Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What treatments are you having?

I started chemo in Aug, too (2020) for TNBC. I bought a wig but ended up using hair coverings until my hair grew out. It was easier with my baby and with the heat that way. Friends bought me head coverings over the Internet and there was a free basket at the infusion center.

I wore the wig out a couple of times in the fall and winter. If I had been in a colder spot I would have worn it more, I think. Our cancer wig shop was closed all through my treatment because of lockdown, but bought a wig at a costume shop once non-essential shopping was allowed again.

Good luck with the shave today! I actually really was happy when I finally got it all off - a lot less itching and no more micro hairs everywhere.

Thanks for the feed back.
2020🙏 how are you doing now? What was your status? I’m stage 3 with no metastasis to the lymph nodes
Are you taking any meds to prevent recurrence?
Also how old is your baby (bright spot in your life I bet)’

Doing really good, but took a long while. I was Stage 3B with lymph nodes, chest wall, and skin involvement.

After the chemo/surgery/radiation process plus a year of Keytruda from 2020-2021 I did a year of Xeloda, 1 week on and 1 week off for reoccurrence prevention. Last summer I was good on .my PET/CT so now I just get bloodwork every 3 months, and alternate mamo or MRI every 6 months with a yearly CT.

He's now 3 and 5 months - so much fun. I had some radiation side effects last year, so this year I'm finally able to spend some days with him without treatments and doc appts every week and it's been awesome. 😊

It was so tough, and even stuff that now make my life really great, like my reconstruction, were sooo frustrating at the time. It's a crazy journey. Hugs, hugs, hugs.

Even though it’s a long journey I’m encouraged by you story. Blessings to you and you family.

Your chemo regimen seems more extensive than some. What size was your tumor and was there any spread? I am sure you are getting the best at Mayo.

My tumor was 3.7cm and i discovered recently from a lymph node Bx that the lymph node was negative. I currently at St. Luke’s regional cancer treatment center on Duluth. Because this is such a fast growing Ca. and their normal protocol. Have others had less aggressive TX with good results?

Sometimes age is a deciding factor. I was 72 with 1.8cm and no nodes affected. I could not get “red devil” I was told due to age. As far as I am concerned, the more aggressive the better. Sounds like you are getting good care.

It was grade three for aggressiveness but had not spread to lymph nodes. Triple negative is already hard to treat. By the time of surgery it wasn’t gone so i had to do radiation and am just finishing 6 months of oral chemo to prevent reoccurance. Or cut reoccurance in half. It’s still 15-20%.

I was diagnosed with TNBC in November 2019, stage 1b, 1.7 cm and no lymph node involvement. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and then radiation. This was protocol the time. I was deemed in remission until last week. December 15th I had my yearly mammogram which required additional imaging. More scans, ultrasound and biopsy determined I have a local reoccurrence. I am now faced with the decision of having another lumpectomy with 3 weeks radiation, I did not have full amount of radiation the first time, or mastectomy. On one hand I think lumpectomy and save mastectomy option in case it returns again but on the other hand I don’t want multiple surgeries. If I did go mastectomy I would go flat. I am 63 and any advice, suggestions would be appreciated.

My diagnosis was similar. However, I did learn that I had the ATM gene, not like BRCA, but did elevate my risk of BC. Since 2019, they have determined that all TNBC should get genetic testing.
I elected to have a double mastectomy. I had a small amount of lymphovascular invasion in my pathology. My oncologist said it was good that all the breast tissue was removed, yet nobody discussed this as a possible benefit to mastectomy. Something you don’t know until post surgery. Also, there can be small, developing DCIS, and that would all be removed.
I am 75 and I wear a soft prosthesis in my bra very comfortably. I can even wear a strapless bra. No regrets.