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simplelife4real 
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Joined: Oct 24 2013 Location: Crossville, TN Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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 Topic: New in TennesseePosted: Oct 24 2013 at 3:26pm |
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Hello. This is my first post.
I was diagnosed with TNBC in August of 2013 at age 60. I found the lump myself 8 months after a "normal" mammogram. Before treatment begain, the tumor measured 2.3 cm at it's widest point. I also had cancer in at least 1 node according to the biopsy. I am recieving treatment at Vanderbilt in Nashville. I live about 2 hours drive away. I am very glad to find this group. The TN dx really has me scared since I already have nodal involvement with a fairly small tumor. My treatment plan is: Taxol (wkly x 12), then AC (biwkly x 4), then surgery, then radiation. I just finished infusion #8 of taxol yesterday. I'm having minimal side effects from the taxol. Some fatigue is the biggest thing. I still have hair, but far less of it. The size of the papable tumor is about 1/3 of it's orginal size. I'm feeling really discouraged today. I think I can get though the next few months of treatment just fine, it's the possibility of metastatic cancer that scares me.
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DX Aug 2013 @ age 60, Stage 2b, grade 3, 2.3 Cm, node positive, BRCA-; neoadjuvant taxolx12 and ACx4:
2/13/14 LX and ALND-2mm residual in 2 nodes |
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kiwikid
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Joined: Jun 07 2013 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 61 |
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Posted: Oct 24 2013 at 4:04pm |
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Hi- this is all scary, very scary but you can get through this. This forum is a blessing and there are many wonderful women who will give you the right advise and words to encourage you. I am not really blessed with finding the right words but just read you post and wanted to reply. I am glad your treatment is going well and you have not had to many side effects. All I can say is take each day as it comes and focus on treating what you have now. About the possibility of metastatic... try really hard not to focus on this it may never happen. Do all you can to get through your treatment eat well, exercise and enjoy life...xxxx
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Peacheslf
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Joined: Oct 21 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: Oct 24 2013 at 4:14pm |
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Hi Simple; I'd say welcome to the thread... but that seems crazy as NONE of us would like to be here or know anything about this thread.
I am glad you are progressing thru Chemo with TAXOL no problems... are you having any BONE PAIN? The reason I ask is that when I get the drug (bi-wkly) I have 2 days of incrediable pain... maybe I'm just weird. Plus I am now getting some peripheral neuropathy too. I agree with the above POSTER kiwi; don't look too far ahead down the road worrying about something that may never come to pass. I am guilty of this myself!! But a good friend said to me the other day :none of us are guaranteed to wake up tomorrow, whether you have a cancer diagnosis or not"... So she asked me "if you only had TODAY to live and did not have a tomorrow would you waste that day WORRYING?" I had to answer her "HELL NO!" that kinda put things back into perspective for me. Good luck
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simplelife4real
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Joined: Oct 24 2013 Location: Crossville, TN Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Posted: Oct 24 2013 at 6:51pm |
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Thanks for you comments. I like the idea of not spending my "last day" worrying.
I'm not having bone pain with taxol. I get it weekly which reduces the side effects. I think one thing that has caused me to feel down today in particular is that I had a UTI earlier in the week that apparently has come back after the antibiotic I was taking ended. After I wrote my post, I realized what was going on with the UTI and I just started a new antibiotic and a urinary tract pain medication within the past hour. I know my mood is really tied into how I'm physcially feeling. Hopefully, once the urinarty tract analgesic kicks in, I will feel significantly better physically (and hopefully mentally).
