Hi Dondon0808,

I have empathy for you and all who are fighting cancer.  I understand your fear but recommend educating yourself as much as possible.  Knowledge on what you have, what it means and what your options are can be your sword during your fight. 

I am proof that you can overcome this diagnosis.  In May of 2005, at age 39, I was diagnosed.  Scariest day of my life.  I had breast cancer -  triple negative, stage 3 grade 3 cancer...it was very aggressive.  The initial treatment plan was to do chemo and then a lumpectomy.  After an MRI revealed a second mass deeper in the breast, the treatment plan changed. I now had two differnt types of cancer growing in me and all I ould think of was "GET IT OUT NOW!!"  But I had to wait a bit.  On June 13, I had a modified full mastectomy (lymph nodes were clear!) with a natural reconstruction at the same time (8 hour surgery). I started chemo (8 rounds) one month later on July 13.  I had a small infection that postponed one chemo treatment but otherwise infections were not an issue. I did lose ALL my hair as the cold caps had not been invented in 2005. Me personally, I could not where a wig...not for lack of trying...I had 3 different ones.  But the chemo had also put me into a temporary menopause state so the hot flashed were unbearable with a wig on.  And it's not like you can just pull the hair off when it public...it freaks people out. Hahaha, I still remember this ladies face when I did that!.  Plus, when I would where the wig, I didn't feel like myself.  I felt like a different person and that did not work for me.  It felt like I was hiding. So I went with hats.  Wasn't a great look, but it was me.  I was open to the ridicule (and boy, people sure can be mean) if it meant people would stop calling it the "C" word!  I had CANCER and what good would it do to hide?  Anyway I finished chemo on October 26th and then had one last surgery in December to balance out the breasts (DD to a C).  I now call it a long journey on my life path and I joke about having a belly boob (reconstruction used tissue from my belly)!!  

This journey changed me in many ways!  I now think that it was a way of preparring me for my next steps in life...showing me how strong I can be!  I truly would not want it to be any different.  The trials we go through, shape us into who we are supposed to be.  This might not be where you are now, at this stage in your treatment, but someday.

So, 15 years, 5 months and 11 days after diagnosis, I am still here and healthier than before.  It took several years of figuring out the best ways to get the nutrients built back up in my body after chemo. But I have learned so much about holistic and natural ways to do this with supplements and diet. I AM healthy, I AM not taking any long-term medications or suplements and I AM so much more aware of my body, how it feels and how things affect it.  It brought me closer to spirit and showed me the link between mind, body, health and spirit.  I discovered that "dis-ease" of one's spirit causes "disease" in the body.  It showed me love and support like I had never known before.  Many, many good things came out of what I had thought was so very tragic at the time.  

So, keep a positive attitude!!  This is key...do not let yourself become a "victim".  Watch as many funny movies as possible or what ever makes you laugh and your heart smile. 

Peace and love to you!

 Dear Kem, no words, just thank you so much for your post. It has made my day .

justaphase80

Okay xx 

Ok xx

Hello my Name is Angela I had triple negative breast cancer  grade 3 I under went a mastectomy had chemo and radiation.you just think positive and you will get there I promise I did and look at me now I will be 21 yrs in remission don’t worry you will be fine

Hi Angela. Lovely to hear your doing well. I'm grade 3 trip neg and have had chemo and surgery and now on the last bit of radiotherapy. I can't shake the feeling it will come back and beat me in the end although I'm quite an upbeat positive person but all the stuff about how trip neg is lower survival rates and  more likely to recoccur and stuff is terrifying. I keep saying what will be will be and try not to worry but I'm only 43 and so scared this is gonna get me . How did you overcome these feelings 

Hi Dondon,

I am glad to hear that you have had chemo and surgery and are now on the home strait with radiotherapy. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer, a lumpectomy and a double mastectomy in the past 9 years and, I can assure you that the possibility of recurrence is one of the biggest fears that anyone with a cancer diagnosis has.

Try to put a positive slant on things, instead of allowing all these scary thoughts to go through your head. Do your best to enjoy each and every day as much as you possibly can. Try not to think of the fact that you have triple negative BC. You have cancer and, breast cancer treatments have improved massively in the past few years. My mother died from secondary breast cancer 21 years ago and there is just no comparison between the treatment that I have received and that which she experienced.

You have undergone all the treatment advised by your consultant and his team. Instead of looking too far ahead, live life in the moment. It can sometimes be too much to think too far ahead. Live day by day, or even hour by hour if need be.

I sincerely hope that you will find that your treatment has worked when you finish your radiotherapy.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

thank you so much 

So glad you doing ok I have grade 3 invasive ductal cancer triple negative its such a worry 3 lumps 2 small one large cluster behind blocked milk duct and in my lymph nodes . After all my chem my great coming off such a worry xx

Hi Zelda,

I am so sorry that you are not doing any better with your new chemo and, have had to miss a couple of sessions as a result. I hope that your reduced dose helps. How many more sessions do you still have to have?

I am thinking of you and hope that things improve for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I have to have 1 i missed then it's 2 one week then 1 next werk then 1 then rest for the others week then back to 2 1 1 x

Hi Zelda,

You're getting there. I hope that things get easier for you in time.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Zelda,

You're getting there. I hope that things get easier for you in time.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you boob off then when chemo finished not looking forward to that xx

Hi Zelda,
I have had both boobs off and honestly found it easier than having a lumpectomy a year before.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Did you where you bad how about the drains i hate things like this I won't be able to empty them . I hate things like that lol xx

Hi Zelda,

The hospital supplied 2 shoulder bags which held the drains. I only had a problem with the drains once, when I pulled one out in the shower. Fortunately, I was still in hospital at the time and one of the nurses came and helped me out. My drains were removed before I left hospital and, I never had to empty them myself. The nurses wanted to do this, so that they could measure the amount of fluid removed.

It was a bit of a faff having them on both sides at first, but i got used to them.

Kind regards,
Jolamine xx