought my body was not tolerating it very well; SE's did not go away during these 8 weeks and now I'm thinking it was the AC & Taxol I did last summer. I'm apprehensive as I'd like to finish my treatment, but worried my body is now reacting to the assault from chemo and previous medical issue, not to mention I still have my TE's and they are causing some achiness; looking forward to the exchange. This frigid weather does not help, so I'm praying for warmer days to come soon. Maybe it's time to start planning a vacation to somewhere warm, near the ocean!