Calling all TNs
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Great news VLH. It really makes my day when I hear a TNBC sister reach the 5 year mark. Cheers to you and thanks for coming back and letting us all know. It really does give us hope
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Thanks, NorCalS!
Lyn
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VLH this is great news!!
YES!
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Congrats VLH, awesome news! Thanks for stopping buy to let us tnbc sisters know. It 's my favorite topic on here to read positive news. Be well and celebrate!
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Big congrats VLH!! Welcome to the 5 year club!
I need your help, ladies. I recently passed my 5 year mark, but just found out my sister has breast cancer, but not TN. Comedogenic DCIS. She is going to do a mastectomy and a reduction on the unaffected side.
Without going into personal experiences, are there questions you feel she should ask the surgeons, or questions you wish you had asked? Thanks so much, in advance.
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Thanks so much for the congratulations, folks! Ironically, I'm a bit more nervous about my upcoming mammogram than prior imaging because I seem to be a physical "oddball"; for example, having my chemoport loop & retract 3 cm, a first for the general surgeon who had been inserting them for 20 years. I definitely do NOT want to be a statistical outlier in this case!
LoveMyVizsla, I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. I assume she would still need periodic mammograms on the reduced breast? It might be helpful to ask to see the plastic surgeon's photo gallery so she has a general idea of what to expect (recognizing that everyone's body is unique).
Lyn
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Hi everyone. I have not been on here for a very long time. Since my cancer diagnosis in June of 2018 my life has literally been crazy and not in a good way. When you have to say you dealt with cancer better then certain things that go on you know its been crazy. Since my cancer diagnosis I have watched my mom die of cancer, my husband's partner at work kill himself, selling my moms home and moving. To this year learning the lawyer selling moms house was disbarred and stole the proceeds from the home. So I had to hire someone else to sue her. Sorry I am unloading but I am so tired of people saying to me at least you are not sick anymore. While all the above has been bad it was a distraction from my upcoming mamo this Thursday. I am know starting to freak out because I have not been healthy at all with everything going on, not to mention the stress I have felt and am so terrified this being my third year from diagnosis that something just has to go wrong. Of course I have been googling for 2 days and realizing maybe 3 years can be a bad thing as far as reaccurrance. Anyone have any good words of assurance or advice to het me to Thursday. Thank you.
Also how do you factor your anniversary from diagnosis? I did chemo first, then surgery then rads?
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I'm so sorry you've had a rough time of it lately. Sometimes it seems as if the bad stuff is all there is. Hopefully it will get better soon.
But honestly, Volleyballmom, I think once you hit three years most doctors look at you as if you already have one foot out of the woods. You're not quite out of the woods, but you're getting awfully close. I know my breast surgeon (my rock through the whole process) breathed a sigh of relief once I hit that three year mark.
Good luck with the mammo. I hope everything comes back boringly normal.
Sending warm cyber hugs.
Trish
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Volleyballmom, I did chemo, surgery andthen radiation too and my doctor told me my anniversary is my surgery date.
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Volleyballmom,
You bring up an issue I’ve been wondering about a lot lately as well. I was initially told that the diagnosis date was the date you use to calculate whether we’ve hit the 5 year mark. Then I was told that you use the date of your surgery. I have seen some use the last day of active treatment. I had ACT chemo, surgery, radiation, then Xeloda, so it would be a real bummer if the last date of treatment was used. I went to a triple negative specialist for a second opinion a few months ago and she used the diagnosis date. I guess I just want some certainty on when I can stop worrying so much
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Volleyballmom, I have a mammogram tomorrow (Thursday) morning myself. I'll be thinking of you!
My diagnosis was November 2018, surgery was December 2018, and chemo and radiation were both complete by May 2019, so I guess since they're all bunched up, picking any one of them as an anniversary would probably be accurate. So, 2-2.5 years out for me depending...
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My life insurance policy says first cancer anniversary is one year after surgery in us LN- gals.
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Good evening ladies. My mammo was good thank God. So much anxiety goes into this day and the weeks leading up. I dont think that part will ever go away. I didn't get to see my oncologist but saw her nurse practionor after. I tried asking her about what defines your years out. She said surgery, so I guess I am only 2.5 years out. January will be 3 years. Jez.
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volleyballmom,
Great to hear that your mammogram was clear. Crossing my fingers for all of us to get to the 5 year finish line
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It’s 5 years yesterday since my surgery. I never thought I’d still be here, but I’m surviving and thriving and honestly, don’t even think about cancer at all some days! Hang in there ladies.
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Yay, scotbird! Doing a happy dance for you! 🌈🍾🥂🎆🎂🎁🌈
Congratulations. Go celebrate.
Trish
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Love to hear from the 5 years-ers-- such happy news. Bravo!
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hey! I'm trying to decide lumpectomy with rads or mastectomy by tomorrow! June 29, 2021. I saw beesees thread on the topic, but not much if anything there from tnbc ladies.
I have had 7 nodes biopsy negative. Clesr breast mri both prior to chemo. I've done 4 dose dense ac, and 10 taxol. 2 more to go! You see on my signature, but my tumor was 2.6cm and grade 3.
