Metastatic TNBC-Options

BACKGROUND:
After 15 years of NED, in January 2012 my breast cancer has metastasized as a tumor in my throat (an enlarged lymph node) that was pressing on my trachea & esophagus. A prophylactic tracheotomy was performed so I could breathe and I still have the danged thing.

In the past, my cancer was not TN but now it is. I had radiation followed by Taxol infusions (9 cycles-3 on 1 off) which helped in shrinking my tumor from 5.5cm to about 1cm. Chemo was stopped and 2 months later when I started having a little more difficulty breathing & swallowing another CT scan was performed and it showed the tumor has grown back to 3.5cm. This was in Europe and the doctors there were pretty much stumped as to what to do next--said if I have a chance to go to US, I should.

I came to MSKCC in April of 2013 for further treatment (was treated here 15 years ago and followed every year since) where I got almost 3 cycles of Abraxane (3 on, 1 off) before it was shown not to be effective. I was swallowing and breathing harder, my CEA was elevated and PET & CT scans confirmed that the tumor was growing.
I was taken off of Abraxane and placed on Carbo/Gemzar (2 on, 1 off) which I am still on. (3rd cycle out of 4, maybe 5)
Finally, an improvement! Breathing easier, swallowing easier, CEA slowly back within "normal" boundaries.

My oncologist at MSKCC said something yesterday that really upset me, perhaps because I'm still not completely up on TNBC.
She said that treatment options are very limited for TNBC and that chemo infusions vs. chemo in PILL form will be something I'll be on maybe for the rest of my life. That is, as long as there is evidence of disease. If I ever get to NED, I'll get a break from chemo until tests show that I have to get back on it, and it'll always be in an infusion form.

QUESTION:
Is it true that there are no pills (as maintenance) to deal with metastatic TNBC once off of chemo infusions?
Has anyone here with metastatic TNBC ever been on a drug in pill form?
Has anyone with metastatic TNBC ever been in remission and how long?

Please forgive me if this topic has been covered in different ways before. Tried to search and got lost. Or maybe I'm too terrified and can't focus properly. SO much to take in, don't know what's right and what isn't...but I do know one thing: to trust those who have been through something I am going through.
So thank you in advance, and may God bless us all on this difficult journey!

XXXX
Billi

Thanks, Donna, I'll enjoy reading that.

A diagnosis of TNBC is bad enough it seems, but a metastasis in my throat, a tracheotomy and a tumor that's inoperable is just too much to take at once. Now when I think of my stage 4 BC of 15 years ago (right mastectomy 14 involved nodes) with chemo and radiation, it seems like a walk in the park in comparison.
It's all relative, I guess, and I never loose sight that it can be worse. So I am grateful at the moment that it isn't.

Dear Billi,