Hi ladies, I’m new to this forum and have read so many inspiring stories of success which has helped immensely. I am 42 and was diagnosed with tnbc last week, I’m not sure what stage or grade as I wasn’t told that yet, I do know from my ultrasound it is approx 2cm. I had biopsies taken from my lymph node and have no sign of cancer there thankfully. I have to go in to have this node removed however as a precaution then have a bone scan and body scan before they start me on 5 months of chemo followed by a lumpectomy then radiotherapy. I must say I had no idea how bad tnbc is until reading on here but I have also learned that once it’s gone there is less chance of this type recurring. I just want to say thank you to each and everyone of you for posting your own personal experiences as it really does help. I was going out of my mind with worry and fear but feel much more positive now ?
Hi Rosanne
Welcome to the BCC forums where I am sure you will find support and shared experiences from your fellow users, please also feel free to call our helpliners who are on hand weekdays 9-5 and Sat 10-2 for you on 0808 800 6000
I am posting a link to the BCC ‘Younger women’ area of the site where you will find diagnosis/treatments information along with further support ideas which I hope you will find helpful:
breastcancercare.org.uk/younger-women
Take care
Lucy BCC
Thank you Lucy, I will have a look just now, this forum is such a great help, I have been totally distraught and worried sick but since reading so many posts I feel more positive now, thanks again. Roseanne x
Hi ladies I am at the early stages of going for pre ops, scans etc and meet with my oncologist on Wednesday and I am absolutely terrified that they tell me bad news regarding it having spread but I do know that regardless of the outcome I want to throw every ounce of treatment at this horrible disease to get rid of it and enjoy whatever months years I may have with my family. I pray that it never returns but if I don’t take certain treatments and it came back I’d automatically blame myself and would not be able to live with the guilt of maybe depriving my family of more time with me, hope that makes sense. Roseanne x
Hi JJL,
Here are my thoughts on chemo:
I’m someone who hates taking regular medicine & the thought of chemo was hell. I can’t remember, as it was so long ago, what % increase of survival they told me it would give me, but it was maybe 10/15 %. But in the end I decided to do it, as it was what all the oncologists I spoke with recommended. I figured that unpleasant as chemo would be, it would be finite and I wanted to do whatever I could to improve my chances of survival. If I hadn’t done it and the cancer had come back I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself, whereas if it had at least I’d have been able to say, well I did my best. I know it’s a very individual decision though and I would of course listen to what your doctors advise you.
Also, please believe you can beat this - people do survive triple neg (there’s a book about it - Surviving Triple Negative breast cancer - you can get it on Amazon and which might help). I am a long term survivor - 13 years clear, and I recently found out I have a faulty BRCA 1.
Best of luck with whatever path you choose.
Bel x
Hi Pam,
I was triple neg grade 3 (though I wasn’t stage 3). My understanding is the grade is the aggressiveness of the cancer cells, the stage how far the disease has progressed. It’s normal to cry - it is sad and it is hard and no-one can be positive all the time. I still have the odd bad day even after all this time. Look after yourself.
Bel x
Hi everyone
Hope you are all doing ok. I finished chemo 9th April, had mastectomy 5th may (1 pos node) decided to wait a while for reconstruction. I am due to have 3 weeks of rads starting 22nd June.
I did ask what stage / grade I was. They said it was grade 3 because tn but said that they no longer stage it . Not sure why or if that’s just at the hospital I was treated but they said its of no value to do it.
Pleased that you have all the treatment behind you now Pam . Is everyone else still going through treatment,
Amanda xx
Hi Pam
Yes I did get path report. With regards to nodes it said that 4 removed micromet in one. Also although tumour responded well to chemo there was an area of 40 mm with small bits in. I was a bit upset that it hadn’t all gone but bc nurse said its all been taken and having rads will help to prevent reoccurance.
She said she just saw a lady who had come in for mammogram. When she was diagnosed with tn she had many nodes involved and she was 14 years out so that raised my spirits.
Hope your hair cut goes well … I’ve still got nothing 
. I had really long thick blond curly hair before . Thought when eventually mine grows back will go for something really funky and modern xxx
Hi Pam/ everyone
Well done for getting through your treatment. I’m dreading going back to work but in a way I bet it’s nice to get your life back. I’ve just done first week of rads two more to go then treatment is over. I’m hoping to go on a few hols before I go back to work , I know I will have to cover up but feel like a break . How is everyone else doing ? Xx
Hi all hope u are all doing ok. I’m still struggling at times but have been referred to a clinical psychologist. I have finished all my chemo and am starting radiotherapy today, trouble is am on antibiotics for a bad chest. Pamper how do u feel about going back to work and how long have u had off? I can’t wait to go back to get some normality in my life again.
Sorry it’s supposed to be PAM not pamper stupid phone xxx
Ah great to heat Pam, Ivery been off 6 months so far and he said around a year. Nice to hear your all doing well xxx
Hi Pam/everyone
Finished my rads about two weeks ago and now I’m in sunny Majorca ??I have covered up with a little scarf but have been fine. My breathing is still not quite right and am having bits of blood in my spit. Not sure wether it’s the start of a chest infection will see doc when I get back. Hoping for a few more hols before I have to go back to work.
Dee I’m sending your daughter a big hug . It’s such a vile thing to go through xx
Hoping everyone else doing ok xx
How are you all doing, I’m just finishing my 2nd week of radiotherapy. Amanda how are u feeling? Better I hope xx
Hi Suzanne/ everyone
I went to the docs when I got back from hols. He said there was no infection and put it down to the rads. There seems to be no blood in mucus now so I’m hoping that’s all it was. Im now in Madeira lol promised myself a few hols before I have to go back to work. The doctor gave me another sick note just to get right before I go back. How is everyone doing? Are you still having rads Suzanne? I had 15 in total my skin was a bit sore and red after I finished but it’s healing up really well . Hope you are all doing ok ?xx
Yes still having rads I have had 9 so far got to have 20 in total. I’m not sure when I will be returning to work tho my consultant did say for me to look around a year off, but I’m hoping to go back before that, enjoy your hols amanda xx
Thanks ladies and you’re right, it’s having to study a subject you hated at school! Lol…wishing you all good health x
Hi all I’m just wondering how long after chemo did your hair start to grow back, it’s 4 weeks so far and nothing, am I being a bit impatient xxxx
Thanks Pam I suppose I’m just being eager to get my body back too. I can’t wait to have eye brows and eye lashes again, although I don’t think I will feel normal for a very long time I still worry a lot maybe that will ease when all my treatment is finished. I was talking about when I should return to work last night but I don’t think I could work until my hair grows back, I couldn’t work in my wig and I don’t go out without it, Sue xxxx
Hi Suzanne
Hope you are starting to feel a bit better now your treatment has finished. Did you have radiotherapy ? My last treatment was 9th April and I’m also so desperate for my hair to come. It’s still not even an inch long. I had really long curly hair before so thought it was fast growing ?. Although another lady I met who had the same treatment as me now has a lovely thick head of hair . Her hair just looks like a short hairstyle now. My eyelashes grew back quite quick after about two months and I got my eyebrows tattooed just before treatment. That was the best thing I did I’m going to have them topped up in a couple of weeks, they look like little hairs and quite natural. With regards to work my sick note will end at end of October . That will be just over a year. I work in an opticians and have been there many years, I know lots of people who come in so I want hair before I go back. I don’t want to keep going over what has happened and would feel better just to say I’ve had my hair cut . Hope everyone one else is doing ok ?xx