I'm sure I'm not the only person who until very recently had no idea there were different kinds of breast cancer - I certainly had never heard of triple negative breast cancer until the oncologist spoke the words and even then it meant nothing to me. I'm scared, I must admit, because it is such an unknown thing and all the google searches are a bit depressing. I'm going to speak to my breast care nurse on friday to try to get a more definite status and prognosis. I have a very large tumour - having chemo first to try to shrink it before an op is possible. I have gone from being healthy and looking forward to being a woman in ill health going through all sorts of procedures and treatment. Very hard to get my head around!!! What makes it harder is my husband has terminal cancer which we found out about six weeks before the breast cancer. Don't know who to worry about most. :( I would love to hear some good new stories from you - especially if you had a large tumour.

I have had triple negative breast cancer twice. Both tumors were 3cm. I am now almost 5 years from first diagnosis and 3 years from 2nd diagnosis. My oncologist said about 20%of all BC are triple neg. I have always tried not to get too hung up on the stats. I ditched DR Google a long time ago, he's a scary guy. There are many women on this site who are triple neg so you are not alone. It is such a scary time when you are first diagnosed. Try to take one day at a time (easy to say). I am so sorry to hear about your husband. BC is hard enough to deal with, without having another family member fighting a battle of their own. Sending you a huge cyber hug. Paula x

Hi Ali, I feel the same as you, I didn't realise how many different types of BC there are. But from what I can see it sounds like it's all very treatable. After googling information, I too am trying to stay away from searches. There are too many scary stories which is not what any of us need right now. I have only recently been diagnosed with triple negative myself. I had a 35mm tumour cut out in a lumpectomy and all my lymp nodes. Now booked in for a masectomy next Friday as there was cancer still in my breast. I definitely couldn't have got through this whirlwind of diagnoses and operations without my breast care nurse. They have so much information and are able to give you perspective on your situation. I agree it is difficult to go from super healthy and then facing up to ill health. But trying to think positive about getting through this hurdle, I feel is a good start. Sad to hear about your husband being ill too. Hopefully you can surround yourself with family and friends to be able to support you both. Take care

Hi Ali, I total agree with everyone elses comment. I also Grade 3 Triple Negative, it was not a hard decision to have the full bilateral mastectomy, as I was also tested and came back positive as BRAC 1. This was in 2012. It was a difficult years with lots of operations and Chemo. But each challenge you take in little steps and good news there is light afterward. Be gentle with yourself, I so sorry to hear your husband also. Jocelyn

Hi Ali I was diagnosed with Grade 3 Triple Negative at Christmas time. From the start I just took one day at a time. This is my motto in life in general. My tumour was 7.5cm so I too had chemo to try and shrink it. This may seem strange and perhaps a personal thing but I named my tumour! This made it alot easier for everyone to talk about it. So instead of using words like tumour and cancer, everyone referred to it as Betty lol (except the medcial professionals). Chemo is different for everyone but I literally took it one hour at a time. Each hour of each day got me closer to feeling better. And yep...then there was the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately Betty didn't shrink enough for a lumpectomy so I had a single mastectomy last month. I actually feel more relieved that my entire breast is gone and have been showing off my scar proudly. I hope this doesn't frighten you in any way. I have tried to stay as positive as I can and lean on the people around me when needed. Your circumstances are very different to mine so more than ever reach out for help and support from those people that love you and care about you. Take care, Anne xx

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28 Replies

Jocelyn_Miller
Member
12 years ago
Hi Ali, I total agree with everyone elses comment. I also Grade 3 Triple Negative, it was not a hard decision to have the full bilateral mastectomy, as I was also tested and came back positive as BRAC 1. This was in 2012. It was a difficult years with lots of operations and Chemo. But each challenge you take in little steps and good news there is light afterward. Be gentle with yourself, I so sorry to hear your husband also. Jocelyn
Heather2014
Member
12 years ago
Hi Ali,

I feel the same as you, I didn't realise how many different types of BC there are. But from what I can see it sounds like it's all very treatable. After googling information, I too am trying to stay away from searches. There are too many scary stories which is not what any of us need right now.

I have only recently been diagnosed with triple negative myself. I had a 35mm tumour cut out in a lumpectomy and all my lymp nodes. Now booked in for a masectomy next Friday as there was cancer still in my breast. I definitely couldn't have got through this whirlwind of diagnoses and operations without my breast care nurse. They have so much information and are able to give you perspective on your situation.

I agree it is difficult to go from super healthy and then facing up to ill health. But trying to think positive about getting through this hurdle, I feel is a good start. Sad to hear about your husband being ill too. Hopefully you can surround yourself with family and friends to be able to support you both.

Take care
mum2jj
Member
12 years ago
I have had triple negative breast cancer twice. Both tumors were 3cm. I am now almost 5 years from first diagnosis and 3 years from 2nd diagnosis. My oncologist said about 20%of all BC are triple neg. I have always tried not to get too hung up on the stats. I ditched DR Google a long time ago, he's a scary guy. There are many women on this site who are triple neg so you are not alone. It is such a scary time when you are first diagnosed. Try to take one day at a time (easy to say). I am so sorry to hear about your husband. BC is hard enough to deal with, without having another family member fighting a battle of their own. Sending you a huge cyber hug. Paula x

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