Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Hey MLindaG - welcome to the club! I was diagnosed April of 2011, had a mastectomy and 18 rounds of chemo. It was tough sledding, but I feel strong! Your post was just a few days ago. Where are you in your treatment?

Be courageous!

Hi!  I've completed my first 3 treatments - every 3 weeks  (adeomycin/cytoxin) with one more to go.  Then I will start 12 weeks - can't remember what it is - 1/week.  I've lost my hair (which I look at as a good thing........it's working) His last exam the node in my lymph he can't feel and my breast lump is decreased! Yeah.........I've been a little bit nauseated but not too bad.......taking compazine/zofran and a patch........so far my white blood cell count is good.........It actually doesn't seem to be quite as bad as I envisioned before it all started.  I will be having the surgery sometime in January and then radiation after that.  I am positive and feeling fairly good at this point!  18 rounds........is that 18 weeks?  They have called mine 2 cycles..........6 months of chemo..........

On Aug 23, 2012 12:06 AM MLindaG wrote:

Hi!  I've completed my first 3 treatments - every 3 weeks  (adeomycin/cytoxin) with one more to go.  Then I will start 12 weeks - can't remember what it is - 1/week.  I've lost my hair (which I look at as a good thing........it's working) His last exam the node in my lymph he can't feel and my breast lump is decreased! Yeah.........I've been a little bit nauseated but not too bad.......taking compazine/zofran and a patch........so far my white blood cell count is good.........It actually doesn't seem to be quite as bad as I envisioned before it all started.  I will be having the surgery sometime in January and then radiation after that.  I am positive and feeling fairly good at this point!  18 rounds........is that 18 weeks?  They have called mine 2 cycles..........6 months of chemo..........

I was diagnosed with triple negative on late September, had bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction. Had a port placed on 11/16/12 and I'm scheduled for my 1st chemo treatment this Thursday. Yikes!! Not looking forward to the next 6 months at all but am def ready to rid my body from any cancer cells that may be hanging around although my PET scan is showing clear right now. My chemo is Cytoxan/Taxotere every 3 weeks for 8 treatments. Any advice?

Hi Kris!  Good luck on your Chemo treatments!!  Do they say if nausea should be expected?  I know a couple of things that helped was munching on real ginger cookies........also for some reason I would use hard candy and it would help.  I also would drink ginger tea.  Keeping a positive attitude is important (it sure can get you down sometimes).  Are you expected to lose your hair?  If so, have an appointment with a wig place before your hair starts to fall out so the wig person can see your hair style and color and order the proper wig.  I got a nice eyebrow kit at Sephora when most of my eyebrows came out (That took a while) - Not everyone loses all there hair but I did.  It is hard but I feel like I can get through anything at this point.  I want my Chemo treatments every week so I work hard at eating even when I'm not feeling like it to keep my nutrition up and my immune system working. I have four more treatments (weekly I'm on taxol now.......should be done the 20th of December), Then I will have my operation and radiation.  Hope all goes well on Thursday.  The cancer center I go to have the most wonderful and caring nurses!  Use them as a resource as well.  They can also give you great tips!

On Nov 26, 2012 4:19 PM MLindaG wrote:

Hi Kris!  Good luck on your Chemo treatments!!  Do they say if nausea should be expected?  I know a couple of things that helped was munching on real ginger cookies........also for some reason I would use hard candy and it would help.  I also would drink ginger tea.  Keeping a positive attitude is important (it sure can get you down sometimes).  Are you expected to lose your hair?  If so, have an appointment with a wig place before your hair starts to fall out so the wig person can see your hair style and color and order the proper wig.  I got a nice eyebrow kit at Sephora when most of my eyebrows came out (That took a while) - Not everyone loses all there hair but I did.  It is hard but I feel like I can get through anything at this point.  I want my Chemo treatments every week so I work hard at eating even when I'm not feeling like it to keep my nutrition up and my immune system working. I have four more treatments (weekly I'm on taxol now.......should be done the 20th of December), Then I will have my operation and radiation.  Hope all goes well on Thursday.  The cancer center I go to have the most wonderful and caring nurses!  Use them as a resource as well.  They can also give you great tips!

Thanks for all of the information.  I'm a sponge right now taking all of this in.  My oncologist told me in the first few minutes of speaking to me that I would lose my hair.  Then he asked if it would be okay and I told him it'll have to be because I'm having the chemo.  I hope to rid my body of this mess and not have to worry so much the rest of my life.  I'm not real keen on the weight gain issue.  The chemo nurse told me on the phone that I would have 10 mg. of Decadron.  It'll only be once every 3 weeks so we'll see how that goes.

