TNBC AT AGE 50

Hi

There doesn't seem to be many people on this group and the breast cancer forum may be an option.

I am sorry you find yourself in this boat. Ibhad tnbc in 2018 and had a left breast mastectomy, at that point i refused further treatment, chemotherapy/ radiotherapy.  I has a further tumour in the lymph gland under my arm and agreed to chemo. Generally they like you to have chemo first so that they can see the effect it is having on the tumour but everyone's treatment plan is different.

Every good wish going forward

Regards

Maria

Hi, 

As Maria says everyone’s plan is different.. I’m not quite 50 but was diagnosed with TNBC a year ago. I had chemo for months then lumpectomy and now just started radiotherapy. So far it seems to have been treated successfully with no spreading. 
fingers crossed for you.. and questions about treatment I’ll try and answer xx

Jane 

Thank you all for sharing your journey. 
I have been told that my tumor is 4cm and will need neonadjuvant chemotherapy first. I hope and pray that you recover forever and enjoy your life ahead. Good luck to everyone. 

Hi

I am 58 and was diagnosed with TNBC in October. I am being treated with chemotherapy before surgery and started this on 29th October. My treatment plan is 12 weeks of weekly chemotherapy with paclitaxel (given every week) and carboplatin (given every 3 weeks), I am at week 9 of this and my tumour has already got much smaller. In mid-January, I move on to 3 cycles of FEC and finally will have a lumpectomy. 

Best wishes to you with your treatment.

Hallo,

I am 52 and only last week been told I have TNBC .My treatment Plan is EC every 2 weeks for 14 weeks  and the PAC for 12 weeks. Then lumpectomy as is only 1cm, T1b.

Learning all this medical  terms and and trying to be calm is so tiring .

Any recommendations when doing quimio?

All the luck to everyone 

Hi. I’m 59 and was diagnosed at the beginning of November. I am having chemo every 3 weeks  for 7 sessions and have my second session today. I am trying the cold cap to see if it helps with hair loss, but there are no guarantees. I felt I was in shock for the first few weeks after diagnosis because everything happened so quickly. I’m on EC for the first 3 treatments and was OK after the first session. A bit queasy but took the anti sickness for a couple of days and just ate little and often. I’ve found having some (washed) grapes by my bedside a good idea, my mouth gets dry and it is a change from water. Good luck with you treatment. 

Hi Holly the cat

so glad to hear that your chemo is working and tumor is shrinking. Have you suffered any side effects from chemotherapy? And do they give any strong anti emetics etc ? 
Good luck and all the best for your future treatment. Stay well. 

Hi TNBC50

Yes I have some side effects from the chemotherapy but it is not as bad as I imagined before I started. I’m given anti emetics before the chemo infusions and this helps although I do feel nauseous for the first couple of days afterwards. I manage this with ginger tea. Other side effects I’ve had are bad indigestion and acid reflux which I’ve never had before and am being given medicines to control, aching in my face, a rash on my face and some bleeding in my nose. I am wearing the cold cap during treatment which seems to be working as I’ve not lost much of my hair. 

Do you know your treatment plan now and when do you start?

Best of luck with your treatment 

Hi Holly the cat

I am still waiting for my oncology appointment, these holidays have everything at the moment. I hope and pray and that you feel better with each passing day. 
Do they give anti emetics to take home with you for use later on ? Wearing a cold cap seems like a good idea but do you actually feel cold during the chemotherapy session ? Any advice on that ? 
Thank you in advance. 

Hi

Yes, I do have anti emetics to take home. For the weeks when I have both paclitaxel and carboplatin I am given Emend and dexamethasone to take for 2 days after chemo and also have another tablet to take if this isn't enough. When I have just paclitaxel I don't get the emend and dex and have found I don't need them, I just take the other one occasionally at night.

The cold cap is uncomfortable when it is put on, (a bit like brainfreeze for a couple of minutes) but I find I settle into having it on. I do feel a bit cold and take a blanket to put around me whilst I have the cap on. The cold cap does extend the chemo session as it has to stay on after the infusion for up to 90 minutes depending on how long the infusion is. So far, the cap is working for me, I have minimal hear loss, although I am moving on to 3 cycles of FEC towards the end of January and it could change then.

Best wishes