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tammyp26's avatar
tammyp26
Member
14 years ago

Results

The surgeon didn't give me the news I wanted to hear.  First the bad news, then the good.

The surgery didn't clear all the cancer and it's a lot more extensive than it showed up on any of the scans - big sigh. 

The diagnosis is Stage II, Grade 3, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (I know it doesn't mean a lot to my friends and family reading - let me explain).

Stage II - primary (main) cancer is less than 2cm and hasn't spread to the lymph nodes (good news)

Grade 3 - least favourable and aggressive (not good)

Triple Negative - from what I've read (please anyone with it correct me if I've got it wrong) = doesn't respond to normal treatments but will respond to some chemotherapy, is more aggressive, more likely to spread and more likely to recur in the first 3-5 years

The secondary cancer was a lot larger than they thought and is spreading quite significantly. 

The good news - it has not spread elsewhere (ie. liver) and is not in the lymph nodes.

It wasn't the news I expected - cancer is teaching me to not have any expectations.  

I'm honestly reeling and have a lot to think about.  I will see an oncologist this week or next and will know more then about treatments, etc.

5 Replies

  • Trish_K's avatar
    Trish_K
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hey my beautiful friend

    Missing you at work. The office just isn't quite the same without you. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Sending lots of hugs and love.

    Trishxxxxx

     

  • kisitt's avatar
    kisitt
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Tammy. Thanks so much for sharing this incredible process. You are in my thoughts constantly. Sending you lots of healing light and love. Karen xxx

  • DELMA's avatar
    DELMA
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Tammy,

    I am loving your blogs.  thank you so much for sharing with us.  It is good to follow your progress and  to read people like Sarah above confirming life goes on after treatment.  I think for all of us it has given us a wake up call on where our priorities should be. Just remember you are in our thoughts constantly,  and we are all here for you if you need anything.  Hang in there, stay strong, stay positive, just be the Tammy we all love and admire.

    Delma xxx

  • Sarah_51's avatar
    Sarah_51
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Tammy

    I am nearly 2 years down the track from a 4.9 cm tumour  (grade 3) that had spread to one of my sentinel nodes. I had a lumpectomy followed by a mastectomy and axillary nodes taken (12 all negative) due to the margins not being clear. My tumour was ER+ so after the chemo and radiation I had the advantage(!) of being able to take tamoxifen. I have a friend in NZ who had BC a few months before me and she is/ was triple negative she had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation and 2 years on is doing really well too. Her tumour was 3 cms I think. I thought that once you passed the 2 year mark with triple negative the out come was really good. Triple negative just means you have no oestrogen, progesterone or Her2 receptors in your tumour so after the radiation there is no more treatment other than regular monitoring by all your doctors.

    It's a bummer getting BC and we all have different tumours and treatments but I can say that 2 years on I feel great and my life is very busy and active due a lot to the people I have met while recovering from BC. It's not a death sentance at all in fact it's a big wakeup to enjoy life and live it to the full! I thought the worst when given the pathology and scared myself by reading into it too much. Now I just live for every moment.

    Good luck as you commence your journey of treatment wherever it may take you.

    Sarah x