Triple negative breast cancer: Not doing so good

Hi @patty6, welcome. Ttiple negative breast cancer is a tough diagnosis. But you are not alone.

Can you tell me a bit more about what is going on? Is this a new diagnosis for you?

Ty for answering. Yes it's new and everywhere I have turned there has been problems or many cancellation. I wish I just let it be. I have tried to find councilors and there us.nothing out there. I am not good with computer

Patty, you're doing fine posting here on Mayo Clinic Connect. 🙂

Fellow members like @seathink @lynnj3 @drummergirl @sharonemma @thielmann1 @cmdw2600 @bpknitter53 @eurojones2 @olg1 and many others know what it's like to hear the words "you have triple negative breast cancer". They're here to help support you too.

About finding a counselor, you could ask your oncologist about getting a referral to an oncology social worker. They are very helpful in providing counseling, but also to help you find resources you may need for the journey ahead.

Are you being seen at a cancer center near where you live? What treatment is being recommended?

@patty6 - I'm sorry to hear you're having a tough time with your diagnosed (dx) Nov. '21. After several scans and biopsies it was dx as Triple Negative BC (TNBC) and I'm BRCA2+ (I also have a genetic mutation). I found the lumps in my breast and in my arm pit. Fortunately on a couple fronts - I'm very comfortable with the computer and I was still working. I started my research first on breast cancer and then narrowed it to TNBC and the BRCA mutation - the hardest part for me was finding what I considered reputable sites where I focused my research. I found the experiences both comforting and frightening at the same time. There are many that have a smoother journey than others - I chose to focus on those that had an easier path to follow. When researching it helped me be better prepared for what where possible treatment plans that may lie ahead of me - so I wasn't surprised by what I was told. I have chemo first, after my curly hair became matted - I had it shaved off. My chemo treatment left me tired but since I still worked I had many other things to focus on other than my dx - for me that was a tremendous help. I had a chemo bag with activities and things in case I felt nauseous during treatment. After all my chemo was complete more scans to determine the chemo effectiveness - response was good. Then it was time for surgery - my surgeon suggested lumpectomy and oncologist suggested bilateral because I was BRCA2+. I didn't have surgery until they both agreed - final determination was bilateral. Unfortunately my margins were not clear (miniscule spot detected in surgery pathology report) so it was recommended I have radiation. So again I researched different types of radiation treatment and the radiation oncologist was very patient in explaining the type that would be used and for how long. This entire process was finally complete this past April - so I decided in May it was time to retire (I was also retirement age) - our home and auto were also paid off early this year.

I had someone go with me to those initial appointments where treatment discussions were going to be held since I wanted to make sure someone else heard things I might not have heard. I also took a note book with questions and answers and several times asked for additional clarification on what they were telling me. Because of my research I was prepared to hear specific options and was prepared to ask questions or there was a different option I wanted to find out why I wasn't going that route.

Please know this site has been invaluable to me as a safe place to vent to people who understand what I'm going through, also as a sounding board for questions I might not know I can ask and place to see what other's experiences were - the range of experiences - everyone's experience is unique to them. There are a lot of factors that go into their experience. These items are not in any specific order - comfort level in research - asking questions - speaking up for yourself - asking for clarification - access to different medical treatment options - medical coverage - attitude about dx - support system (spouse, significant other, family, support group); there are so many things that impact how we handle our dx and that can have an impact on our journey.

Post for information, support or just to vent - many will provide their feedback - but again know your experience will be uniquely your own. Best of luck to you and don't hesitate to reach out.

@patty6 so sorry about your delays. That happened to me, too, with triple negative.

When the cancer got into my skin I confess I got depressed and was just going to suffer through until the delays with doctors, but my husband refused and called every single doctor I had seen until he got to my surgeon who said she'd see me next day. At that meeting she got things rolling.

Do you have a friend, co-worker, or loved one who could do something like that for you, where you are?

I was at a great hospital for all my treatments, but like my surgeon said, you needed someone on the inside to help you.

I am so sorry for all you are going through. 😞

I was diagnosed July with TNCB and started treatment August 3 so things went quickly for me. Have you started treatment? It’s a scary Dx. Remember You are not alone. This site helped me ask questions of my oncologist that I didn’t even know I should ask. I too have a note book with questions and answers. Hope if you haven’t started treatment you do so soon. Take care