Triple Neg HER2 what questions

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  • annsan
    annsan Member Posts: 46
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    Thank you for your response Irb_03.  Yes I have received the My Journey Kit and I have spoken to a breast care nurse. I also work in the healthcare industry.  I am interested in hearing from people such as yourself who have had experience with chemo.  I am very pleased that you were able to keep working.  I am expecting that I will not be able to.  I appreciate any information people want to offer, whilst it is my decision of course, I like being informed.  Thanks again for your help with replies too. 
  • lrb_03
    lrb_03 Member Posts: 1,267
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    @annsan, I too work in health. I'm a nurse/midwife.  At the time I was diagnosed I was working in a General Practice setting. I had a very supportive team who made sure I didn't see patients who were likely to be infectious,  and ultimately ended up doing predominantly administrative work. 
  • SoldierCrab
    SoldierCrab Member Posts: 3,445
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    hi @annsan
    sorry you have need to be here.... 
    I was diagnosed in 2012 with TNBC I had bilateral mastectomy with chemo then rads    I am now over 5 years with no evidence of disease. 
    Chemo can be hard but I believe it can be worth it 
    Soldiercrab
  • annsan
    annsan Member Posts: 46
    edited March 2018
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    I work for an obstetrician/fertility specialist  :)  My Oncologist was a bit concerned when she knew I would have contact with children.   It is very good that you worked with understanding people. How is your health now Irb_03?
  • SoldierCrab
    SoldierCrab Member Posts: 3,445
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    I have some long term side effects from Chemo but I am back working and enjoying life with my family 

  • annsan
    annsan Member Posts: 46
    edited March 2018
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    Hi Soldiercrab and I am sorry that you have needed to be here too.  Thank you for the information and I am so very pleased that you have remained disease free for so long, congratulations!  I really do appreciate your response and opinion. 
  • lrb_03
    lrb_03 Member Posts: 1,267
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    I'm good. In May it will be 3 years since I was diagnosed. At the stage, no evidence of disease. I no longer work in a clinical setting, due to the early development of lymphoedema. My tumour was Er/Pr positive &Her2 negative so currently taking hormone suppression drugs. Great fun......
    As I often say, I'm still here to tell the story  :p 
  • annsan
    annsan Member Posts: 46
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    Well done Irb_03.  Yes you are still here to tell your story and every-ones story helps us newbies.
  • duxx1234
    duxx1234 Member Posts: 128
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    Hi @annsan Sorry you are here too! I was diagnosed with TNBC late November 2017. Stage 3 19mm tumour and 4/22 lymph nodes.  I am having 4 doses (3 weekly) of AC (only one more of those left!) then 12 weekly Taxol and finishing off with 30 doses of radiation. I am not working at all through treatment. Doubt I could manage but that could also be age - I am 67.  I have a yuk week after chemo then come good again so for me it’s doable and my Oncologist told me last week I was doing really well. It’s different for everyone I guess. Good luck with your treatment! 
  • annsan
    annsan Member Posts: 46
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    Thank you duxx1234,  Your information is very helpful indeed.  I have been recommended to have TC (docetaxel and cyclophosphamide) for 4 doses (3 weekly)  and then radiation after that.  I am really glad to here that you are doing well.   
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
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    Hi @annsan. I'm having TC chemo at the moment. If you've got any questions I can help you with, please feel free to ask.
  • annsan
    annsan Member Posts: 46
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    Hi kmakm thank you for your reply and offering to answer my questions.  Can you tell me how many treatments you have had so far and what side effects you have?  also, may I ask what which type of BC you have?  I had a small triple negative grade 3 invasive carcinoma removed with no lymph node involvement.
  • onemargie
    onemargie Member Posts: 1,264
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    Hi there @annsan I’ll PM you as I’ve had stage 2a grade 3 TNBC and live bris north side. Margie. Xx
  • JSN
    JSN Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2018
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    Hi @annsan I have a similar diagnosis.  I had a lumpectomy with clear margins and no node involvement.  Chemo started with 4 rounds of AC every 3 weeks and then 12 of paclitaxel weekly and 20 fractions of radiation daily for a month.  AC was tough the first week after treatment but I recovered well the two weeks before the next treatment.  I was fatigued but struggled to sleep during the day.  Tried to keep myself distracted-movies, puzzles, crochet, drawing etc. I did limited walking which helped I think.  The paclitaxel did give me arthritic type symptoms in my joints and muscles.  Still have a bit of that.  Walking helps that alot.  Again struggle to sleep during the day.  Each day since I finished chemo I recover a little bit of energy.  So far the radiation has been okay.  A bit tingly at the site but I am told I will become very tired towards the last week skin is good so far.  I put a bit of weight on due to inactivity and the steroids associated with chemo.  I have shed most of that now but still some to lose.  It is all such a slow process with each part different.  I have had some really ups and downs related to processing it all emotionally and the effects of the steroids.  The recovery is step by step also-just like the treatment.  The best things I have done at home to help with aches and pains is heat packs, warm baths, gentle walking, rest and sleep.  I have taken something to help me sleep and pain relief (panediene).  I found if I put up with the general aches and pains during the day by the afternoon I couldn't think and then at night I struggled to sleep.  My stoic attitude waned very quickly.  Everyone's experience is different.  There is so much support here and so many people sharing experiences.  I did a 'look good feel better' program very early on and it really helped me feel normal when going out and now back at work part time (health care)- learn't how to draw on eyebrows and make me look and feel semi normal.  I actually learn't that I have been putting make up on pretty much wrong forever! Happy to share any experience that will help you through yours   xxxxxxxx oooo
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
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    Hi @annsan, I'm not triple neg (check out my profile for deets), and am slogging through my third TC dose. Just answered some of your qs on another discussion! Keep them coming. PM me if you want. No point me telling you not to be scared, we all are, but we're all here to help & support and this forum is often a great comfort. 

    Bear in mind we all react differently to the drugs we're given. There do seem to be some common ones. Altered taste is one. Everything tastes wrong! I have only had a little nausea, which for me has been easily controlled with Pramin. I've had reflux, nail bed pain and sore palms & soles. My eyes are a bit gritty & watery; I use eye drops to relieve that. The side effect that bothers me the most is the fatigue and tiredness. There's no way round that, you just have to slow down and rest.

    Oh and hair loss! Tried the cold cap but it didn't work. Bald now, but it doesn't bother me a bit!

    The biggest issue for me is the emotional & psychological battle that this cancer has caused. You can see from my story that my diagnosis has come after a long and troubled time for my family. We all come into this from different places and so respond to it differently. Be kind to yourself, put yourself first and take deep breaths. K xox