New and Scared

Thank you so much....I will write that down so I have it when I move ..

Hi Ellen,

You and I are following an almost identical path. I'm 54, had my biopsy on May 18, and also was told that I would need radiation following lumpectomy, no chemo. I didn't learn of my triple negative status until I had my wire insertion and was being taken over to outpatient surgery for lumpectomy on May 25.

I had not received my copy of the pathology report prior to surgery, and the nurse kindly stopped on our way over to outpatient and got me a copy. I had no idea what triple negative cancer was at that time, but from the careful way the nurse chose her words about the status, I realized it might be a worse cancer than I had thought. I was home from surgery by noon, and immediately started searching the internet. A little knowledge really can be a dangerous thing -- I spent the next few days in total terror. I really wish I would have consulted with an oncologist immediately following the biopsy. I also wish that I would have stumbled across this website in the beginning, because the ladies here are a font of wisdom and have helped me enormously in finding perspective on this disease.

I don't want to minimize the seriousness of a TNBC diagnosis, but I believe that managing the fear of recurrence is important for living a quality life right here right now. This is the only life I have and I don't want to spend it in dread of what might happen later. I still have my moments where I get freaked out but at this point in my journey, I am finding it helpful to concentrate on the task at hand, which is getting through treatment and maximizing my chances to prevent recurrence, and am pretty much living in the moment rather than worrying about what comes next. I just keep repeating the mantra "Let Go and Let God". Somehow, it's working for me and I hope it will work for you too.

Hugs,
Kaycee




Edited by kaycee - Jul 26 2010 at 12:44pm

great story guygirl.

Hi Guygirl, I know when I had my port put in it was shocking. I had to stay in hospital for the night. My blood pressure went so high they said I was bordering on a stroke. I complained for sooooooo long about it, and the docs all said is is unusual as most people have no probs with it. I personally think they dont listen to MOST people. I went to a Rheumatoid specialist about pain in my shoulder (the same side as the port, and hip pain). She gave me cortizone injections to both areas. The guys that did my ultrasound told me I had a rather large build up of fluid in my right shoulder in the same place he put the needle. You would not believe it, but after the initial couple of weeks settling time after the injection, I have had no problems with the port. The docs cannot explain to me why this is so! Maybe the operation to insert the port had caused the fluid build up in the first place, who knows. Certainly not the doctors.

Hello guygirl and welcome to our community,

Hi Sharon,
I haven't been on the site for awhile. I just signed on and read your letter. The same thing happened to me, I had horrible pain in my breast.
My Dr told me cancer does not hurt, but it seems TNBC does.
Just wanted to say that.
Take care.

just wanted to share my hair cutting video with you

Welcome Guy/Girl,
I too am a newbie and I can so remember that day I was told, it was CANCER!! As do we all, I rolled into a ball on my husbands lap and cried like a baby for 2 days and then set up took a shower and pulled myself together and got on the treatment train and I am going to hit this beat head on and know him off the of my train tracks.
You will do the same thing.
Your angel story game me goose bumps...God is very powerful, I am learning more so just how power full everyday.

You have come to the right  place, the senior members are so full of helpful information and posting new information ASAP.

My thoughts are prayer are with you,
Jen

The only good lump is one in a jar.

Good morning everyone...