Calling all TNs
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Mine did exactly that. Came in almost clear. Then pure white. Then turned blondish. And has gradually gotten darker. So now I have the crazy curly perm look with blonde highlights. All thanks to chemo.
There is a shampoo rinse you can use to even out the color if it bothers you. Not a dye, but a temp rinse.
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Hello to all of you! I've been a "visitor" here for quite some time as well as other boards. While I'm close to my 2 year "Cancerversary", I still feel as if I'm in the middle of the fight. Recently, I've started experiencing a great deal of anxiety fearing a recurrence. I have a strong family history...Great-grandmother, grandmother, and even lost my own mother at the age of 49. I am 43 now and while I know God's plan is perfect....and my head tells me that faith has no place for fear....My heart argues.
Throughout all the tests, surgeries, and chemo....I had a HUGE support system of family and friends. And while I could still call upon them for virtually anything....I feel stupid doing so now. I should be celebrating my cancer freedom, instead of questioning it. Survivorship is a lonely place....which is why I've decided to join in here. I've maintained a blog of my journey from the very beginning....working through each of my feelings. I've received much comfort from that....but I guess its nice to come here and know I'm not alone. Thank you for the site and look forward to joining in with you all.
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SportsMomma, while I'm very new here and not yet a survivor, I wanted to say welcome and congratulations on being cancer free. I've often said that, for me, the battle is the "easy" part, and that living as a survivor without fear will be the most difficult part of this journey - so I can relate very much to what you're feeling. Sending you many blessings and well wishes.
I had quite a big appointment with my onc this morning. I did some research over the weekend and learned that carbo has shown to be promising in not only those with TNBC, but those who are also BRCA+. My onc agreed to add it in. On one hand, this is what I wanted and I'm glad, but on the other, I'm a little nervous about what I might have just done to myself. I've tolerated AC really well so far. I just hope I'm not begging for trouble as far as toxicity levels go. Also, until I have an oophorectomy, I'll be closely monitored for ovarian cancer. She ordered a pelvic ultrasound and CA-125 test. Although she doesn't think anything is going to pop up, especially since my PET/CT/MRI were normal, I'm still anxious. I've had some ovary pain that I chalked up to the IVF's we did in 2013. On top of that, she went over my recurrence rates for not only a local recurrence, but a distant metastases as well, specifically brain or lung. The number has totally thrown me. I told my husband that the only way I know how to get past that number is to somewhat accept the fact that it could happen…that if my time is up, it's up. Not sure if that's the best way to feel. I did get some good news today. My tumor has officially shrunk! She measured around 3 cm at diagnosis and was getting around 2 cm today. She said that was good considering I'm not even to the Taxol yet, which apparently is when it starts to really go down. While I'm thanking God and beyond relieved, I'm having a hard time not dwelling on everything else that came at me today. I've had a bit of a rough time ever since the BRCA results actually. It's just a lot to take in.
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Allydp you say you are not yet a survivor, I believe you are. You became a survivor as soon as your plan was put into place and was ready to go into battle or you wouldn't have gone through any treatment. All the time you are battling you are surviving. You also have your fertility issues to go through as well. I personally think you are a very brave survivor just as all the ladies on here are. Great news that your tumor has started to shrink. Cyber hug sent.
SportsMomma a big welcome to you. We all go through the anxiety of recurrence and this is very normal some days are worse than others but they do get fewer and fewer. Glad you had such excellent support but I'm sure those people won't mind in the least if you call on them and let them know how you feel or come on here and vent your feelings. None of us can go through the doubt, fear and anxiety of cancer and then expect it all to go away just because we have chemo. Try and do something for you today that you enjoy doing. As a friend used to say "don't let fear rob you of the joys of today". Sending big hugs and hope for a gentle calm day.
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Bak - congrats on doing so well. To answer your question, I am/was stage IIIc but believe everything was removed surgically. My tumor was very close to the surface and I think all my lymph nodes were axillary, no problem with others. Though to be honest, I did not read my pathology report too carefully. It was too scary. The unexpected IIIc staging after surgery and reading about "extracapsular extension" and huge lymph nodes bursting with cancer, I put it away and have not looked since. I decided all that info was only useful for a tx plan and I had "the works" at that time - DD AC/T and rads.
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Gillyone same as you here encapsulated lymph nodes. As you did, I put mine away and put my trust in my excellent surgeon who ensured me he had it all, which I believe. He was excellent and I wouldn't want to go to anyone else.
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Her2 results on lung biopsy came back neg also, so now we can go ahead with clinical trial. I got my port put in today and am very sore, but feel invigorated at the same time because now my fighting gloves are on and am ready to go, if that makes any sense (maybe its the pain drugs)!
