The things we have to learn

Hi Ali,

The 1st thing my breast surgeon told me was to stay off google....I didn't & after 10 minutes was in tears & very depressed.

12 months later, I've had 6 months on chemo, hysterectomy, oopherectomy, bilateral mastectomy & reconstruction....I'm BRCA1 positive too. My pathology has come back with no signs of anything in my tissues & system that shouldn't be there, so I'm 1 happy camper.

My lump was 1.6cm & stage 3. I was at a dinner 2 weeks ago & met 2 women, my age, 42, both Triple Negative & BRCA1....both cancer free for 7 & 8 years, I plan on being able to say that too :)

I'm truely sorry to hear about your husband. We are all here for you whenever you need us. 

Hugs, Sam xoxoxoxox

Hi Ali,

The 1st thing my breast surgeon told me was to stay off google....I didn't & after 10 minutes was in tears & very depressed.

12 months later, I've had 6 months on chemo, hysterectomy, oopherectomy, bilateral mastectomy & reconstruction....I'm BRCA1 positive too. My pathology has come back with no signs of anything in my tissues & system that shouldn't be there, so I'm 1 happy camper.

My lump was 1.6cm & stage 3. I was at a dinner 2 weeks ago & met 2 women, my age, 42, both Triple Negative & BRCA1....both cancer free for 7 & 8 years, I plan on being able to say that too :)

I'm truely sorry to hear about your husband. We are all here for you whenever you need us. 

Hugs, Sam xoxoxoxox

Hi Anne and Ali

I hope it's alright to jump in on your post Ali, but I am currently undergoing weekly neoadjuvant chemo for a large and multiple small tumours (TNBC) in my right breast. The tumour has shrunk a lot, in fact I can't feel it any more. I believe that this is not uncommon as TNBC is often quite responsive to chemo. I will still need a mastectomy because there are multiple tumours. Anne, how long after you finished your chemo did you have your mastectomy? Might sound strange but I am planning a nice holiday after my surgery.

Ali, I know everyone is different and although chemo is hard, it is not as hard as I had imagined. The anti nausea drugs are very good and you may find yourself getting into a routine of good days and not so good days with your chemo cycles. So sorry to hear about your husband. Do you have help and support?

Hugs Cathy xxx

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

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

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 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