TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Lilych. Right now it’s 156. That is the highest it has gone and the elevation began shortly after I started aromatase inhibitors. It’s been up and down, but I do have significant osteoporosis that worsened with the AI. I did get prolix too, but I was relieved it had nothing to do with any liver causes

Finally heard back from someone who was able to interpret my biopsy report for me: I do NOT have DCIS and the findings were all benign. My guess that they listed the differential diagnosis and then the actual diagnosis was correct. They are going to try to bump up my other MRI biopsy but I won't hold my breath on that. At least I know now that the trouble is all confined to one breast and the left side is clear.

@gamzu - very good news.

Gamzu710 - glad you got good news!

I asked this on the general chemo forum but I’m a bit confused about hair loss.

For those of you who just received weekly taxol as chemotherapy, did you lose your hair? If so, when?

I’m not sure what to expect…. any insight appreciated.

I lost all my hair after the 2nd time with Taxotere and most of it never came back

Yes, taxol does a number on hair - everywhere. It seems to me it was about 3 weeks. I liked myself bald but REALLY missed my eyebrows. Wish I'd gotten them tattooed on before I started. Permanent make-up isn't cheap but for me would have been worth it. Hair pretty much came back but I have a permanent bald spot from the AI's. I have a great collection of hats though and wear them always.

Great news about the new drug for TP ladies!

Hello Everyone!

Looking to talk some things through and get a few perspectives. I was diagnosed IDC Grade 3, Triple Positive way back on July 29th, 2021. Started the process of meeting with doctors, scheduling surgery and oncology plans and got everything set up to start the end of September. (Which was a little unsettling because of the wait, but was reassured that I still had very good prognosis and there was no evidence of lymph node involvement and the tumor was on the smaller size ~ less than 2 cm.) Unfortunately, insurances became an issue and I have to start the process all over with different doctors. This has pushed the surgery date back to Nov. 2nd. (If you are counting, like I am, that's most 99 days from diagnosis to treatment). The original plan was lumpectomy followed by 12 weeks of chemo once a weeks and then 40 weeks every three weeks.

What I am mulling around in my head... the longer I do nothing, the more it grows and has the chance to spread. Potentially changing my outcome. The original oncologist didn't want to do neoadjuvant treatment for fear of over treating and prognosis was good and the tumor was small (He staged it a 1a)

Meeting with the new oncologist, the possibility of doing treatment prior to surgery may be an option. Is that something you would consider?

I know chemo is not fun but waiting another month + before I do anything isn't very appealing either. Thoughts?

Thanks for all the answers. I had read a post about permanent makeup tattoo and for my eyebrows and eyeliner done before hand. I absolutely love it, and I'm a simple lady.

I start chemo tomorrow and am now prepared for hair loss.Any suggestions on what week to shave my head?

Sarahe, I'm so sorry for the mess you have been experiencing. I would def ask your oncologist if you could start chemotherapy if it would make the processes quicker. See what they say! Good luck

i haven't had experience burx I actually asked my RO about that and, he said it would be possible to do Radiation on the same Boob twice, if necessary. Something about the new technique being

Has anyone ever had a biopsy clip really close to the skin and did it bother you? I had my final MRI-guided biopsy on the third site this morning and it was very close to the skin, so close that when they placed the clip, it somehow punctured through the nearby skin, so I ended up with two holes instead of one. This created a puddle of blood and the radiologist had to hold pressure very hard for like 10 minutes. The clip slid back in on its own and was in place when I had the post-biopsy mammo but the radiologist said it was so close to the skin that it could be irritating, and I should maybe have the surgeon remove it later. Has anyone had that and if so, how significant an irritant was it?

I guess if the spot comes back DCIS then it'll be taken out in another lumpectomy anyway, but ugh. The radiologist also said the site will "probably" scab over and keep the clip in, which I take to mean there's a chance it might fall out. I didn't even know that could happen. There has already been way more bleeding from this biopsy than from the last one which was on both sides. The poor mammogram tech had to get out more steri strips and wipes.

Yes, this was the last step before the long-awaited lymph node biopsy so I will see my surgeon soon. Good idea to ask if she has experience with this! I've never heard of such a thing or read about it on here but she's been around the block so maybe she's seen it before.

I don't know if I've been through the wringer this early in my journey compared to most other women on here, but every interaction I have with the MRI place seems cursed! The biopsy site is still oozing a bit 3 hours after the procedure, though very, very slowly and I think it should stop soon. I hope. Otherwise today will get even more annoying.

I hear you on the frustration and pain of the small things! Being stabbed with a bunch of needles this morning was meh, but being squeezed with gauze afterward was so painful. It just went on and on without letup, like a mammo gone rogue.

There is a lovely hole in my breast. I've just had a shower and seen under the steri strip, which doesn't seem to have adhered properly due to blood collecting on it, and it looks like my breast has its own innie belly button near the nipple, complete with a bit of shower water collected in it. It's about 2mm wide and 3mm deep. It doesn't hurt, isn't bleeding, and doesn't look infected but I have no clue how this is going to close or what kind of stuff might get in there. It probably needed a stitch or glue at the time but now it's been 48 hours so probably too late. Neither of my other MRI biopsy sites looked anything like this at any point. Eww.

The steri-strip peeled off completely around lunch-time so I ended up calling the on-call service because it just left an open wound about 4mm across. The doctor said as long as it isn't actively bleeding and there are no signs of infection, to just keep it covered with bandaids and it should be OK. No need to get it glued or anything. There's a clot in there that's leaving spots on everything it touches but that's apparently not to be worried about so I guess I'll just be wearing bandaids for a long time. Maybe if the spot comes back DCIS and my surgeon has to take it out anyway, she can do something.

People accidentally stab themselves with knitting needles and crochet hooks and things and those heal so I'm sure it'll be fine eventually. The clot is gross but is probably also creating a barrier to bacteria.

Edit: Credit to the on-call service, though. The nurse flagged my situation as urgent and the doctor who did the procedure was on the line with me in under 10 minutes. If only all medical office communication was similar.

Happy to hear your results were benign! Hopefully it will all be a smoother journey for you now.

I can’t help on the fertility side. I know there is a board for young breast cancer patients as well. There might be some good insights on that board too if you don’t get it here?