Thankfully, my lung didn't get knicked this time.Thank you again everyone for your support.
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Cat, glad to hear your her2 results are back and you can get going with your chemo. Also good to hear the port placement went okay today. Enjoy those pain meds!
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Cat ok girl put those boxing gloves on and kick that frecken cancer to the kerb once and for all. Hopefully the port will only be sore for a day or two as mine was. We are all doing it with you. Yay for non knicked lungs. Big cyber hugs. xx
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Cat, so happy to hear that you were able to get into a clinical trial and are getting things underway so quickly! I noticed you have the chemo and rads listed - what trial will you be in and what will it be studying?
Glad to hear you are home and hopefully resting right now.
Many hugs to you!
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alright CatW! We are all with you, you can do this!
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SportsMomma, I understand your concerns about recurrence. I too have my days but I tell myself that I am doing the best I can for me to stay healthy. Then I get out of my head & get busy doing something I want to do. Some days I do stuff I hate to do but know it needs doing & give myself pats that it is done. Right now I am in the middle of redoing a spare bedroom (empty nest syndrome) it is going to be a day room. A day bed with pop up trundle, my yoga mat on floor, sewing section in the corner - all stuff I like to do. I am fortunate my children live close by. My Grandson is my big joy. I am spoiling him, then letting his parents do the dirty work.
My philosophy is when it hurts for over two weeks then see doctors - otherwise it could just be a strain or something I ate!!
We all have our ups & downs but we just need to remember we are always fighting. Maybe not as vigorously as in the chemo, surgery & rads days but by our choices of food, exercise & attitude. I come on here & read frequently but don't always post. I know all you ladies & one husband can relate to each other's up & downs & that helps me keep my head clear. That's my take on it. I just keep on...
LookingForward...
Marsha
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Hi everyone! Just to check in. I saw some of you are talking about frying pans. Check out the German brand "Woll". It is not Teflon, and works like a breeze!
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hey everybody..
was out of discussions since quite sometime. My radiations are going on and its consuming a lot of my time and energy.
Just quickly went through all the posts.
Cat dear...so happy to hear from you!! which chemo drug have you begun with. It seems its called something called "Rescue chemo"
everybody else..lots of hugs.
Inspired..I liked the idea of all of us exchanging all micro details about our pathology report. If i remember correctly it was tumor size, margin status. LVI, nodes. There is also something called perineural invasion on which my radiation therapist put some stress..it was negative. And all Tnbcs are not pure ones, they have er pr cells mixed in some amount too. Then there are subtypes of tnbcs etc.
simple: my radiations will be over april last week. 33 for me.
Reg Radiations they put 4 tattoos like a cross and 1 more tattoo close to the nipple. They focus more on the breast and lump area but some amount of radiations do touch lungs and all. I hope its not inviting one cancer in the process of getting rid of another, that too prophylactically.
hope to be regular from now on..
love to all!!
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Hello ladies and 1 husband:
What do you all know about Kefir? Is anyone drinking it?
This blog has 78 benefits of Kefir: "Kefir vs Yogurt" - Article at Simply Healthy Family Website
More info: "Kefir is Recommended for Breast Cancer" - Article at Food for Breast Cancer Website
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Inspired, Kris Carr's blog today just happened to be about kefir.
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Thank you Simple! I just read the blog you posted. I found an organic brand called Lifeway Kefir, and it's on sale at Sprouts this week. There are no added sugars, but I didn't realize all the research surrounding casein! I might have to find a brand that isn't from cow's milk, I have read there are different types. "Casein and Cancer" Article in Naked Food Magazine
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Hey...just had some spinach and kale chips today....yum....I think I had at least 6 of them...gotta give a girl credit for trying....right?
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Lisadi-the freckles are probably just normal changes, but I would get it checked out, as any change should be reported to your doc.
titan-I haven't tried kale chips, but they actually sound kinda good!
Thank you for all the good stories of later stages! I seemed to have put all my reports away and out of my mind also because it was all to scary. I have a recording from my meeting with a second opinion doc. I haven't ever listened to it. I might at some point, but why bring back that fear? The doc I chose did not like to scare me so I had to pull info out of him and I would have the nurse print out all my reports. Only once did a doc give me statistics, and that was my breast surgeon after I had a complete response. I think they were all pretty amazed that I had such good results with treatment. All though my mo was always very positive.
Cat-I am glad you are ready for treatment and ready to kick some cancer a$$. The lung biopsy sounds terrible, so glad you got through it and the port placement without too much trouble. Hoping that the chemo will be gentle on you.
