Hi there ladies im Donna AKA Doona ) I've had surgery, margins were all clear,results are: invasive ductal carcinoma 20mm,basoloid features histology grade3/3 focal adjacent high grade DCIS 1mm triple negative. Cant work out if its good or bad. Start chemo in a week, similiar to some of you ladies FEC for 3 cycles then Docetaxel for a further 3, followed by radiotherapy Any advice, tips smiles would be good at this stage.

Hi Donna and welcome to BCNA. You have definitely come to the right place and will find comfort and encouragement here. I was diagnosed on 5/11/2013 with invasive ductal carcinoma 32mm lesion. On 20/11/2013 had right mastectomy and axillary clearance with 8/23 nodes positive. I too am triple negative. I have come out the other side of the treatment tunnel. I had the same treatment regimen as you are going to have and finished late June this year. When I look back on it now it is hard to remember how it was, a bit like child birth. It is the emotional scars that remain and which I am working on, with the help of a counsellor, to complete the healing process of this unfortunate journey. What I can tell you and you are going to hear it a lot is that "it is doable". I found that the sooner I accepted what was going on I was in a better position be kind to myself and just take one day at a time. Learning to say "no" and to putting my needs first was paramount in my recovery. My saving grace was having a hobby - for me it was and is photography. I felt I still had a purpose and found enjoyment in this. Also, keeping in touch with my work colleagues and friends and listening to where they were at in their lives. I didn't allow myself to become too isolated. I was lucky I didn't have too many side affects but did have one stay in hospital due to trouble with my pic line. Everyone's journey is different but similar at the same time. It helps too if you make just one friend who is going through the same thing as you are. My friend, I met at the Look Good Feel Better Program and it turned out she lives in the same suburb as me. We met almost every week for coffee and a debrief. We have now both finished treatment and still try to catch up every two or three weeks. Please stay away from Dr Google as it will do your head in. If you find anxiety becoming a problem seek help, it is all hard enough without spiralling into depression. Your hospital will have psycholgists on hand to help you. I walk and have done throughout most of my treatment for 45 mins daily. This helps with fatigue and anxiety. When the weather is warm, I swim. Now I am back to lifting weights to build my muscle strength. I eat for nutrition not for taste, take vitamin D supplement and asprin. Not even three months post treatment and I am feeling pretty good again now, although a get tired quickly but after a rest I am back into things again. I don't spend much time worrying about the Triple Negative diagnosis anymore and just concentrate on looking after myself physically, mentally, emotionall and spiritually. You are going to find your first chemo treatment anticlimatic. Of course right now, you are feeling anxious and scared. I worked myself up into a frenzie. Try to remember that "anticipation is worse than participation" and this will apply again when you start Docetaxel and Radiation treatment. Stay connected to this site and ask as many questions as you need to. There are many women here who will have great advice for you. Big hugs from me to you Donna - you will get through this and like me and many others you will come out the other side and ready to reclaim your life. Love Joy xx

Hi, I am pretty new to all this so not perhaps so good for advice, but another shoulder to lean on anyway. I am halfway through chemo round one, Taxol weekly and carboplatin every three weeks for 12 weeks. I frequently see people on here advising to avoid Google - I have spent a lot of time on the Internet and personally find some of the blogs here much more frightening than anything I have come across there. I think the trick is to be aware of personal stories vs medical articles, and that study results are influenced by many factors, including the size, and parameters of the study. Here and in other support groups I find I have to remind myself that people who do well don't always keep posting, so sometimes the stories seem weighted towards those in crisis. When diagnosed with TNBC that was scary for me. Having said that the responses I have read here have all been kind and compassionate, those who have gone before us have much to share with us. The beauty of a forum such as this is that some people will feel as you do about all this, others will provide food for thought from a totally different outlook. At halfway mark I am feeling tired of being a pincushion and thinking of a PICC line over a port as even my great veins are struggling with the abuse of weekly chemo and blood work. My humble opinion is that ports are just a different type of poke. Give me a long line. Whether TNBC is good or bad, my opinion is it's just the less understood sibling. It sounds like a lot of research is being directed towards it, and although our diagnoses are now, we are still positioned to benefit from that research down the road. And really, that's comforting!