My onco and surgeon think lumpectomy with radiation may be better. But I think mostly based on recovery from mastectomy (I'm 35 and I have two young kids I stay home with).
I know new studies show maybe getting the rads does a slightly better job at killing all the cancer?
Just wondering how yall decided as tbnc. Thanks.
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10 year survivor of lumpectomy, chemo and rads. No regrets.
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Welcome, Easymac08! We're sorry you find yourself here, but we're glad you've joined our community. We know there are so many decisions to make, and our hope is that hearing stories from our community gives you clarity and encouragement to make the ones that are right for you!
The Mods
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Lx + chemo and rads for me too.
No regrets here either.
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thank you. Is proton radiation the one that is a little longer each session, but you go half the amount of days? I'm asking about that too.
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wow thank you so much !
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Hi everyone,
I have not done very much posting etc. But now that I am done with chemo and awaiting surgery, I am feeling all the anxiety flowing in. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma category 3, TNBC, early stage 2, no lymph node involvement. I went through 4 AC treatments every other week, and 12 taxols every week. My first anxiety is getting through this week and next week, as I have a CT scan of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis scheduled for July 9th, and I can’t help but be nervous/scared! My second anxiety comes with everything I eat and drink and put on my skin! Does anyone have any advice on blogs they follow or places like websites etc. that helped transform your diet and products you use? Could you share your thoughts on doing this? Am I overthinking things? Is just eating healthier and working out enough? Or do I need to worry about the wine I like to drink, or the other indulgences I like? Every time I eat or drink something not so healthy, I end up upset with myself, worried, and anxious about if I’m going to cause my risk of it returning to be higher. I’m only 36 with 3 little ones (2, 6, and 8), and as I sit around NOT combating cancer with chemo, I can’t help but constantly be in my head!
Thanks in advance!
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hey Spalermo111!
I have the same diagnosis and treatment as you are saying. I end my taxol on July 9th! What is the ct and abdomen and pelvis scan for? I haven't heard of that.
Sorry, learning how to use this thing..don't mean to be in bold.
As far as the diet and exercise. I mean, I think it can help to stay fit since cancer grows faster in fat cells. So, I think of it that way and just do what I can to stay fit within reason as a mom of little ones! (Mine are 6 and 2. And I am 35). I eat more veggies, less processed, less meat and dairy, and do something to stay active almost daily..like 5 out of 7 days. But am active in parenting all the time too. I may add cycling on my trainer in my room some nights because my husband is into it anyway. But, I think we need not put too much pressure on ourselves. We can't make things happen or not. And I totally understand your anxieties..I want to see my kids grow up. With you, friend. ❤
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I’m actually not quite sure why I’m getting all 3 of those scans, as my oncologist and i only discussed a chest ct to check my lungs because I had a tiny 3mm nodule on my first ct back before I started chemo. She said this was likely nothing, that most adults in Ohio have these nodules because of our area and weather, but she wanted to check it just to be absolutely safe. So I assume she was just doing all 3 since I have to go in anyways but I’m planning to call her tomorrow and ask why she scheduled all 3 without even telling me.
I agree with you that staying fit and eating healthier is key! My problem is in my head though, I’m doing all those things actively, but the second I decide to indulge, I start beating myself up about it the next day. I’m having trouble mentally in my head finding the balance between the 2. We just got back from vacation, so of course I drank a little and ate like crap, and now I can’t help but worry in my head even though since being home, I went right back to veggies and fruits. I was hoping to find some good bloggers who touch on exactly what foods ate let in fighting/keeping away cancer, and my resources out there to help ease my mind.
Thanks for the reply!! And happy to hear you’ll be done next week!! Yay for you!!!! It was an amazing day for me!!
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yes, I hear you. Also, I meant to add suggestions. Sorry! My friend came over. So I got distracted .
I check ewg.org for products I buy. There is an app too called "think dirty". Someone i follow on instagram with triple negative said we want to avoid "oxybenzonte" in products.
My oncology dietician recommended cancerdietician.com for recipes and food to fight cancer. There is info on it on airc.org as well.
And thank you! I'm excited to be done.
Also, what surgery are you having? I can't decide on mine.
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Spalermo111- Please do not beat yourself up, you are trying your best in a very stressful situation. Before I was DX, I worked out, yoga, hiked, had healthy diet. Just keep trying, but don't over think. As far as the scans, they are tools the MO needs, I had Ct chest, abdomen, and pelvic area. Also had a bone scan. I know it is nerve racking, I had a MRI today, but they need to see how well the chemo worked or not worked. When I was in the MRI, I just relaxed and repeated, NED. Use a positive mantra to calm your nerves.
As far as diet, main thing is to stay away from sugar, eat a balanced diet. Sounds like you are doing this. Don't get yourself too worked up, stress and anxiety are bad for your body. I know it is hard. Hang in there.
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thank you! These are great suggestions, and I’ll definitely look into them. I appreciate your help!
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no worries at all! I get distracted too! Haha! thank you! These are great suggestions, and I'll definitely look into them. I appreciate your help!
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