I'm new to the forum today and introducing myself, wondering if my story resonates with some of your experiences. I'm looking forward to being part of this community, learning from, and supporting each other through this ordeal.
I'm 56, and was diagnosed in Jan after noticing a small cyst-like lump above my left breast that turned out to be TNBC. After working this up locally, upon the emotional shock of diagnosis, I quickly pivoted to Sloan Kettering where I'm working with an incredibly caring team of docs, mostly at one of their satellite centers in the suburbs outside NYC.
I'm recovering from lumpectomy of 1.1 cm tumor stage 2a, grade 3, and sentinel node extraction where 1 of 5 nodes had cancer.
I was recovering well until yesterday awoke with a golf ball size seroma filled with fluid under my armpit that had to be drained multiple times and compressed very tightly to prevent filling again. It turned into an excruciatingly painful ordeal, had an awful night, thankfully better today.
I'll soon be starting chemo at Sloan Kettering with 8 AC-T treatments over 16 weeks, every other week. I believe I'll have 2 "A", 2 "C" and 4 "T" which is a big difference than 12 Taxols that I see some on forum have received. I'm meeting my oncologist again next week again to confirm the treatment plan that I'm healed and ready to start the dreaded chemo onset.
I had hoped to cold cap thru chemo but my team told me the cold capping would likely not work with the strong ACT chemo based on their limited success with it at Sloan with ACT, feeling my hair will be gone by 2nd treatment and what's left would be very fragile. I'm curious if anyone has had positive outcome with cold capping on strong AC-T chemo?
I'm thinking about consulting with an acupuncturist to perhaps offset nausea and potential neuropathy from taxol. Any experiences with these welcomed.
My plan is for radiation after chemo. My radiation oncologist has shared with me 2 big studies guiding treatment for my diagnosis these days, ie, radiating breast and the axillary nodes x 20 treatments, or, radiating breast and entire regional nodes around breast practically to the neck x 30 treatments, the latter sounds quite horrible radiating up to the neck.
Now, I'm trying to mentally prepare for chemo onset and the dreaded hair loss. I can't believe the idea of shaving my head after having long hair and bangs my whole life is what's freaking me out the most. Surely the act of having it shaved and first times seeing myself bald, along with my husband, will be the worst, and then I'll hopefully accept it and start decorating with my head wardrobe!
Trying to brave up for next step, one treatment at a time.....