Triple Negative BC

I would like to tell of my wife's terrible experience with her triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the lack of knowledge and communication with her  "Support team". 

Michelle was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer on the 16 Nov. 2010. She had a 14mm lump in her left breast. 

She had a lumpectomy and had 17 lymph nodes removed from her armpit, some cells where inoperable as they were so close to the skin on her chest. Chemo followed with AC and Taxol.

Radiation was the next step for 6 weeks, during which they found cancer cells near her left shoulder blade which were treated. Immediately following Michelle underwent scans which found she had no cancer cells present in soft tissue but found small specks in her lowern spine. We still didn't realise this was really bad, this was  5 August 2011.

I said to the radioligist. " that does not sound as bad as I though". He said " Yes, but she will need continuing ongoing treatment ". 

Michelle started to have pain in her lower spine so she underwent another 2 weeks of radiotherapy which fixed the problem. She also had pain in one of her teeth. She went to our local dentist who said she is a 'sick girl' and could not find anything, but charged her $60 anyway for a clean?. We heard from a nurse that we have access to $5000 worth of dentistry, which our GP confirmed. That was good to know?. She went to another dentist who fixed the problem. Michelle was so happy she cried.

Michelle was starting to get a lump on her neck around the start of Sept. , which the oncologist said to wait for chemo which she was to start again on 28 Sept. ?.

On 5 September we went to our GP because Michelle had shortness of breath and a bad cough for which he prescribed a puffer and anti-biotics. There was whopping cough goiong around at the time and flu. This made things slightly better for a while before things got worse. You get that gut feeling  that the cancer has spread, but you think the doctor knows best. I took her to Wyong emergency on the morning of 17 Sept. because Michelle's breathing had got worse. I still know we should have gone sooner. But I don't know that it would have helped given that the cancer was always spreading so quickly after treatment. Her oncologist told the doctor to transfer Michelle to Gosford Hospital around 11pm Saturday. I asked nurses when the oncologist was coming. They informed me that 'they don't come in on weekends?'.

Michelle passed away around all the family at 5.52 am on Monday morning.

There are many other aspects to this story but it is too emotionally painful for me to write. 

I just want people to know of our experience and to get second opinions and do research on internet, which is where most of our information came from. Call the cancer council and leave a message with their service if they cannot answer. 

My daughter 21 went to her doctor to ask about gene testing. Their reply was, " Do you want to know. It could change your outlook on life". Is this bad consultation.

My other daughter 18 called the community health line in a broucher. They told her," your probably too young to get a mamogram". We are getting her tested.

Our oncologist sometimes did not recieve messages from his receptionist?. 

I feel now that we were suppose to be cancer experts ourselves.

Tell yourself, who do you believe along your journey with breast cancer. Who would your trust to have your life in their hands, because in the end we could trust very few. Make sure you ask all the questions and write down every step. Take care and be aggresive in your pursuit for answers.