Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Fantastic post! Thank you for sharing. x

Thank you so much for sharing!! Im 40 and was diagnosed last May.  I’m just about to finish my radiotherapy after a complete response to Chemo and surgery.  There is much less positivity around the outcomes for triple negative, so it is really good to hear you’re doing well!

I hope you continue to be fit and well! Xx Sharon 

Thank you for sharing, this is great to read. I have TNBC and am just coming to the end of my neo-adjuvant chemo and will be having surgery soon. It is great to read about a positive outcome. 

Thank you for sharing this Sue - I saw it just at the right time as I was very low this morning.  I may have triple negative breast cancer and have only seen bad press about it leading me to think that it was a death sentence.  I've had a lumpectomy and waiting to see what treatment I need - I'm terrified of having chemo but your post has given me hope that there's life after this.

Your message has certainly given hope to me so thank you again.

Deborah

Hi Deborah

I just read your post and wanted to wish you well if you have chemotherapy. I'm just coming to the end of 4 months chemotherapy for TNBC prior to surgery. Like you I was terrified of having chemo and pleaded with my surgeon to do surgery. I've had a pretty intensive course of chemo with weekly treatment for the first 12 weeks, followed by 3 cycles of 3-weekly treatment which finishes next week. It has been nothing like as bad as I feared because the staff do so much so support with the side effects. I do have side effects but they are manageable, if you need to have chemo, take one step at a time, keep talking to the nurses who will support you, and I've found keeping up with gentle exercise has really helped me. Signs are that I've had a good response to the chemo, my lump has gone. Happy to chat further if you would like to.

Best wishes

Corrine

Thank you so much, Sue !

This was such a heartening post, I really needed to read your account.

I really understand you wanting to not rake over the past....... you're in a new place now.

Best wishes ️

Thank you so much for replying to my post Corinne, I'm just so overwhelmed with everything at the moment to be honest and it's lovely to hear that you're doing so well.  It gives me courage for my results next week - I'm prepared for the TNBC diagnosis.  I've gone through the process a different way around to you - I've had the lumpectomy first and will follow up with chemo, so glad your lump has gone.  Does that mean no surgery at all?

 Please keep in touch I would love to know how you're getting on.

Deborah 

Hi Deborah

Everything does seem overwhelming at first, I know after my diagnosis I felt completely overwhelmed and anxious. I've got through it all by taking one step at a time. It was very encouraging seeing the message here from Sue that she is fine 5 years after her treatment. This helps me have hope and be optimistic about the outcome.

Indications are that my lump has gone, I have an ultrasound a few days after my last chemo session to see what if anything is left. I will still need to have some surgery as I had two magseeds inserted into my lump and affected lymph node at diagnosis. I've been told these are to identify the site of the cancer so if it has all gone, which I hope it has, they will remove the tissue around the site to give some clearance. At this point there will also be a decision about whether I need radiotherapy.

It has all been a massive shock to me and happened just before my daughter's wedding. I've always been really healthy so I was shocked and angry about all this. I am now coming to terms with it and looking forward to being out the other side and recovering. 

I'll definitely stay in touch, I hope all goes well with your diagnosis meeting and discussions about your treatment plan.

If it helps to know I had 12 weeks of paclitaxel weekly plus carboplatin 3-weekly and had minimal side effects from this. I am now on 3 cycles of FEC which is given 3-weekly, this is a tougher regime to handle but I'm getting through it, I just need longer to rest after the chemo than previously. I've been cold capping and have kept a lot of my hair and find the fatigue is not too bad. We are all different though and the doctors are very open to talking and adjusting things as we go along to keep it as comfortable as possible.

Best wishes Corrine

Hi Corinne

Thank you for replying - I'm feeling a bit 'alone' at the moment so it's lovely to know there's someone I can relate to.

I had a lumpectomy on 12th January but unfortunately I had to have another operation on 23rd February as they had not managed to get all the cancer on the first attempt.  My lump was 31mm long.  The surgery didn't really bother me - whilst I'm very sore and it took a few days to get over the anaesthetic I can live with that.  I had a sentinel node biopsy on my lymph nodes and they were clear.

I was getting really anxious looking at the internet about TNBC - it seems to be a really gloomy outlook on there but I've decided not to look anymore and concentrate on looking at the posts on this blog instead which are really inspiring.  I really didn't want chemo but after reading your post I'm ready for whatever they want to throw at me so thank you for that.  My experience of chemo is from when my dad had it in the early 90's and I'm sure things have changed a lot since then.  Thank you for letting me know your treatment plan - I'll see how it compares with what they've got planned for me.  

I've decided that I'm going to shave my head before treatment and get a couple of wigs.  I'm hoping to do a sponsored shave to raise some money for Macmillan - I might as well turn the occasion into a positve.

I hope your diagnosis didn't ruin your daughter's wedding too much?  Anytime is not a good time to get such a diagnosis - especially when you've got a big family event lined up.  Did she get married during Covid too?  That just adds to the stress of treatment.

I've got my Covid jab next Tuesday so there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Enyoy your weekend

Deborah

Hi Deborah

Definitely not alone in this. My treatment was back to front of yours.  Neo-adjuvant chemo, surgery and I’ve just finished radiotherapy.  Embracing the hair situation and taking control is a great move! embrace the east of wigs and recommend a bamboo cap underneath it for comfort. 
good luck with your vaccine jab next week! (Happy dance!)

you’ve got this! X S