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DX Aug 2013 @ age 60, Stage 2b, grade 3, 2.3 Cm, node positive, BRCA-; neoadjuvant taxolx12 and ACx4:
2/13/14 LX and ALND-2mm residual in 2 nodes |
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Oct 24 2013 at 6:59pm |
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Simplelife,
Welcome. While none of us want to be here, I hope you find this group informative and helpful. Just try and take it one day at a time. Glad the Taxol hasn't been too difficult. I've heard weekly Taxol is better too and may help reduce any neuropathy problems. Donna
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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weekender09
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Joined: Mar 29 2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 135 |
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Posted: Oct 24 2013 at 11:26pm |
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Hey Simple Life:
Listen to Donna she has been amazingly informative and comforting to me through this process. I just completed the whole gammet of treatment for this disease (Chemo, Surgery, Rads) and am happy to be cancer free. I had my oncology meeting last week and told the Dr. that I knew I had a risk of recurrence with TNBC etc but that I would hit it hard. He looked at me and said "I don't know why you think you have this high risk of recurrence - the treatment worked and you have a 92% chance that you will never have METS. So Go LIVE your life and quit worrying". Best advise ever. We will always have things to cause worry having had cancer, but I'll take 92% after a stage 3 diagnosis. Keep positive and do your best to go with one day at a time. Barb
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02/12/13 DX TNBC, Grade III, Stage 3, 3.3cm tumor, IMN and 1 lymph Positive, Chemo A/C T complete 6/13
BRCA1-/BRCA2+ Variance, BIL 7/13, 33 RADS complete 10/13 Remssion :) |
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KellyHM
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Joined: Oct 22 2013 Location: FL Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Posted: Oct 25 2013 at 3:12pm |
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weekender - I am curious if you got your A/C regimen first or your T and then A/C. Seems like different people do it in a different order and I've seen studies on the order being significant, but my mom's oncologist seems to think it doesn't matter either way. Just curious how "most" people are doing it.
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Oct 25 2013 at 4:11pm |
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Kelly,
The standard chemo seems to be A/C first, followed by T. A few years ago we saw that many oncs started reversing the sequence by giving T first, then A/C. Denise (dmwolf) posted a study about it, but I can't seem to find it and I'm heading out the door. If someone can find that study, please post it here. I think you'll see many women still getting A/C, then T and others getting T, then A/C. Donna
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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simplelife4real
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Joined: Oct 24 2013 Location: Crossville, TN Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Posted: Oct 25 2013 at 8:19pm |
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I'm getting the Taxol first and then the AC. I was in the control arm of a clinical trial which required the Taxol be given first. My oncologist also seemed to think the order didn't matter. I believe this may be the study Donna is referencing.
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DX Aug 2013 @ age 60, Stage 2b, grade 3, 2.3 Cm, node positive, BRCA-; neoadjuvant taxolx12 and ACx4:
2/13/14 LX and ALND-2mm residual in 2 nodes |
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simplelife4real
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Joined: Oct 24 2013 Location: Crossville, TN Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 2:01am |
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Here's another report about neoadjuvant therapy, and some of the reasons Taxol is sometimes given first.
It talks about the difference in prognosis when a pCR is obtained and when it is not.
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DX Aug 2013 @ age 60, Stage 2b, grade 3, 2.3 Cm, node positive, BRCA-; neoadjuvant taxolx12 and ACx4:
2/13/14 LX and ALND-2mm residual in 2 nodes |
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sueez
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Joined: Oct 08 2008 Status: Offline Points: 27 |
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 12:38pm |
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my first time i was so scared also. now 3 years cancer free my best friend is a stage 4 and also cancer free today stage 4 is a chronic illness hold your head up your in the right place and god bless .I am a 3c triple neg. survivor
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Lillie
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Joined: Jul 10 2009 Location: Eastern NC Status: Offline Points: 3616 |
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Posted: Oct 27 2013 at 1:22pm |
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Dear sueez,
You and your, stage 4, friend are such encouragement for all of us here. WoW! 3 yrs. Congratulations. You are correct; it is normal for us to have that lingering fear of recurrence for a long time after treatment. (Putting Normal and Fear into the same sentence is scary, but that's the way it is). Good Luck Sister
 Hi Simple,
You Go Girl... I was diagnosed at 65, Stage 2B with one lymph node involved. I had a left mastectomy with 12 nodes removed. I entered a clinical trial with DD A/C times 4 and DD T/Gemzar times 4. The trial did not offer radiation because of mastectomy and also the extra drug gemzar. That was 7 years ago. Since my treatment, I have read of so many variations on how the treatment is given. I'm thinking, since there are so many survivors with different treatment regimes, maybe there is not a magic regimen. Good luck and "One Day At A Time".... Also, having a UTI would make any of us feel lousy and depressed. Hope the medicine kicks it to the curb.
God Bless,
Lillie
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Dx 6/06 age 65,IDC-TNBC
Stage IIb,Gr3,2cm,BRCA- 6/06 L/Mast/w/SNB,1of3 Nodes+ 6/06 Axl. 9 nodes- 8/8 thru 11/15 Chemo (Clin-Trial) DD A/Cx4 -- DD taxol+gemzar x4 No Rads. No RECON - 11/2018-12 yrs NED |
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simplelife4real
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Joined: Oct 24 2013 Location: Crossville, TN Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Posted: Nov 06 2013 at 7:00am |
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Thank you all for your comments. I find myself coming to this site every day now. This morning, I just read through a thread entitled long term survivors (or something like that). It made me happy to read about people that are surviving many years after diagnosis.
