Triple Negative Breast Cancer/Grade 3

Hi Sue,

I am sorry you have had to join us, but you have come to the right place for backup and support.  There is a TNBC group here you might like to join and read other women's stories.  The thing with TNBC is that our main lines of defence are chemo and radiation.  TNBC responds very well to both.  Also, we are nearly all Grade 3 when diagnosed, as it is aggressive and often appears between mammograms.  I am also TNBC and had surgery, chemo for 3 months, and 28 rads - that was 3 years ago this month and I feel normal and healthy again and lead a busy life.  Chemo is different for different people, but all my side effects were dealt with by the drugs you take before and after treatment.  It is do-able - the main thing is just to take things one day at a time.  Are you having a portacath to administer chemo?  It was my best friend, and made access easy.  Be guided by your medical team, and remember that chemo/radiation are our best shot at stomping out any stray cells left after surgery.  Stay in touch with how you are going.  Big hug. xx  Michelle

Hi MichelleThank you for your reply, I'm not sure about the portacath haven't got that far, still deciding if I want the chemo, I guess it scares me a bit !!! Did you have hair loss with your treatment ?? Cheers Sue xo

Hi Sue,

To join the group, just click on Groups in Posts/Groups/Members heading and then in the first box type Triple Negative BC - then click Search.  Click the Join button and just follow the prompts.  There are about 333 members.  If you click on my profile name, it will take you to my blogs and you can read about the roller coaster there.  Yes - hair loss is a part of chemo, but there are great scarves and wigs out there, and it grows back strong and healthy afterwards.  My synthetic wig was so good people asked where I had my hair cut!  Don't stress too much, Sue - it is what it is, and you just concentrate on getting better.  xxx Michelle

Hi Sue, it's not you - there are problems with the new system still being ironed out.  Internet Explorer doesn't seem the best option - try downloading Google Chrome (it's free and just gives you another means to access the web).  This seems to work for most of us!  I use Chrome to access BCNA, and IE for all my normal access!  Just another icon on your desktop, but the BCNA site works better.  xx  Michelle

Thanks Michelle I have done that still trying to work it out, but thank you again for your help.

Cheers Sue xo

Hi Sue, I am not triple negative, so on that score I'm not much help, sorry. I had a lumpectomy in Oct 13,followed by 3 treatments of FEC and 3 of Docetaxol. One treatment every 21 days. I breezed through FEC, lost my hair on day 14 after the first treatment. Docetaxol knocked me around me a bit, but we are all so different and react differently to side effects. I followed that with 6 weeks of radiation which was much easier than chemo. Wishing you all the best, it's so hard to make decisions, isn't it? Take care,

Hazel xx 

Hi Sue, I was diagnosed with TNBC grade 3 in my right breast at Christmas time,  I choose to have a Bilateral Mastectomy which I had on 13th January this year and also had the expanders put in on the same day as surgery. I have chose to have the chemo (AC2+ taxol, Part 1 - every 3 weeks for 3 months and then Part 2 - taxol every week for 12weeks) there was just something inside my head telling me that that was what I am meant to do. I have had 2 chemo treatments and my 3rd is this coming Thursday. On both occasions I have been sick with nausea and headache for 12days out of the 21days and have struggled to feel I can continue but I just keep digging hard and finding strength from I don't know where sometimes to get me through it but I heard some people do not suffer from nausea.  I do not need radiation so for me I feel the chemo will take any remaining cancer out of my body to keep me here for many years to come. I started to loose my long hair about 13days after my first treatment so on the 14th day my husband cut it all off with the clippers, I first cried but then tried to make it a fun thing I bought a bottle of bubbly and before we started we made a toast to out with the old to welcome the good new things that are to come and we videoed it too. I have some nice turbans and scarves and also add nice brooches to them to dress them up and change looks. I also have a wig but it is too hot to wear at the moment. Sorry if I am rambling on but I just knew deep inside what I had to do for me even though my mum and husband did not want me to have chemo. You too will know yourself what you need to do for you. Take care and I wish you all the best. Nicole xx