Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What treatments are you having?

Posted by thielmann1 @thielmann1, Dec 9, 2021

I have just been diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer after having Estrogen Positive Breast Cancer for 21 years. Is anyone familiar with this diagnosis and treatment that you are having for it?

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Hi, @cindyhikes
I used the American Cancer Society's statistics when determining my care for TNBC. I am 2 years in for Stage 3, which did get in my lymph nodes and chest wall.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/types-of-breast-cancer/triple-negative.html
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@colleenyoung

Hi @cindyhikes, welcome. You'll notice that I moved your question about choosing mastectomy only for treatment of TNBC to this existing discussion:

- Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What treatments are you having? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/triple-negative-breast-cancer/

I did this so you could see the choices others have made and to more easily connect with triple negative members like @thielmann1 @markagottlieb @kimann @sharonemma @destincindy and more.

I believe that @jjhhdd and @skay (caregiver for her mom) chose surgery only.

Cindy, you didn't mention the size of the tumors. Might it be possible to do surgery first and then decide whether or not to have chemo and/or immunotherapy?

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Thank you so very much for this. It is possible to do surgery first, but I've been reluctant to do that if there really is no chance it would be enough to stop the cancer. I'd like to know if it is actually possible that might do it before I go down that path.

Or if it might slow the progression a few months or a year, it still might be worth it.

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@cindyhikes

I am a 67 yo who had radiation & chemo for Hodgkins 30+ years ago. I was recently diagnosed with TNBC, Grade 3, Stage 2, localized with 2 tumors and no sign of lymph node involvement.

My doctor recommends standard NAC, mastectomy, AC, but I'm considering mastectomy only. I've hunted but can't find any data on chance of survival.

Does anyone know if that information exists? It would greatly help as my oncologist is urging we start right away - on one path or the other.

I am trying to get into Mayo, but am in a triage queue that I've been told is 7-10 business days long.

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Hi @cindyhikes, welcome. You'll notice that I moved your question about choosing mastectomy only for treatment of TNBC to this existing discussion:

- Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What treatments are you having? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/triple-negative-breast-cancer/

I did this so you could see the choices others have made and to more easily connect with triple negative members like @thielmann1 @markagottlieb @kimann @sharonemma @destincindy and more.

I believe that @jjhhdd and @skay (caregiver for her mom) chose surgery only.

Cindy, you didn't mention the size of the tumors. Might it be possible to do surgery first and then decide whether or not to have chemo and/or immunotherapy?

REPLY

I am a 67 yo who had radiation & chemo for Hodgkins 30+ years ago. I was recently diagnosed with TNBC, Grade 3, Stage 2, localized with 2 tumors and no sign of lymph node involvement.

My doctor recommends standard NAC, mastectomy, AC, but I'm considering mastectomy only. I've hunted but can't find any data on chance of survival.

Does anyone know if that information exists? It would greatly help as my oncologist is urging we start right away - on one path or the other.

I am trying to get into Mayo, but am in a triage queue that I've been told is 7-10 business days long.

REPLY
@kimann

I am identical to you and chemo was the same! Yesterday was my last chemo after 5 months. The first 12 weeks, I had no Sadie effects, the second 12 weeks, I experienced chemo fatigue for the following week. But I learned to let it go and do what I could. My employer has been wonder and able to work from home on bad days! Yesterday I had my MRI and today my ultrasound. My reports came back great!!! Tumor has shrunk and lymph node is normal!!! Surgery is scheduled June 16th with radiology following! God bless and good luck!!

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Thank you and good luck to you also!!

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@sharonemma

I was recently diagnosed TNBC. Mayo’s standard was Taxol/Carboplatin/Pembrolizumab 1xweek fir 12 weeks,
then Adriamycin/Cytoxan/Pemrolizumab 1X every 3 weeks x 4 times. So another 12 weeks.
60% chance of complete pathological result (meaning cancer is gone.)
Wait 4-6 weeks and do surgery.
Radiation just depended on if lymph nodes or size of tumor (over 5cm is yes)

I decided to join a I Spy 2 clinical study. Which delays starting chemo as they take another biopsy and send it to the study group to get recommended chemo/Immuno combo. Takes two weeks. The waiting is a mental game.
Please keep in mind everyone’s situation is different and BC seems very complicated in the variety of treatment options.

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I am identical to you and chemo was the same! Yesterday was my last chemo after 5 months. The first 12 weeks, I had no Sadie effects, the second 12 weeks, I experienced chemo fatigue for the following week. But I learned to let it go and do what I could. My employer has been wonder and able to work from home on bad days! Yesterday I had my MRI and today my ultrasound. My reports came back great!!! Tumor has shrunk and lymph node is normal!!! Surgery is scheduled June 16th with radiology following! God bless and good luck!!

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@markagottlieb

I was diagnosed with TNBC in 2015 and also was treated at Mayo in Arizona. I had a complete response, and am doing well. Be confident Mayo will do good for you.

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I had DCIS triple negative in 2012 and lumpectomy and radiation. In 2021 I had another DCIS triple negative in the same breast. Had bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and the pathology came with an invasive cancer in the same breast. So I had to have 16 chemotherapy. I finished on february 23rd, 2022. My question is, what have you changed, if anything, about your lifestyle, nutrition, etc. We hear about many supplements than can help: green tea, vitamin D, Omega 3, vitamin C, apricot seeds, essia tea,...

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@markagottlieb

Where are you going to Mayo?

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Mayo Rochester

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@kimann

I was diagnosed last November. May 12th is my last chemotherapy. June 16th is surgery, then radiation!! Thank you for your note!!! Encouraging ❤️

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Where are you going to Mayo?

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I had estrogen positive cancer in 2012. I was diagnosed with triple negative last November. I am just finishing my 5 months of chemo (one left), then surgery followed by 5 weeks of radiation.

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