My UTI seems to be gone for good now. It took two different rounds of antibiotics to get rid of it, but my energy levels have gone way up in the past week since the UTI left. I didn't realize how much it was dragging me down. Today is my birthday, and I wil be goin to Vanderbilt in Nashville today for my 10th Taxol infusion. I can't think of a better way to be spending my birthday than fighting this cancer with chemo! I'm also meeting with my oncologist today, so I'm really looking forward to the day. When I first found this site, it all looked very, very scary to me. Now, I feel like it's my home and I'm not alone. Thank you so much to each of you that contribute with your love and caring comments and insights. I have learned so much here particularly from the studies that have been posted. My oncologist is very knowledgable about TN, and I'm armed with a typed list of questions for her based on things I've read here. I think today will be a very productive day. THANK YOU ALL!
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DX Aug 2013 @ age 60, Stage 2b, grade 3, 2.3 Cm, node positive, BRCA-; neoadjuvant taxolx12 and ACx4:
2/13/14 LX and ALND-2mm residual in 2 nodes |
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Nov 06 2013 at 7:53am |
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Simplelife,
Happy Birthday! I agree with you. I found this site while going through chemo and at first was scared, terrified and afraid, but after getting to know the members found a safe place to come to and feels like home. I don't know how I would have made it through this journey without all my friends. I hope you have the same experience. Hope you can do something special after your treatment to celebrate your special day. Donna
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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hopeful57
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Joined: Jun 24 2013 Location: Unites States Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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Posted: Nov 06 2013 at 8:18am |
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Happy Birthday, Simple Life. Celebrate your day!!!!
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Lillie
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Joined: Jul 10 2009 Location: Eastern NC Status: Offline Points: 3616 |
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Posted: Nov 06 2013 at 9:02am |
 Dear Simplelife4real,
Happy Birthday
 I pray that your day will go well, that all your questions will be answered and that the "Terrible UTI" is
 .Forward Ho with your treatments and praying for NED... Also, as Donna said; this is a great place to come to each and every day. I have many friends here and it keeps me going.
God bless,
Lillie
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Dx 6/06 age 65,IDC-TNBC
Stage IIb,Gr3,2cm,BRCA- 6/06 L/Mast/w/SNB,1of3 Nodes+ 6/06 Axl. 9 nodes- 8/8 thru 11/15 Chemo (Clin-Trial) DD A/Cx4 -- DD taxol+gemzar x4 No Rads. No RECON - 11/2018-12 yrs NED |
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MLindaG
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Joined: Feb 16 2013 Location: Pittsburgh PA Status: Offline Points: 380 |
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Posted: Nov 06 2013 at 11:27am |
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simplelife...........Thanks for posting the current thinking on dose dense vs traditional chemotherapy regimens.......I have found that many have made me feel like my Onc. did not suggest the best possible chemotherapy regimen (I did not find this site until I was 3/4 of the way through my chemo) I did AC every 3 weeks. I'm glad to find out that both ways (AC every 2 weeks or 3 weeks) seem to have the same outcome and in fact every 3 weeks has less negative side effects.
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Dx TNBC 6/12; age 59; Stage 3, Grade 3; 3.5 cm, 3/10 nodes + chest wall nodes; A/C x4, T x 12 completed 12/12 with PCR, 2/13/13 lump; IMRT Rads x 33 completed 5/22/13 BRCA 1 negative.
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cheeks
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Joined: Jan 14 2011 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 676 |
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Posted: Nov 07 2013 at 5:41pm |
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Dear Kay,
Hoping your chemo went well and you are feeling okay today. My six month checkup at Vanderbilt with Dr. Mayer is the first week in December. It takes us a couple hours longer to get there from here. My husband's family live in Lebanon so we stay for a visit. Blair |
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Lump found 11/08
DX: 2/09 @52 TNBC L. Mast. 3/26/09, SN-, BRCA-, 4.5 cm (post surgical)T2NOMO Chemo: 4/09-10/09 Taxol x 12, A/C x 4, No rad.No recon. NED 1/17. New Primary right breast TN, 2/2018. |
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