@kevachanel38 - my prayers and thoughts are with you during this unexpected journey. I agree with everything already stated you'll get through this. Let me tell you about some of my journey with TNBC. I too was scared, but I'm a slow person to act so I started this journey research everything I could find from reputable websites about BC, then narrowed my research to TNBC when the type was identified - but to my amazement I'm also BRCA2+ - no one in my family has ever had BC, I'm the first.

I had chemo, then bi-lateral then radiation. I researched about the chemo drugs and side effects before starting treatment and things to do to prep for the infusions. I made myself a chemo treatment bag - this included my knitting, my iPad, my iPod, snacks, a hydration drink, a small blanket and candied ginger - I was prepared for many things to take my mind off my treatment. I started loosing my hair shortly after my first treatment so with curly hair I had my niece shave my head - it was winter so I wore lots of warm caps. I also found, for me, I needed to keep my protein up during my treatments in prep for the prep blood work to make sure it was ok for the next infusion. I had very high protein shakes every morning - I used a powdered protein with a high protein milk and fruit or I bought high protein / low sugar protein drinks to have. I think someone told me I should have 1/2 my weight in grams of protein per day. So if I had a 40 gram protein shake in the morning I could make up the rest during the day eating other things high in protein.

I was fortunate my dx was during covid so I was able to work through all my treatment from home and no one at work ever knew I had BC or that I was bald - I did all my video calls without my camera on - my boss knew and was OK with me not being on camera. Having to work at something I enjoyed was also a blessing - it kept my mind occupied; but still allowed me to research information on what my treatment would look like as I progressed to the next phase of treatment. I too had the port implant and was so thankful for that, it allowed full movement of my arms so I could knit or read or just cross my arms on my chest under a blanket so I could close my eyes. Just FYI - I still have my port and my onco says I should keep it in for the first 5 years of NED (no evidence of disease).

After chemo and it was determined it did its job of reducing the size of the lumps (Left breast and underarm); it was time to move to the next phase of having lumpectomy or bi-lateral. Surgeon suggested lumpectomy; but onco advised bi-lateral and most research I read indicated bi-lateral especially since I'm BRCA2+ - I wanted them on the same page so I made sure they talked and got in agreement before surgery. I was 68 at the time and chose to go flat - once I completed all my treatments I didn't want to have reconstruction at my age. Everything went fine with surgery - my only afterthought would be to make sure my definition of "flat" matched my surgeons. I don't have the flatness I thought I'd get - but I can live with it. By no means is it ugly, its just not what I envisioned.

After surgery I also had radiation as a precaution. That was more of a time annoyance than anything - it took me more time to get there than anything. From changing to the procedure I was probably at the place no more than 10 minutes. That included changing to the gown, having the treatment, then changing into my street clothes.

In early March will be NED for 2 years. Overall I think I weathered my treatment pretty well. But I still think about it periodically, but I try really hard not to dwell on it. Being BRCA2+ means I could pass the gene to my children. I did pass to my son, which elevates slightly his risk of certain cancers so he will need to start certain male monitoring tests earlier than others. I feel guilty about that but I didn't know I carried gene and there is nothing I do about it now. I also suggested all my siblings get tested, but I'm not sure they have.

This is one persons experience through this journey - I hope you have people to talk to and support you, know this site is here to learn from, express your concerns and fears to others that have or are following a similar path or just to vent about what your feeling and have someone tell you that's ok and I understand what you're feeling because I've had those same thoughts myself. Be strong because you can do this and even though we aren't physically with you we are here to support you with our words, thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for listening to someone remember all that I've been through and that I've come through a challenging path and am still standing and so can you.