Pregnancy after TNBC diagnosis
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Topic: Pregnancy after TNBC diagnosis
Posted By: acobb74
Subject: Pregnancy after TNBC diagnosis
Date Posted: May 11 2011 at 11:29am
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I am 2.5 years out from diagnosis and a new mother of a 3 month old baby. So far, so good. It was such a wonderful surprise but in the midst of cancer treatment and pregnancy, I lost my baseline and now find myself freaking out over any new bodily feelings/sensations as I try to get back into shape. Has anyone else managed this transition? I find myself more afraid than I was the last two and a half years. I visited with my onc yesterday since I have this strange sensation/pressure on my left side but it is most likely tied to working out - could be a strained oblique and there is no pain - just a weird feeling like a band. He offered a CAT Scan to relieve my anxiety but felt I was most likely OK. I am scheduling it a week from Friday and hope this feeling goes away before then.
However, my stomach is still in my throat and I know I need to lower my anxiety level to enjoy my family.
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Angela 37 Diagnosed w/Stage IIa TNBC 9/3/08; axillary lymph node removal 1/16 positive; bilateral mastectomy with recon; post-diagnosis pregnancy with birth on 2/18/11
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Replies:
Posted By: Barbi
Date Posted: May 11 2011 at 11:41am
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Congratulations on your wonderful new addition to your family! I can only imagine the increased anxiety of having a new baby on top of playing the "waiting game". I hope the strange sensation goes away and you can get back to enjoying your little one. Barbi
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Posted By: SagePatientAdvocates
Date Posted: May 11 2011 at 2:27pm
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Dear Angela,
congratulations on your new baby. How marvelous!!!
There is a phenomenon called Pregnancy Associated Breast Cancer (PABC) which is when a woman discovers breast cancer during her pregnancy or within one year after giving birth. We have seen that a lot here, unfortunately, but 2.5 years after giving birth, and post bi-lateral mastectomies would not be considered PABC , in my unprofessional opinion.
Angela, did you have chemo, radiation therapy?
Have you had genetic counseling, been tested for the BRCA mutation?
From many conversations I have had with women, including my daughter, once you have had breast cancer there is a wariness about anything that does not seem “normal.” And it is impossible to judge at what point a scan may be advisable. I think it is a conversation between you and your oncologist and hopefully if you do have a scan your fears will be allayed.
wishing you good luck, no matter what you decide.
all the best,
Steve
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I am a BRCA1+ grandson, son and father of women affected by breast/oc-my daughter inherited mutation from me, and at 36, was dx 2004 TNBC I am a volunteer patient advocate with SAGE Patient Advocates
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Posted By: 123Donna
Date Posted: May 11 2011 at 8:30pm
Hello Angela,
Congratulations on your new baby. You must be overjoyed with this precious bundle of joy. I can certainly understand your nervousness and anxiety.
I see that you're from St. Louis. So am I. Who is your onc? Where did you go for treatment?
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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Posted By: acobb74
Date Posted: May 12 2011 at 11:50am
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Hi there - I go to Siteman and my onc is Dr. Pluard. He is terrific and very responsive.
Where are you going? I am sorry to read about your busy 2 years. This disease is so frustrating!!!
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Angela 37 Diagnosed w/Stage IIa TNBC 9/3/08; axillary lymph node removal 1/16 positive; bilateral mastectomy with recon; post-diagnosis pregnancy with birth on 2/18/11
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Posted By: 123Donna
Date Posted: May 12 2011 at 11:54am
Angela,
I see Dr. Borson at St. Louis Cancer and Breast Institute. I'm getting rads through Siteman with Dr. Taylor. Nice to "meet" another St. Louisan.
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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Posted By: nmunoz
Date Posted: May 12 2011 at 1:53pm
Hi Angela,
I totally understand your concerns... I was diagnosed with TNBC when my son was 6 months old. Having a young baby when I was diagnosed was tough in the sense that I was (an still am to tell you the truth) very worried about the possibility of leaving him without a mother; but in the other hand he has been an incredible source of strength for me and when I look back at the last three years since he was born, my cancer journey is just secondary to all the happiness that he has brought to my life.
I would love to have another child but I still have not decided what I am going to do about that. You can read what I wrote about that subject in a blog post that was published in the TNBC Foundation website’s blogs section. Pregnancy after breast cancer is a tough issue to address and it is one more worry to add to the ones that we already have as survivors.
I believe you have done the right thing by talking to your doctor and following up on your pain. I don’t think I’ll stop worrying about every ache and pain any time soon, but I’ve decided that I need to sleep at night and so I just try to face my fears and tell the doctors how I feel. My oncologist doesn’t do routine scans, he doesn’t like them and he is very adamant about it. But, I have been complaining to him about a weird feeling I’ve had in my ribs for months (very similar to what you describe) and he decided to scan me prior to seeing me again in a month. He told me that he thinks what I have is just a consequence from radiation but he wants me to have peace of mind in order to be healthy.
So we’ll see where that leads me to but in the meantime I try to stay on the present and live day by day which is what I’ve tried to do throughout my cancer journey. I also have found it helpful to incorporate into my life alternative ways of preventing cancer. One book I love (an many on this forum do as well) is Anti-cancer: A New Way of Life by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, and it does explain how life style changes like a healthier diet, exercise and meditation can help in the prevention of cancer.
This actually led me to yoga which I had practiced years ago but I had abandoned and it helped me a lot with healing after my mastectomy. Besides yoga I have also been working out a lot because my oncologist actually prescribes it. So the yoga and the exercise help me stay in shape and there is research showing that both can help with cancer prevention. They are also wonderful at helping to lower anxiety. So maybe something along those lines can help you too.
Of course counting with the wonderful community that we have in this place has also been very helpful and you’ll always find someone here willing to listen.
I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming test.
Best,
Natalia
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Natalia, 38 years
Dx TNBC 10/22/08, BRCA1+
Double Mx 11/20/08 with Recon.
3/37 nodes
Rads 7 weeks done 8/09
ACx4 every 2 weeks and Tx12 weeks. Avastin e/3 weeksx10 (Clinical Trial) Done Dec/09
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Posted By: Lillie
Date Posted: May 13 2011 at 6:40pm
Dear Angela,
Congratulation on the new baby. Do you have other children? There is nothing in lift sweeter than holding a new baby, or watching him/her sleep, or so many other things.
I am sorry this joy has to be balanced with fear of recurrence. I am praying that what ever you feel is something really B-9. I pray the scan shows nothing significant.
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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Posted By: hamburg113
Date Posted: Jul 08 2011 at 10:59pm
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Best regards.
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Posted By: brandi
Date Posted: May 31 2012 at 4:19pm
Umm, I'm confused? When are women allowed to start having children after TNBC? Curious. I'm a 28 year old TNBC survivor. Wondering how this worked?
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dx IDC 6/10,age 26,stage I,gr3,(L)mastectomy 09/10,FECx4,Taxatere x4
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Posted By: brandi
Date Posted: May 31 2012 at 4:21pm
Congrats on the baby! Try to ease your fears with breathing and holding our little one close. This is a wonderful gift.
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dx IDC 6/10,age 26,stage I,gr3,(L)mastectomy 09/10,FECx4,Taxatere x4
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