please help

Great news Sue that it was not in your nodes.

I had low nuclear grade DCIS so I just had the bilat mast and am not taking chemo or rads. I also had all the DCIS removed with the needle biopsy so they did not get an acutal measurement of it. But you need to do what will help you the most.

About the pains in your arm, I heard that the pain down the arm is also connected to the nerve damage done during the surgery but it should resolve itself in time.

Sheila

Hi Sue -

I just happened on this thread and want to say that I can tell you are a strong woman and you will beat this.  I am also young (40) and am looking at my last chemo next week.  It seems like it was forever but went quickly at the same time.

I wanted to comment on the pain in your arm.  I had the same pain and it is from the surgery.  I went for physical therapy and couldn't believe how quickly it went away after that.  They gave me exercises to do every night and within 2 weeks, I was 90% better.  I only had to go to about 6 therapy appts.  I really didn't think it would help that much, but it did! I am now 7 months out of surgery and have some numbness in my arm, but no pain at all with anything I do.

I know it's a long time to wait, but be glad about the negative nodes!!  You will feel much better once you get a full plan of action in place.

Best of luck to you!

Great news Sue!!! You are now getting close to having a plan. I can't tell you how much having a genuine plan makes things bearable. Most of that old devil anxiety will be shoved into a jar with bootface.

Sue, clear lymph nodes trump grade 3 every time.  Clear nodes, grade 3 = probably no spread. A few positive nodes, grade 2 = possible cancer cells in other organs. Yes, grade 3 is more aggressive and that is why it grew fast. But it likely was growing fast in the breast instead of exploring elsewhere.

Close to the chest wall means maybe radiation, but the oncologist will have full information and can guide you there. Size and grade...borderline for chemo. At your age, I think I'd go for it, but again, your onc will know a lot more and will give you all your choices.

At any rate, your ducks are now in a row, ready to be hunted. Congratulations! And in 6 weeks, the pain will be history, too.

Towhee 

Wow Sue, you already put up your "signature"!



You've come a long way, baby!!!



Tender

WHOOOPEEEE! Negative nodes!!!!! What a huge blessing to you! Now you will outlive all the docs!!!!hahahaha



HOOOOORRRAAAYYYYY!!!GOD SAVE THE QUEEN AND OUR SWEET SUE!!!!

Sue- Sue- this was taken in Key West, Florida last week. Not such a great picture of me but I am having a drink for all my BC sisters that I have met on these boards!!!  The bar is called Captain Tony's Saloon and I'm having a very delicious Pirate's Punch!!  The place is filled with business cards.  There must be thousands of them covering the walls.   Aren't the bra's a hoot??? 

Sue,

Do you mean ER-/PR-??? If so, I can't help you with that.

 I also had my tumor removed and had no visible signs of disease but the chemo treatment I had was designed to kill any cells that might be floating around in my body.  The radiation just concentrated on my affected boob.

This is just another bump in the road, try not to despair.

Valerie

Don't despair Sue.  There are tons of ladies on these boards who are triple negative.  I'm sure you'll get lots of helpful info to put your mind at ease.  Tender is right, there's a triple negative thread that you may want to browse or pose questions.  Relax--it will be fine.

Love and hugs,

Karen

Hi Sweet Sue, I am a "Triple Negative" and that means that hormone therapy does not do us any good.  It means that your cancer is not Estrogen or Progesterone driven.  I personally was glad.  And you, since you are quite young, I think are better off, since you still have periods and still produce estrogen.

Now, these cancers CAN be, not for sure, but CAN be aggressive.  But the interesting part is, if you get through 2 or 3 years without a recurrence or metastasis, triple negative breast cancers VERY RARELY RECUR after this much time.

This is just another thing.  Try not to focus on it or worry about it.  It is what it is.  As you know, I am 9 years out of treatment and just fine.  So being Triple Negative is not ideal, it is far from the end of the world.  I was glad I did not have to take Tamoxifen or Femara, because these drugs are wonderful, but like all medicines, not side-affect free.

So stop worrying about this.  You cannot change it, and the fact that your lymph nodes were negative means nothing has passed on to the rest of your body, so being triple neg, means a lot less.

There are so many aspects, some are good (like no lymph nodes), some are not so good, (triple negative) and some don't matter.  It is what it is.  It is still just another part of the picture.  So don't focus on this too much.

You will live to see Charles on the throne and probably William, too.  With maybe Kate Middleton as Queen.  That will be fun time.  I have stayed up all night for all the weddings and funerals since Margaret Rose married Antony Armstrong Jones. 

So keep the pint handy, we will be together.  I promise.

And keep all the things you are being told in perspective.  You have passed with flying colors the real, real biggies, all your scans were clean and no nodes.  Concentrate on this and forget about the other, can't change it, so don't dwell on it.

You are loved and cherished, our Sweet Sue, you will be just fine.

Hugs and kisses, Shirlann