New diagnosis triple negative breast cancer

Hi kiwi

i was diagnosed with TNBC in September and I am due to start chemo in 8 days time.  I had to have several biopsies, vacuum assisted biopsy, mri scan and a ct scan, these came back clear.  I have a grade 3 27mm tumour but nothing in lymph nodes.  I have been waiting for 2 months from diagnosis to get to my chemo start date due to all the additional investigations they have done.  I have literally panicked for most of that time.  The best advice I can give you is not to Google it.  I did this and I think I made myself feel worse because I was finding irrelevant and out dated information. It has been a massive rollercoaster because it was all so unexpected and a massive shock.  I have spent most of the last couple of months on massive highs and lows, tearful, feeling nauseous and exhausted most of the time.  I am relieved to be starting treatment, and also quite daunted by what’s ahead. I have to ignore what I have googled and just focus on each step at a time rather than look too far ahead.  Mine was discovered on my 2nd routine mammogram, I’m 55 and so grateful for this screening.  Lots of love to you xx

Hi, Thank you for taking the time to message me. I really appreciate it!

I agree the waiting and not knowing is the hardest part. I am off work on annual leave now as I was meant to be travelling ti Thailand to celebrate my 45th birthday so trying to book my time up so I don’t have time to stress and worry.

My main worry is that I only found my armpit lump not the breast lump so have no idea how long it has been there, potentially growing and spreading. I am so scared it’s metastatic!

Good luck with your treatment! You will feel better when you start I’m sure, like you are on your way to getting better!

Lots of love xx

Hi Lilycat,

I take it you have started chemo now? How have you been? Hope you are not too poorly.

i am starting PC with something added every 3 weeks called pembro?! Getting very anxious about side effects! And also cold cap 

xx

Hiya, yes I started mine on Monday.  It has floored me, headache, nausea, exhaustion, insomnia, back ache from bone marrow injections.  I’m not sure if I will continue with the cold cap, it wasn’t too bad at the time but the headache I have had since then has been right where the tightest part of the cap sat.  There is also confusion with my cycle, oncologist letter and meeting says 3 weekly but the hospital is insisting it is 2 weekly.  Just waiting to hear back with confirmation.  I’m usually so organised and on the ball with everything so am struggling to just see how this all pans out.  Hope all goes well for you xx

Oh no, sorry to hear you have been so poorly with it. Hope you start to feel better soon!

Ive heard a lot of bad things about the cold cap with pain and headaches and I hate being cold! So I can’t decide whether to give it a go or just leave it. Will need to decide before Wednesday.

Good Luck! Xx

To be fair, it didn’t feel that cold at the time and it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.  But I am unsure if the headache is from chemo or the cap, could be both.  And also I am quite sensitive to aromas and I couldn’t wash my hair for 24 hours after so the aroma of the conditioner was just adding to sensory issues, which I don’t usually have, so I now associate it all as a big negative to me.  It’s worth a try though to find out for yourself x

Maybe. I guess everyone is different? May be worth trying to see how I find it and not do it again if I hate it. My treatments are weekly though so don’t have as much time to recover side effects before the next one! 
Thank you again for your messages xx