Does TNBC always mean Chemo?

Hi Hugie

I had a mastectomy in April, followed by 15 rounds of radiotherapy.  I was not offered chemotherapy and the explanation was that because of my age (83) the side effects would outweigh any benefit.  I am happy with that because at my age I really don't want any of the side effects I read about with other peoples experience.  However if you are young perhaps you will be offered it eventually and then its your own decision.  I wish you well.

Hi Hugie,  I was first diagnosed in 2017,  same result as you.  Had lumpectomy and SNB.  HAD 15 radiotherapy session and chemo was suggested but not recommended,  the decision was up to me.  I had clear margins all round so decided not to have it.

2019 i was diagnosed with TN again.  Mastectomy and aux level one nodes removed.  Couldnt have radiotherapy again as same side as before so it was 3 months of weekly chemo with zoladronic iv infusions every 6 months.  
if id had chemo in 2017 would it have not returned.... same breast but different area.....  nobody could say.

good luck with your radiotherapy,  i found this very doable,  any questions or advise please message me xx

Thanks for the reply Louka. I'm 54 so it may be that they offer me it if it's spread to the lymph nodes. I'm hopeful that I won't need it although worried that the cancer will return if I don't have it. Good luck to you in your own fight xx

Thanks for the reply Swift15. I'm hoping that I don't need chemo, but am also worried that this will return in the future, so am undecided about whether to accept chemo if offered. I realise that Chemo is unpleasant and won't be a picnic, but given the recurrence of tnbc seems to be quite high and it's quite aggressive if it takes hold elsewhere in the body I think on balance it may be wise to just accept it and deal with the side effects. I hope you are clear now and the chemo resolved your cancer completely xx

I had a grade 3 18mm TNBC tumour with no lymph node involvement. Initially I knew I would have surgery and radiotherapy, and chemo was tbc depending on the pathology report. I was offered chemo once they had the pathology report the main reason being my tumour was intertwined with a vein (vascular invasion) and cancer can spread through the blood as well as through the lymph system. I wasn’t particularly keen on having chemo but decided to go ahead after a discussion with the oncologist about the high risk nature of TNBC. I found out part way through chemo via a scan done for other reasons that I already had a secondary deposit on my liver, which they think got there before my breast surgery. Fortunately the chemo has shrunk it, and at the moment I don’t have any other known mets. My experience suggests it is indeed an aggressive cancer (although I appreciate yours is grade 2, not grade 3) and the decision I took to have chemo may have given me some additional time, with some possibility it has saved my life. 

i have been writing a blog of my experience, I hope it is of some help to you community.macmillan.org.uk/.../a-trip-with-triple-negative-breast-cancer

Thanks for the reply Coddfish. I get my pathology results next Tuesday and while I am hopeful they'll be clear, I already have a swollen lymph node in my neck which was present before my mammogram, so feeling a bit worried about that. I've also had some stomach issues in the last three weeks, but think this is coincidence. From everything I've read about tnbc I think I'll probably go with chemo too if it's offered. Glad they caught your secondary cancer early. Good luck with your recovery xx

Thank you for your information. I have the same as you TNBC 20mm. I am only at the beginning. Just going for pre op this week. It’s good to read from someone with the same. My head is mashed at the moment. With people like you talking about there experience it all helps.

Did you get your results hugie.? Wishing you all the best. 

Weinberg70  Glad to be of help. My views on chemo have completely changed due to my experience. 

Got my results back yesterday, not 7mm but 13, clear margins though and no lymph involvement. Unfortunately it's reclassified as grade 3 so chemo next then radiotherapy.