Triple negative Stage four

Hi Annielle 

I have had a similar experience and my experience is a good news story.

I was originally diagnosed with a small TNBC tumour in Feb 22. I had a lumpectomy followed by 26 weeks of chemo (EC followed by Paclitaxel). No lymph involvement but I did have vascular invasion at the tumour site. I became ill during chemo, ended up in hospital and had a CT scan. A secondary cancer deposit in my liver was one of the findings. I had an unsuccessful ablation, then when it had recurred in my liver and multiplied, went onto Pembrolizumab and Abraxane. I did have a major immunotherapy related adverse event 5 or 6 months into treatment which caused a lot of issues and meant I had to stop treatment. But by then the tumours had almost disappeared. The tumours remained stable so I had a further ablation a few months later to clear any residual cancer in what was probably just tumour scar tissue. I have been in remission ever since.  

So the treatment you are having can work very well and I hope it does for you. If you click on my name there’s more detail in my profile, and also a link to my blog which tells the full story. It’s not been a straightforward journey but I have now been cancer free for several scan cycles and it’s looking like it is holding. 

Thank you so much for this encouraging and truly amazing news !

Although I’m actually now not in pain under my ribs (liver)and the ping pong ball sized lymph node in my neck has gone away … the scan at the beginning of December has thrown me in to a spiral of doom !

Instead of observing and accepting what might even be good signs .

I’m imagining the oncologist telling me the treatment isn’t working …. Thinking how on earth will I cope with such bad news .

As I said I can’t thank you enough for sharing your story and I wish you well  x

Don’t be too disappointed if the first scan doesn’t show reduction, or even shows increase. There’s a well known Immunotherapy phenomenon called pseudo-progression, where the tumour initially seems larger because it’s being infiltrated by T cells. I understand they always give it 2 scan cycles to see if it’s working. 

That is so interesting,and very helpful. I haven’t heard of this before 

Thank you x