Hi. I was diagnosed on 22 April having found a lump entirely by accident (next mammogram not due til August 2023). I had confirmation I am triple negative on 28th April and start 24 weeks chemo on Wednesday. I’ve spent the last week doing a handover at work and feel a complete fraud as I actually feel healthier than I have for a long time. Still processing and have just had blood taken for BRCA test with results in 6 weeks which could move me from a lumpectomy to a double mastectomy overnight and have implications for my two daughters both in their twenties. A total bolt from the blue for me and my family. Still in shock ! I’m sure I’ll have lots of questions once I get going xx
Hi
Just a warm welcome from one Triple Negative to another. You’ve found yourself in the right place to gain from the experience of hundreds of women in the same boat.
TNBC has a very bad press. Please don’t be too alarmed. I’ve been having treatment for the last year now (my circumstances are different) and in this time I’ve seen two new treatments appear so things are definitely on the move. Take encouragement from that.
You may find your diagnosis changing week by week as various tests come back - I had 5 different diagnoses in the end! Just stay off Google. It’s often outdated and misrepresents our unique experiences. It also has zero emotional intelligence so won’t feel any guilt if it sets you into a tailspin, as it often does. I think almost all of us would say stay off Google. If you have questions, you can ask BCNow nurses in their forum or you can ring their helpline, which offers a brilliant service. We fellow patients can offer opinion and experiences which, personally I found invaluable.
We often feel complete frauds but it’s not justified. You may feel well but you have a nasty condition and, to be frank, the treatments aren’t easy. In fact, your employer by now will have registered you as disabled under the 2010 Equalities Act, protecting your rights as an employee. Worth remembering if you struggle to go back to work or choose to retire on grounds of ill-health. But that is way ahead. You are going to need all the resources you have to look after yourself as you go through your treatments and keep yourself safe from covid when your immunity is low.
I wish you all the best in whatever lies ahead,
Jan x
Hello there…I’m sorry that you’re on this journey too. My mammogram was overdue because of Covid pressures allegedly but I was a regular checker and it seemed to pop up overnight! Discovered a huge lump (8th April) but most of that was oedema because of the tumour and has gone down. Biopsy 26th April, confirmed triple negative, high grade on 10th May. Completely understand the shock…for me, it’s an out of body experience but I’m quite sure that is temporary. Sending you a huge hug, hoping our journey will be eased and informed by all the amazing fighters on this forum.