Triple negative breast cancer

Hi Julie.c64 

Yes, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in April 2022. I had a lumpectomy, followed by chemotherapy and then radiotherapy.

I had chemotherapy because one of the sentinel lymph nodes removed when I had my lumpectomy had a small amount of cancer cells in it, otherwise I would probably have just had radiotherapy.

Can I ask what grade you had they said it might be chemotherapy before surgery depending on results of tomorrows lymph node biopsy as 1st one was inclusive. Awaiting MRI results as they checked both breasts. My diagnosis was grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. Also did your breast just have lump removed or did it need some reconstruction ten years ago I had an egg shaped non malignant cyst which was not attached so they just removed it and stitched me back up , this was on opposite breast.

Sorry for all the questions 

Mine was Grade 3 and I didn't need reconstruction. I also had a cyst on my opposite breast a few years previously but that was removed by draining.

I think it depends on the size of the lump as to whether you have chemo to shrink it first followed by surgery or not. Mine was quite small so they were confident they could remove it with a lumpectomy and the radiotherapy and chemotherapy was adjuvant.

Hi Julie.c64

I was diagnosed with TNBC in January mine is Grade 3 with no lymph nodes involved. 

I am currently having 12 weeks of chemotherapy with immunotherapy and 4 sessions of E/C to shrink it ( which it is doing very quickly)then surgery and radiotherapy.

Initially mine was measured about a month ago at 1cm ultrasound with biopsy so hoping it's still the same. How long was chemo not sure when to cut my hair, I am planning on donating to little princess trust if I am to lose it

Yes, my cancer was also triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma.

My chemo was over about 24 weeks. I had 3 cycles of EC followed by 12 weeks of paclitaxel.

I had long hair so had it cut to a shorter style a couple of weeks before chemo started. Then I got my husband to cut it to about 1/2 inch all over when it was becoming obvious that my hair was thinning. 

Not all chemo causes hair loss so it's probably best to find out what you'll be having before doing anything drastic.

Hi, I’m currently going through treatment for occult triple negative breast cancer (cancer found in axilary lymph node but nothing has been found in either breasts) and I’m doing 12 weeks of paclitaxel and then 4 cycles of EC every 3 weeks following this, I’m also having immunotherapy along side the chemo and then this will continue for 5 more cycles after surgery (to remove the lymph nodes) on its own. I’ve only had 2 of the 12 paclitaxels so far but touch wood it’s not too bad, only a few small side effects and I’ve not started to loose my hair yet, although they did say that I will at some point on this treatment. 

Can I ask how big was your lump please  they said mine was 5 mm at time of biospy which was on the 21st march  still waiting for results 

Hi Sadgirl58,

You might find that the size they believe the tumour to be varies on how they’re measuring it. My main tumour only appeared to be 7mm by ultrasound but turned out to be 15mm when thy removed it. I did check with the surgeon that it hadn’t just grown in the intervening time, but he said no system is perfect and they don’t really know until they see the tissue 

Good luck

Hi Sadgirl58 

My lump was 9mm with a 30mm area of DCIS after the op.