Hello - First Post

Mish 12 hours ago

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Hello everyone,

I’m so grateful that we are all in this together but am sorry that we all find ourselves here, too.

This is my first post. I was diagnosed with a 6cm TNBC tumour in September and am currently in my 5th round of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which will be followed by surgery and radiotherapy. The immunotherapy is planned to continue for a year.

I am struggling to keep positive for a cure. My oncologist has said that are treating it a curable but I can’t help thinking with the size and type of cancer that it will recur and spread. My husband and family are positive about a good outcome but I feel like I’m being fake and have this underlying feeling of dread.

The good news is that at the half way point of chemo, the tumour had shrunk to 33mm, so the treatment is working. I was wondering if anybody has an idea on whether my surgery will be a lumpectomy or a mastectomy? I feel like I would prefer a mastectomy but feel very confused by it all and quite scared and not at all brave. I think you are all so brave.

i’m not sure of this post even makes sense but thank you for letting me ramble.

Coddfish 2 hours ago

I am sorry you are in this situation but would like to offer you some hope. I have metastatic TNBC - it had spread to my liver. I was treated with Pembrolizumab and chemo in 2023 and achieved a full remission which has held, so far, without further treatment. This despite being classed as incurable at the time of treatment. The immunotherapy is designed to allow your immune system to see any rogue cancer cells, wherever they may be, and clear them up. So as well as shrinking your primary you can be assured it’s working systematically on you.

I can’t answer your question on surgery other than to say it will be a question of tumour volume versus breast volume and both types of surgery give similar outcomes.

You are not rambling at all. It’s a scary place to be. Hold on to the fact that your treatment is working. I don’t think it’s possible to completely stop worrying. Because my cancer has been in my bloodstream and could pop back up in my liver - or indeed anywhere - I have a scan every 6 months. The anxiety around results doesn’t ease for me. I will be grateful to hit 5 years from my original diagnosis in February next year, maybe it will become easier then.

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Hello - First Post