Recently Diagnosed

I am 48 years old.  Recently diagnosed, stage 1, grade 3, 1.7 cm, no margins, no nodes.  Cancer in 1 breast.  Double mastectomy 06/2012.  I am in good health, ideal weight.  Oncologist recommends chemo.  I am not at peace due to possible side effects and there is no guarantee that cancer will not occur.  There is an approx. 75% percent chance of no recurrence without chemo and 25% - 30% of recurrence.  There is an approx. 12 - 15% recurrence rate with chemo.  My aunt who is 6 years older died 2 from tnbc 2 weeks ago.  Also, I personally know 3 other individuals who died from tnbc...all went the chemo route for treatment. 

Lisa...thank you for your reply.  I am neg for the BRCA genes.

Charlene,

I was stage I with odds as you describe.  Diagnosed at age 44.  I also wanted to do everything I could.    What scared me the most was the prognosis if I had metastasis.  I wanted to do everything I could to avoid that.  Chemo was so much more tolerable that I feared.  I had the AC cocktail four times.  It made me feel super yucky off and on for 3-4 days.  Then I had Taxol four times.  The Taxol didn't make me feel sick at all--just very tired for a few days and I had some neuropathy in feet and hands.  There were certainly side effects like sore mouth, runny nose, fatigue, anemia, dry skin, and of course hair loss.  But I worked full time, worked out nearly every day, went out with friends, kept up with my social life.  There was plenty of joy in my life during that time. 

Clifford,

Good to hear your surgery is behind you.
Very sorry to hear of your losses from TNBC with your aunt and friends.

There is at least one other member on the forum who if I remember correctly.......
did not do chemo nor radiation due to delays due to other health reasons.
Unsure how close her situation was to yours.
Maybe she will see your post and respond.

I cannot begin to imagine what it is like dealing with TNBC and having had 3 friends die of TNBC and
having an aunt just 2 weeks ago die of TNBC.   Sending you lots of caring and supportive thoughts.

Please know I believe one aims to make the best decision for oneself.
I respect the decision that every one comes to.

Will share a few thoughts that crossed my mind when I read your post.   Just disregard if not helpful.
1. I would try to see if I could separate 3 things........acknowledging that this would be challenging to do.
           - The theoretical information about TNBC and it's treatment.
           -   With TNBC, there are more survivors than non-survivors.
                      (Again, sorry this has not been your experience)
           -   Acknowledge that with an experience with a recent TNBC death and other TNBC deaths,
                     the treatment decision ......which can be difficult by itself for many......can be even more
                    challenging in the presence of so many emotions and feelings.
2. I would try to sit down.......take several deep breaths........and then try to make a list "for some one
                    else" listing the pros and cons of doing chemo.
3. I would strongly consider calling the TNBC Helpline........and one may call several times.   
          The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation® has partnered with CancerCare to offer free,    professional support services to patients, families and health providers coping with a diagnosis of
triple negative breast cancer. The TNBC Helpline is staffed by experienced oncology social workers
with specific knowledge of triple negative disease.
Monday through Thursday 9am to 7pm EST and Friday 9am to 5pm EST.    877-880-TNBC (8622)   
An experienced TNBC oncology social worker might be helpful in looking at and sorting out all the additional issues and emotions present when one is planning a chemo decision in the setting of
a so recent death from TNBC.
       ............or if there was an ONCOLOGY social worker where I was receiving care, I would consider
       that and/or the TNBC Helpline.

I hope you have seen the recent posts on the thread:
    http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/survivors-needed_topic8221_page12.html
Realizing it has not been your experience to hear of many survivors.........you may find this
thread hopeful.

When the word hope is mentioned, I find this statement by Jerome Groopman, MD in his
book: "Anatomy of Hope" helpful.......usually have to read it twice to understand it.
If you do not find helpful, just disregard.
" Each disease is uncertain in its outcome and within that uncertainly we find real hope, because a
tumor has not always read the textbook, and a treatment can have an unexpectedly dramatic
impact. This is the great paradox of true hope. Because nothing is absolutely determined, there
is not only reason to fear but also reason to hope."
He also says: "Hope is a belief and expectation."

Hoping you can receive whatever support you need to make your chemo decision.
Your decision will be respected.

With sympathy to you on your losses and
With caring and positive thoughts,
Grateful for today......Judy