Hi @kevachanel38 -

I can relate to most of these stories posted and will add my own here. I am just over a year out from a Stage 2b TNBC diagnosis (2/6/2024) at the age of 33. It has been a long year, but I remind myself every day how much I've been through and am so grateful to see the light at the end of the tunnel on my treatment regimen. I don't carry any sort of gene mutation or have a history of breast cancer in my family (the only link may have been my aunt, who had colon cancer at the age of 31).

I was on a research study right away that was testing a vaccine injection directly into the tumor along with immunotherapy and went through 2 of the 4 treatments for that piece before moving on to the standard of care treatment since my tumor was not shrinking. The first 12 weeks were weekly taxol/carbo plus pembrolizumab (keytruda) every 3rd week. If you haven't already, I highly suggest getting the ice pack mitts/boots to help with potential neuropathy - it's not fun, but they truly help! My tumor shrunk significantly on that treatment and I went on to the next phase of treatment which was an additional four cycles of pembrolizumab plus doxorubicin–cyclophosphamide (red devil) every 3 weeks. My tumor actually grew on that treatment and I had my surgery moved up a few weeks from when it was initially scheduled. I ended up going with a direct to implant double mastectomy (personal choice) as I was hoping to avoid radiation after.

After surgery - I found out that I did not have any sort of lymph node involvement, and they were able to get clear margins around the tumor. So I can say that I am now surgically cancer free 🙂 My tumor did have 50% residual disease, so while I didn't have to have radiation, I am currently on round 4 of 8 of a 3 week cycle of oral chemo pills 2x/day for two weeks on and one week off with immunotherapy on day 1 of each cycle.

The ups and downs of this journey are truly ones that cannot be explained to others who have not gone through this themselves. Know that you are a part of the worst club, but with the best members. Some of the best advice that I received was to take things day by day - even hour by hour. Sending all the positive vibes and virtual hugs your way.