Welcome to a group you probably don't wont to be in! I'm two and half years from diagnosis and yes it's doable . All I can say is take care of yourself and get on here and ask you are sure to get a answer. I've got a good support group in my State of Tassie so join one if you can. Amazing how different you feel when talking to another pink lady . So all the best Deb xxxx

Looking for advice, tips and smiles

31 Replies

doona
Member
11 years ago
thinking of you liz hope it goes /gone well xx
Melika
Member
11 years ago
I understand what everyone feels and is going through at different stages of the process. I am at the tail end of my chemotherapy, 2 left. I'm so happy! Through my journey I truly believe healthy changes must happen. Food, spirituality, stress, lifestyle etc. It goes along with the emotional life change this brings on. Take control of your health and be the best you can be. It will pay off into your future of Health and healing. There are tons of people who experience this, recover and move on. However many take a step back and look at themselves and make real positive changes. Go girls! We can do it!
LizSav
Member
11 years ago
Hi Donna

Great to hear that you're feeling well. Hope your hair stays in place for the weekend!

I just received my results from the genetic testing this week and I have the defective BRCA1 gene. I was suprised and then immediately started to worry about the impact on the rest of my family. There's so much to consider but at least we all have the option of finding out and planning. If they decide to go ahead with testing, I will, of course, be hoping that they are negative.

As for myself, I am meeting with my breast surgeon next week to discuss my treatment plan which will now include a double mastectomy and removal of ovaries. I will agree to anything which will reduce my chances of getting cancer again.

Take care, Liz
LizSav
Member
11 years ago
Hi Donna

Great to hear that you're feeling well. Hope your hair stays in place for the weekend!

I just received my results from the genetic testing this week and I have the defective BRCA1 gene. I was suprised and then immediately started to worry about the impact on the rest of my family. There's so much to consider but at least we all have the option of finding out and planning. If they decide to go ahead with testing, I will, of course, be hoping that they are negative.

As for myself, I am meeting with my breast surgeon next week to discuss my treatment plan which will now include a double mastectomy and removal of ovaries. I will agree to anything which will reduce my chances of getting cancer again.

Take care, Liz
doona
Member
11 years ago
still feeling pretty good ,although hair is going rapidly ( .Off on a girls weekend today ,doing a 10k walk for MS ,and am hoping hair stays in place until after the weekend .Chemo again on wednesday and ive just had an app through from the geneticist for BRACCA testing .Has anyone else had this ?
doona
Member
11 years ago
still feeling pretty good ,although hair is going rapidly ( .Off on a girls weekend today ,doing a 10k walk for MS ,and am hoping hair stays in place until after the weekend .Chemo again on wednesday and ive just had an app through from the geneticist for BRACCA testing .Has anyone else had this ?
LizSav
Member
11 years ago
Hi Donna

Good to hear that you're not feeling too bad after your first chemo and that you managed to go for a walk - well done!

I'll be up to chemo no. 12 tomorrow and looking forward to the 31/10 which will be my last session.

Take care.

Liz
LizSav
Member
11 years ago
Hi Donna

Good to hear that you're not feeling too bad after your first chemo and that you managed to go for a walk - well done!

I'll be up to chemo no. 12 tomorrow and looking forward to the 31/10 which will be my last session.

Take care.

Liz
doona
Member
11 years ago
first chemo done yesterday ,feel okay apart from a bit sickly ,walked for an hour this morning though )
doona
Member
11 years ago
first chemo done yesterday ,feel okay apart from a bit sickly ,walked for an hour this morning though )

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Looking for advice, tips and smiles

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