Triple Negative
Hi there, I’m new to this site and to be honest very scared. I had surgery a week ago to have a cancer removed (lumpectomy). Results are in. Clear margins and clear nodes (that’s the good news) Grade ...
Forum Discussion
Hi there @Kellee. I was diagnosed may 2016 aged 43 with stage 2a grade 3 TNBC in my left boob. My lymph nodes and scans were all clear. I qualified for the gene test as I was under 50 and had no family history of any breast cancer. My treatment was slightly different from @volunty. I had what’s called dose dense chemo - that means I had 4 rounds of AC chemo 2 weeks apart followed by 4 rounds of paclitaxol two weeks apart. Chemo was shitty at times but doable. I was working as a nurse so took the time off work as it was peak winter when I and I didn’t want to delay any treatment by getting crook with some bug.
it was also discussed early on whether to have the chemo or not but it also significantly reduced my risk of recurrence so it was a no brainer for me. TNBC is a less common type of breast cancer but responds really well to treatment. I had my mastectomy prior to chemo so the cancer itself was already gone. The chemo was done to mop up any strays that may of been lurking.
I chose to have a mastectomy, I was given the option to keep the boob have chemo ands rads or have the mastectomy and just have chemo and that’s what I did as I felt the less treatment I needed the better and also because I live brisbane Northside and getting to the Royal Brisbane daily was a logistical nightmare.
I then then decided 6 months later to take the right boob off as a prophylaxis measure as my guts told me too. This was the right decision for me and one that I don’t regret at all. I also didn’t want the ongoing “scanxiety” as I’ve always had lumpy cysty boobs and I would always be stressing about it. Please keep in mind this was the best decision for me but may not be the right decision for you. Like @volunty she has kept her other boob with no issues.
I am on the huge qld health wait list for recon now, had I known it was so long I may have opted for an immediate recon. I’ve been waiting 2 years and I’m so used to not having boobs I wonder if I’ll ever actually do it! so chat to your team and discuss what your options are and then you can do what’s best for you. You may not even have to go down that path. My best advice is to keep an open mind, try not to google anything and listen to your team so you can decide for yourself what you want to do. But also trust your guts.
It is doable, you do come out the other side, being bald isn’t that bad and you will soon find out who your true friends are. I had ones I’ve had for 30 years pretty much ignore me and ones I didn’t expect to step up who did. Delegate where needed, take help and support of any kind if it’s offered, Believe me people don’t offer if they don’t want to. And if you ever need to chat please feel free to PM me anytime and I’m happy to give you my number. In the mean time try and take each day as it comes and don’t think too far ahead. Once you have a plan life is easier and you can work your life around it then. And remember there are no stupid questions on this forum, ask any of us anytime anything and there is always someone to help. Biggest hug. Margie xxx
it was also discussed early on whether to have the chemo or not but it also significantly reduced my risk of recurrence so it was a no brainer for me. TNBC is a less common type of breast cancer but responds really well to treatment. I had my mastectomy prior to chemo so the cancer itself was already gone. The chemo was done to mop up any strays that may of been lurking.
I chose to have a mastectomy, I was given the option to keep the boob have chemo ands rads or have the mastectomy and just have chemo and that’s what I did as I felt the less treatment I needed the better and also because I live brisbane Northside and getting to the Royal Brisbane daily was a logistical nightmare.
I then then decided 6 months later to take the right boob off as a prophylaxis measure as my guts told me too. This was the right decision for me and one that I don’t regret at all. I also didn’t want the ongoing “scanxiety” as I’ve always had lumpy cysty boobs and I would always be stressing about it. Please keep in mind this was the best decision for me but may not be the right decision for you. Like @volunty she has kept her other boob with no issues.
I am on the huge qld health wait list for recon now, had I known it was so long I may have opted for an immediate recon. I’ve been waiting 2 years and I’m so used to not having boobs I wonder if I’ll ever actually do it! so chat to your team and discuss what your options are and then you can do what’s best for you. You may not even have to go down that path. My best advice is to keep an open mind, try not to google anything and listen to your team so you can decide for yourself what you want to do. But also trust your guts.
It is doable, you do come out the other side, being bald isn’t that bad and you will soon find out who your true friends are. I had ones I’ve had for 30 years pretty much ignore me and ones I didn’t expect to step up who did. Delegate where needed, take help and support of any kind if it’s offered, Believe me people don’t offer if they don’t want to. And if you ever need to chat please feel free to PM me anytime and I’m happy to give you my number. In the mean time try and take each day as it comes and don’t think too far ahead. Once you have a plan life is easier and you can work your life around it then. And remember there are no stupid questions on this forum, ask any of us anytime anything and there is always someone to help. Biggest hug. Margie xxx