Does anyone have triple negative breast cancer?

Welcome to Connect, @jboisjolie
I'd like to introduce you to a few other members who have triple negative breast cancer. Please meet @queenp80 @marykaym63 @susierq111 @triplenegativesurvivor @berit and @fundytide to name a few.
These discussions may also interest you:
- triple negative breast cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/breast-cancer-277922/
- Number of radiation treatments for whole breast cancer radiation https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/number-of-radiation-treatments-for-whole-breast-cancer-radiation/

JBoisJolie, what type of surgery will you be having?

Thank you! I had a double mastectomy with reconstructive in Dec 2015. Rochester will be doing a flat back closure which means taking the implant, skin and tissue. They will use the skin from my back for grafting in the front.

I had a lumpectomy in August 2017 for a stage 2 metaplastc cancer that was triple negative. I had the sentinel lymph node removed and there was no spread of the cancer into the lymph nodes. I had 4 rounds of chemo over three months followed by 20 radiation treatments. I lost my hair—it's still growing back — some nausea, a lot of tireedness, and dehydration with the chemo. I had a small burn with the radiation. I'm 71. So far no lumps have reappeared and I am due for my first mammogram in July.

I am just over 3 years out from triple negative, stage 2 grade 3. I too doctored at Mayo. I had 16 chemo treatments, which got pretty rough. I then had a lumpectomy with a sentinel nose biopsy, followed by 16 treatments of excelerated radiation which went pretty well. I worked at my job as much as my body would allow. And rested alot when I got home. It took about 9 months to get through the whole ordeal. Good luck to you! Keep the chin up!

Just had my lumpectomy in May,Triple Negative ,,had my Port put in the day before Chemo ,the Red Devil """ everything was going great until 5 and 6 day after treatment ,my heart felt it was coming out of my chest ,all my blood pressure taken during this time said irregular beat!! I go tomorrow for my first follow up with Onocologist tomorrow ! Has anyone else had these kinds of reaction taking chemo ,or is this normal ,I never read this was normal ,because nothing about feeling your about to die is normal !!! I had Neuropathy and take Metformin before for over 5 yrs or more ! Could this be my problem ???

Did you call someone while the rapid heartbeat was happened no? I took metformin and my three other diabetes medications through all of my treatments. See what the oncologist says.

@lucyholly18 what did you learn from your appointment with the oncologist today? What type of chemotherapy are you on?

Yeah, its the Red Devil, because it's red! Ono. Sent me to the Emergency there at his office building to run EKG,CTwith contrast, they drew 4 times my blood to have tested, lab sent all 12 viles back !finally after 2 hrs a nurse came in a machine that could locate my good vain,then it could be read by lab! It was like I had air in my blood!!crazy! !! Having Palpitations, dizzy, tightness in right side,low blood pressure for 5 days, i was sent home to go get more testing from Primary Doc and my Indocrinologist within a few day's because something is going on! My low thyroid was hyper,and low mag.! TONIGHT i feel this chemo has done this to me! I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IF i was stage 0-1,no other spread limp node, after mass removed, cancer free,Why am I taking a Poison like Chemo?

@lucyholly18, many feel that taking chemo is their weapon against cancer, especially the invisible parts. But for everyone it is a personal choice. Sometimes the side effects of treatment are unbearable and can cause difficulties that lead to other health problems. This is very different from person to person, even if you have the same cancer type.

I think the most important thing is to have an open and frank discussion with your oncologist to find out
a) is the chemo the cause of the other health issues?
b) if yes, what are your options? Reduce dosage? Stopping chemo for a period of time or permanently? Different type of chemo?

If you choose to not have chemo, be sure to understand what this would mean for you. Does this increase the chances of cancer returning? If yes, by how much?
You see, there are many questions unanswered. I encourage to ask questions and ask again until the answers make sense to you. I often use the tactic of speaking back to my doctor what I understood. That way she can see where I may have misinterpreted something. I also like to think that I am doing them a service by speaking back their explanations in plain language. Maybe that gives them laymen's terms to use for the next patient. Who knows, right?

I had triple negative bc 10 years ago with 3 cm. Tumor and no spread to lymph nodes. I had lumpectomy and received aggressive chemo- 3 drugs for 6 courses. No reoccurrence.