Reluctant to talk about it

Hi MaryJ so sorry to hear of your ongoing treatment and I can completely empathise. I am not triple negative, but I went through chemo, surgery and radiotherapy for most of 2021 and now find myself on daily letrozole tablets (for 10 years) and bisphosphonate for 3 years. It is so frustrating to have this ongoing treatment hanging around.

My personal thought process is that my ongoing meds are preventative and doing me some good, so I happily take them. I work hard to try not to think about the meds, but I do admit it does mean it stays quite “present” and it's harder to put this all behind me and move on. 

in terms of your own Triple Negative treatment and whether or not you should take the bisphosphonates, that is of course your choice, but perhaps a discussion with your oncologist or breast nurse will help with explaining the benefits and risks. Best wishes 

Hi MaryJ

i have been on biophosphonate since April 22. My treatment is infusions of Zoledronic Acid every 6 weeks. I also have Ad-Cal twice daily. 
My cancer is hormone related and so different to you.

they probably have a reason to offer biophosphonates, do you know which?

it’s hard to have continuing treatment, sad for you but here is where you can have support. Perhaps find others that are Triple Negative on this forum?

Its good you are reaching out. There is a lot of info here too.

Jan

Hi MaryJ

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.  The reason that your oncologist wants you to have Biphosphante treatment to help prevent bone thinning and to reduce the risk of your triple negative cancer coming back.  If you want more information on Biphosphantes so that you can make an informed decision on whether to have the treatment you can find the information in the following link: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/bisphosphonates-for-breast-cancer.

Wishing you the best of luck with radiotherapy and any further treatment you may have.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi Mary

i have triple negative breast cancer too and have been on a similar treatment plan. Triple negative just means your cancer isn’t driven by oestrogen, progesterone or human growth hormones, so the doctors can’t give you a treatment to block the relevant hormone to reduce the risk of recurrence. Bisphosphonates help protect you from recurrence in your bones. Of course you can refuse if you wish. I haven’t had any side effects I am aware of from the treatment, in my case a infusion every 6 months 

Thank you so much for replying. You hit the nail on the head about my biggest concern - side effects!

I feel like I've had every one possible during chemo and its dealing with those that has been the hardest. Till this I was rarely ill, now I feel like the worst version of myself, mentally and physically.

I think I'll know more about the Biphosphantes in a couple of weeks so I just need to park it for now, finish chemo (last one next week), have radiotherapy and then deal with it!

Thank you :-)

MaryJ

In my experience it’s nothing like chemo.