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Samantha_Jane's avatar
Samantha_Jane
Member
12 years ago

Decision Time

Hi lovely ladies, So just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts. I saw the oncologist for the first time on Thursday and she has given me the following results....cancer all removed, clear margins, no lymphnode involvement, Grade 3, TNBC. She then advised due to the above and my age, 36, that she would like to hit me hard with chemo. I was a little in shock! I thought ok they got it all and I will have chemo but I didn't expect t her to say hit it hard. She has given me the following treatment plan....4cycles every fortnight of AC and then 12 weeks of Taxol. She did mention a treatment plan of less time but emphasized due to my age and the TNBC she felt I needed to do the harder one? I am able to ponder over the weekend and get back to her on Monday. As I said she was really lovely and not pushy at all. I just am a little confused, I can't make up my mind in a sandwich shop, let alone pick what treatment plan I want. And hey wouldn't we all love to just pick the easier option if it was really that easy? My husbands reaction to her diagnosis tells me the harder plan is the right one but I really value all you ladies offerings experiencing this in real time!!!! So is anyone able to offer anything on the below? - I have noticed a lot of TNBC ladies are on FEC? Is there a reason as this wasn't offered to me. - Can anyone offer there experience good or bad with the port. I'm thinking of it, as I hate needles. I know I'll have to get over that but it seems a better option if I hate needles? - I did ask why, what would you do, what if I don't? Side effects etc is there anything I should really need to know. - I am thinking of going Private patient in public hospital. She tells me I will get the same treatment. The only difference is in the private I will pay for my meds and excess each time if I have one and the consult , but if I go through the Public I will pay for the chemo drugs and that's it. Is there any pros and cons to this or anything I should know? Thank you so much for helping me out, I just need some help. I am staying strong and completely positive but these decisions are really draining. Sam x
chemotherapy
coping
side-effects
triple-negative-breast-cancer

9 Replies

  • Laurie777's avatar
    Laurie777
    Member
    12 years ago

    HI Samantha

    I had an axillary clearance so only had one limb that could be used so it was  a good idea to have a port and it was explained to me that it would help preserve my veins from the chemo. You just have to make sure the people who access the port have the skills cause not all the nurses know how to do this. This is not a deal where you have chemo, as the staff there will be more likely to have the experience. I ended up in the ED after one of my chemos late at night and they had to put an IV in and the registrars weren't sure about the port so I asked them to put in in my arm (the one I could use) and the next day one of the oncology nurses accessed the port and changed the IV to the port.  Some chemos can make your arm ache a bit and the port stops that having to occur.

    Emla numbing patches are the bomb! You put them on around an hour before you go for chemo.  I hate needles too.

  • Liztay82's avatar
    Liztay82
    Member
    12 years ago
    I'm feeling great after ac so problems no side effects only thing I did get was ulcers but no bigy in cycle 3/4 I did need a white cell booster as they dropped but all good yes numbing patch is good
  • sallyw's avatar
    sallyw
    Member
    12 years ago

    Hi Sam.  I had early breast cancer stage 2 with one affected lymph node.  I didn't have a mastectomy but in my case my breast cancer is different to yours.  I had a lumpectomy and an axcilliary clearance followed by chemo (4 AC and then 12 Taxol) and then 6 weeks of radiation.  Good luck with your decision making.  Sally xx

  • Samantha_Jane's avatar
    Samantha_Jane
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Sally, Thanks so much for your advice. Can I ask did you have a mastectomy or anything else removed like other TN ladies. I am concerned I am not reading the whole picture. It's not something that I have been offered but everywhere I turn this seems to be I major preventative for TN ladies. I did read though TN loves breast tissue so with keeping your breasts and chemo can be the same result as mastectomy and radiation? Any thoughts. Xx
  • Samantha_Jane's avatar
    Samantha_Jane
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Sally, Thanks so much for your advice. Can I ask did you have a mastectomy or anything else removed like other TN ladies. I am concerned I am not reading the whole picture. It's not something that I have been offered but everywhere I turn this seems to be I major preventative for TN ladies. I did read though TN loves breast tissue so with keeping your breasts and chemo can be the same result as mastectomy and radiation? Any thoughts. Xx
  • Samantha_Jane's avatar
    Samantha_Jane
    Member
    12 years ago
    Thanks so much for your advice. How are you feeling after the AC? The numbing patch sounds like a great idea. I'm writing a list of all the items I need to overcome everything everyone's throwing at me! It seems I need a year to get ready for this? Lol Thanks again and may your journey see great results. X
  • Samantha_Jane's avatar
    Samantha_Jane
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi thanks so much for your help. Wow so many similar stories. Can I ask you a question a lot of ladies have had everything removed due to the TNBC and then gone with treatment. This has not been offered or implied that I need consider removal of breasts, ovaries etc. have you had to do this. I ask you this as my treatment seems similar. Thanks so much for your help.
  • Liztay82's avatar
    Liztay82
    Member
    12 years ago
    I can also answer a few I had ac every 3 weeks 4 cycles I've now moved into herception and another drug with it can't think of the name but it's for 12 weeks every Wednesday then every 3 weeks of herception I've got the port and like u I'm scared of needles but the port is great I always have the numbing patch on a lot better and I asked my friend who comes with me how big is the actual needle going in she said to me no bigger then a thumb tack but I recommend the numbing patch good luck with ure treatments my oncoligist also said to me the will hit mine hard aswell but I've finished my ac now
  • sallyw's avatar
    sallyw
    Member
    12 years ago

    Hi Sam

    I can't help with most of your questions however, I had 4 treatments of AC and 12 of Taxol.  AC was every 3 weeks compared to every 3.  I had more treatment than I actually needed but it was my decision (I couldv'e had only AC).  As the Breast Care Nurse said "you have made the right decision.  You have done everything that you can and if you get cancer again at least you know that you did everything you could do in the first place".  That made me feel a bit better for my decision. 

    As for a port, I would highly recommend one.  Mine was in my chest and I loved it (I actually hated having it in my chest but loved it for my chemo).  I have had mine removed now, but it I ever needed chemo again, I would definitely get another port put in.

    Good luck.

    Sally