Hi! I was diagnosed end of March with the same and lymph node involvement..super scary and I too was convinced I only had months to live especially whilst waiting for scans - I've been told this is very common and the team helped me negate those thoughts...6 months on and I have now finished chemo and pending a small op in October! The chemo has shrunk my lump so much they can no longer see it on scans so that's positive! None of my Drs have talked negatively about this type of cancer , yes it has a higher chance of coming back but there are also many people this doesn't reoccur for and this cancer is very treatable! Lots of appointments ahead but you will be in the best care - side effects for chemo have been minimal for me , I have lost my hair but I rock a great wig!  You will do do this and tackle anything that occurs!! There is a useful Facebook group called Triple Negative breast cancer survivors if you are on Facebook - I didn't join until recently when I felt ready but there are many positive stories on there Wishing you all the best xx

Hi. My Mum was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago with triple negative at stage 3 with lymph node involvement. When we first googled it - we frightened ourselves as the recurrence rate is higher within the first few years and obviously it's not hormone driven so you can't take tamoxifen etc BUT we were told it does tend to respond better to chemo and after the first few years your recurrence rate is considered lower than other breast cancers. My Mum had 6 rounds of chemo followed by breast/node removal and then radiotherapy. There was no sign of the tumour whatsoever after chemo and so far she is still cancer free. Two other ladies who were also at the clinic and being treated for earlier stage/hormone driven breast cancers did not have the complete response to treatment she did. She also knows one lady who was treated for triple negative approx 18 years ago with no recurrence so there are many positive stories out there x

Thankyou for replying. I'm awaiting a ct scan and meeting with an oncologist. I want and don't want to know at the same time. It's all I can think about.

I have 4 children, 2 of them under 12. How do I explain that mummy will be very sick soon. 

Hi

hope you don't mind me jumping on but I've just had an apt that I have invasive ductal carcinoma triple negative and it's quite large! Advice has been chemo for approx 5 months but I'll know more when they contact me and then surgery. As it stands today it would be a full mastectomy due to the size. They can't detect anything in the biopsy from the lymph node but I'm waiting a full MRI and CT scan next week. To say I'm in shock is an understatement. I'm 41 with two young girls myself. 
 

In bits this evening but clinging to the words from the consultant that not only is it treatable it's curable.

Thankyou for reassuring me. 

I'm on week 9 of 12 of carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy, then will be on ec every 3 weeks for 9 weeks. After that hopefully a small op and radiotherapy. 
 I thought my world was over when I found out, it took a good few weeks to get my head around it. I feel more positive now as I know my tumour is shrinking. If I had had an op first it too would've been a mastectomy due to the size. 
My  oncologist also said it was curable so I'm hanging onto that. 
Im just trying to live my life how I was before and not let it bring me down too much. 
Hope these words help in some way x

Hi

thank you that's really helpful. I'm now on pins awaiting the next round of scans to make sure there's nothing elsewhere. After today's news it's hard not to think the worst. I did have a biopsy from my lymph nodes due to thickening and they came back clear so we're hoping despite the size, it's just in that one area. To hear 5 months worth of chemo just seems a shock before surgery. I've also been asked to consider having genetic testing as there's a strong family history too. Knowledge is power especially when it comes to your health. 
 

so worried about losing my hair too. Sounds ridiculously vain in the grand scheme of things. 

I'm so glad to hear your tumor is shrinking! That's fantastic news. That's enough to keep you going for sure. You have young children too? Have they coped ok? 
 

xx

I had a pet scan to see if it had spread further (it's in my lymph nodes) but thankfully it's clear at the moment. My lump was 5 cm so pretty big. 
i have also had genetic testing as have no prior history of breast cancer, that too has been good news.

I have had to shave my hair which was very upsetting but I cut it short before chemo so it wasn't such a drastic loss.(still cried and couldn't look at myself for days)

I have 2 older and 2 younger children. They have coped well but I think that's mainly because I'm not being sick or losing weight so don't look really ill. 

That's fantastic news! I think once you know it's working you don't mind it as much. 
 

She did mention a cold cap to me which I was going to look into it. it's surreal the thought of wigs. Weirdly I think that's the part I'm going to find the hardest. The rest you can hide from people and act like everything is ok. 

my lump is currently about 6.4 cm which is why I need the chemo. So silly but at the time I thought it was nothing due to my age and then the loss of Sarah Harding kicked me up the bum as it can affect anyone, any age. So glad I did as I dread to think what could have happened. My biopsy was clear of the lymph node she tested but I'm so worried that the further scans might show up something else. 
 

do you work? And if so have you managed to carry on?  Sorry for all the questions xx

My tumour has already shrunk by 1/3 so definitely positive news. I found mine by accident or I don't think I would know now as I had no symptoms. 
The cold cap to me sounded too painful and no guarantee you won't still lose your hair. 
 

I haven't looked into wigs yet. Yeah I think the minute you have a scarf/turban etc it tells everyone you have cancer and I don't want that. Luckily it's cold out so I'm getting away with woolly hats. 
 

I am not currently working while on weekly chemo as I work in a supermarket so didn't want to get ill from anyone and have to put off my treatment.