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Jean · 05-13-2010, 09:20 PM

Nance,
Barbara gave you sound advice...hope is vital and I do believe that a strong mind will serve you well. Just coping in the early days is not easy. While our minds know we have been told we have bc - our souls ache and we need time to adjust our gears.
I remember how I did not want to worry my husband, son and family - so I didn't let on just how deeply worried I was. I can remember well the good cry I had by myself in the shower. Then it was on to the business of getting well.

I did what you are doing right now. I went on the internet and started to gather current information.
Then reading about new research and trials. Never stop asking quesitons and always get second opinions - third if your instincts tell you.

Consider and search out any trials with triple neg. bc.
and ask your onc. if he is involved or the facilty is involved with any trials.
You may receive a new and better treatment. Some trials involve extra tests and scans, so participating will give your doctors even more information about how the breast cancer is behaving.

Once you have your surgery your dr. will advise you of your staging. Nance interesting information is the chemo portion treatment for triple negative is not much different than Her2 (we now get herceptin).

So as far as questions on the chemo portion you are welcome to come to the board and ask questions.
Everyone here is wonderful and extremely supportive.

I was lucky to have found the site and Christine the founder encouraged me to get herceptin/chemo.
It does help to be among a supportive group. You could also ask at your facilty if there is a support group or even contact the National Cancer Society and ask.

I would also say - find a dr. who understands Triple negative breast cancer and is active in the breast cancer field, instead of an onc. who does all cancers.

I did find on line...the following:
The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
(877)880 - 8622.

Also: There was a small trial for women with triple negative metastatic bc showed that a PARP inhibitor given in combinaton with chemo may delay or halt tumor growth, compared with chemo alone. Sounds much like how herceptin aided us Her2 gals. Ask your onc. about a PARP inhibitor and if you can have that added to your chemo off label. That is what I did with herceptin...I had it off label.

See link below to article re: PARP Inhibitor.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE54U1FV20090531
Make sure after your surgery you ask your dr. what is the stage of your cancer, the grade of the tumor.

Nance know this Women do live afer bc dx and do survive and you will also. Do not allow the triple negative to over power you. You will have your surgery and remove those nasty cells and then move forward to the rest of your treatments and destroy anything that may be there.

Hugs,
jean

05-13-2010, 09:20 PM	#8
Jean Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,154	Re: Triple Negative Nance, Barbara gave you sound advice...hope is vital and I do believe that a strong mind will serve you well. Just coping in the early days is not easy. While our minds know we have been told we have bc - our souls ache and we need time to adjust our gears. I remember how I did not want to worry my husband, son and family - so I didn't let on just how deeply worried I was. I can remember well the good cry I had by myself in the shower. Then it was on to the business of getting well. I did what you are doing right now. I went on the internet and started to gather current information. Then reading about new research and trials. Never stop asking quesitons and always get second opinions - third if your instincts tell you. Consider and search out any trials with triple neg. bc. and ask your onc. if he is involved or the facilty is involved with any trials. You may receive a new and better treatment. Some trials involve extra tests and scans, so participating will give your doctors even more information about how the breast cancer is behaving. Once you have your surgery your dr. will advise you of your staging. Nance interesting information is the chemo portion treatment for triple negative is not much different than Her2 (we now get herceptin). So as far as questions on the chemo portion you are welcome to come to the board and ask questions. Everyone here is wonderful and extremely supportive. I was lucky to have found the site and Christine the founder encouraged me to get herceptin/chemo. It does help to be among a supportive group. You could also ask at your facilty if there is a support group or even contact the National Cancer Society and ask. I would also say - find a dr. who understands Triple negative breast cancer and is active in the breast cancer field, instead of an onc. who does all cancers. I did find on line...the following: The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation (877)880 - 8622. Also: There was a small trial for women with triple negative metastatic bc showed that a PARP inhibitor given in combinaton with chemo may delay or halt tumor growth, compared with chemo alone. Sounds much like how herceptin aided us Her2 gals. Ask your onc. about a PARP inhibitor and if you can have that added to your chemo off label. That is what I did with herceptin...I had it off label. See link below to article re: PARP Inhibitor. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE54U1FV20090531 Make sure after your surgery you ask your dr. what is the stage of your cancer, the grade of the tumor. Nance know this Women do live afer bc dx and do survive and you will also. Do not allow the triple negative to over power you. You will have your surgery and remove those nasty cells and then move forward to the rest of your treatments and destroy anything that may be there. Hugs, jean __________________ Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05 Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC Node Neg. (Sentinel node) ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH Ki-67 40% Arimidex 5/05 Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05 Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk TOPO 11 neg. 4/06 Stopped Arimidex 5/06 TCH 5/06, 6 treatments Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr. 9/06 Completed chemo Started Femara Sept. 2006