I take the decadron weekly now and I have had weight gain......I try not to think about it as there is nothing I can do about it.  There will be time later after I'm through all this to get back to where I was before!  My philosophy is "It is what it is" and I just have to do everything in my power to get rid of the cancer.  I went to a local "pharmacist/nutritionist/homepathy and picked his brain for supplements to take.  I also went to a local hypnotist who has a special cancer session free of charge (his Mom had cancer and feels he is paying it forward).  He gives you three CD's  - he feels there is a big connection between your mind and body healing and positive attitude.  So when I can't sleep I listen to my I pod........  Blessings to you!

On Nov 27, 2012 12:49 AM MLindaG wrote:

I take the decadron weekly now and I have had weight gain......I try not to think about it as there is nothing I can do about it.  There will be time later after I'm through all this to get back to where I was before!  My philosophy is "It is what it is" and I just have to do everything in my power to get rid of the cancer.  I went to a local "pharmacist/nutritionist/homepathy and picked his brain for supplements to take.  I also went to a local hypnotist who has a special cancer session free of charge (his Mom had cancer and feels he is paying it forward).  He gives you three CD's  - he feels there is a big connection between your mind and body healing and positive attitude.  So when I can't sleep I listen to my I pod........  Blessings to you!

I can't tell you how often I say, "it is what it is" so I guess that's my motto too.  I also say, "que sera sera" (whatever will be will be).  I too believe in mind/body healing and a positive outlook is a plus as well.  I've been researching nutrition like crazy and am going to try and really do better in regards to that and exercise.  I can only do what I can.  I've read where a lot of people have skipped the whole chemo/radiation process and are relying strictly on nutrition.  I think I'll resort to that AFTER my chemo and try to prevent recurrence.  I wasn't ready to make that decision and not do the chemo..didn't want any regrets so hopefully I will get the best of both.

As for only doing nutrition.........Let's put it this way Bill Gates found out how foolish that is! No I would never go that way and only do nutritional things.......we have to use ALL our resources to get rid of the cancer!  Chemo sucks but it works so it is a necessary evil!!!  I want to be around for my kids and grandkids and I'm taking no chances on that.  Let me know how it goes on Thursday!  Did they give you a prescription for a cream to put on your port so when they access it - it won't be painful??  If not call and ask for it.........you put it on 1 hr. before your chemo and it does make a difference........I usually use a piece of press and seal to seal it after I put it on so it won't get on my clothing! 

On Nov 27, 2012 4:29 PM MLindaG wrote:

As for only doing nutrition.........Let's put it this way Bill Gates found out how foolish that is! No I would never go that way and only do nutritional things.......we have to use ALL our resources to get rid of the cancer!  Chemo sucks but it works so it is a necessary evil!!!  I want to be around for my kids and grandkids and I'm taking no chances on that.  Let me know how it goes on Thursday!  Did they give you a prescription for a cream to put on your port so when they access it - it won't be painful??  If not call and ask for it.........you put it on 1 hr. before your chemo and it does make a difference........I usually use a piece of press and seal to seal it after I put it on so it won't get on my clothing! 

LOL.  That was the very next thing I was going to ask you was did it hurt when they accessed the port.  I've heard about some LMX? cream.  You have to have a rx?  Yeah, the nutrition is good but I'm just going to try and work it in alongside the chemo and after.  I have 2 grown daughters, one that is married and is going to reveal to the rest of the family at Christmas that she's expecting......and the other daughter is 21 and about to graduate cosmetology school so I want to be around for children and grandchildren as well.  My mom died from breast cancer in 1986 and they seem to have come along way in treatment since then.  I just remember how sick as in nauseated and vomiting.  I don't even know if they pre-medicated at that time.

I use a cream called Lidocaine and prilocaine cream.......it is a prescription.   Don't be afraid if you have nausea to ask for more meds if what they give you doesn't quite take it away.  I ended up on 3 oral meds and 1 patch.  I have three grown boys.........2 married........I have one granddaughter(just turned 3)  and one grandson (Born this August).  I never had vomiting.........just nausea..........I'm sure a LOT has chenged since 1986!  I am the first in my family to get breast cancer.....Sorry to hear about your Mom.  So, you've been on the lookout.  I'm just happy I went for my yearly mammogram on time........it was found then.