Fierce-Cute name for a runner duck! I am just loving my 3 runners! I will be sad when I put them outside permanently. I am getting used to their soft peeping, although I swear I hear some soft quacking going on.
Hope everyone is having a good week!
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Hooray cat!!! Now go kick ass!
I drink Kefir occasionally. It's like a smoothie with a sour taste. I've been off dairy so would need to go find an alternative and haven't done so.
I love the Kris Carr books and her attitude but not that interested in following her lifestyle. But I wish her luck.
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I'm really freaked out right now. I was signing in to the boards, and was ready to put in user name. As I tapped on the space to begin to write my moniker, other names popped up.... Inmate, LuvRving, and OBX. An omen, or positive vibes coming from the other side? REALLY FREAKED OUT!!!
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To those who mentioned freckles, that was one of the first things I noticed after my first chemo. All my freckles on my face that usually come out with the sun had popped up. I asked my chemo nurse about it and she said sometimes any cells on your skin that are sun damaged, or pre cancerous, can turn brown and fall off. So quite possibly, it was detecting those cell changes. Another reason for me to go have one of those fancy lasers and get rid of some wrinkles.
Cat - good luck with your treatment! Stay strong!
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Allydp, taxol got rid of tons of my sunspots. It also made a growth pop up on my back that looked like a wart. I made an appointment with the dermatologist specifically to have her look at that spot, but then I had AC and the AC made the "wart" dry up and fall off! I'm sure all those spots that chemo worked on were damaged areas of my skin so it was nice to get rid of them. A little silver lining to chemo!
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slow...let's go with the positive vibes...those ladies will never be forgotten....obviously....lol
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Haven't checked in for a long time. I finished AC DD 4 TX and TAXOL 12 TX. Had MRI March 7 that showed no evidence on cancer in either breast and no lymphadenopathy. Hoping it stays that way until my BMX and HYST on April 15. I am BRCA 1, hence the HYST. Anyone else have both surgeries atsame time? Kinda freaked out about it...also having alot of muscle pain in legS. Some swelling in right ankle
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Slowloris: I 2nd what Titan said. Positive vibes.0 -
Hello all. I am 31 and like so many of you I felt my lump almost 3 weeks ago. It seemed to come out of nowhere. I went to a walk in clinic the next morning and she set up an appointment. blah blah blah I am almost ready to start chemo. The doc called me yesterday and told me the pathology reports said TN. I must admit. I am terrified. He said there is a new drug on the market that he will mix with my chemo. Once a week for 2 or 3 months. I can't remember because all I really heard was TN. Then every other week for 4 rounds. He told me "You're young and you can handle this" I have a 2 and 6 year old. I better handle this. Please, any words of comfort? I seemed to have a 6th sense about what it was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-d0JKQnnA0&list=UUCXx_Da9hqXhluT0InSmU0w0 -
Coopdizzle - Sorry that you are on this journey. Have your 'pity party' everyone needs one in the beginning. You are safe here. We will listen and not judge you. If you need to yell, cry or just vent...we have all been through it. Then its time to go into 'fight mode'. There is so much hope and lots of long term survivors on here.
Might I suggest taking someone with you to your next few appointments. You wont remember everything and an extra set of ears is wonderful.
I had lots of people offer to help (you will need help with 2 little ones) designated 1 very organized person as your contact person. I had a hard time asking for help since I was generally the one helping others. I learned a very valuable lesson through all of this and that is that you rob others the joy of helping if you don't ask when you need it.
The gals on here are a wealth of information. Use them. There are here 24/7. You can do this! (( soft hugs))
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lovie lovie - you are so right about getting help from others - this is a journey not to be done alone! I read somewhere that "allowing others to help us is like giving them a gift" - this gave me great encouragement.
Coopdizzle - you will be just fine going through chemo - it is not easy, but it is do-able. Let us know wht chemo drugs you will be taking - I am curious to know what the "new drug" is. Take great care of yourself.
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Peggy, thanks for sharing your experience. i live in Centreville so we are not that far from each other.:-) I had two more smallish tumors too in the same breast but the doctor said i did not need to do needle biopsy of them since i am going to have the MX. I was wondering what you mean by saying that one of them became hormone dependent after surgery? did the pathology report at the surgery time say that? and it was diagnosed as tnbc before that? I am having neoadjuvant chemo too. just finished AC and on second taxol and carboplatin treatment, just had an ultrasound done today, and found the tumor shrank to 0.7cm from 2.4cm. Sounds like you had a complete response. I am going to opt for bilateral MX too and you are right about having the peace of mind with that. Would you mind sharing your experience with the reconstruction surgery? i am very torn about having that done.....
hugs and take care,
Liyan
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