Breast Cancer Now Forum

DONT GOOGLE!!!! that is the biggest and best piece of advice I can give you. We alldo it when newly diagnosed, but since my diagnosis in September with Grade 3 triple negative, I have learnt that most of the info is completely outdated. I had a 1cm tumour removed by lumpectomy, every bit as effective as a mastectomy, with no node involvement.  I think the hardest thing to get your head round, is the amount of chemo you will probably have to have. This is because it reacts so well to it, better than hormone based bc.    I have had 4 x 3 weekly doses of EC, and now I am in the middle of 12 weekly doses of Carboplatin/Taxol. This is a reduced dose, so much easier than the EC. This regime is so new for Triple Neg, that I am one of four woman under The Christy Hospital, that has started it. It just proves that things are improving and changing all the time, and my oncologist is firmly convinced that this is a superb treatment for TN, and a cure.....    You have to trust your onc, and think very carefully about the mastectomy.... its yet another procedure to get through.....    Please feel free to ask any questions regarding my experiences. I promise you once you get underway and start, you will gain some strength, its the waiting that the hard bit...   All the best xx    ... View more

@Brewster wrote: Has anyone just had/having EC and not FEC for triple negative. Have had my surgery and had call roday to start EC chemo in Jan 8th . Just wondering why it's not FEC.... Does anyone know ?? Thanks xx Hi    I was diagnosed with Triple Neg in September. Stage 3, but a small tumour, and not in my lymph nodes. I underwent a lumpectomy a week after diagnosis. Since then I have had 4, 3 weekly doses of EC. I then had a 3 week break, and have now started 12 weekly doses of Taxol/carboplatin at a reduced dose. I will then have 15 sessions of radiotherapy.   I never questioned the EC part of it, as I was assured it was the strongest/most toxic of all chemos by my nurses. I suppose I just assumed it must be doing the job, if they considered it the worst. A little daunting admitedly, but I am happy to say, it did not live up to its dreaded reputation, and I came through the other side.    The carbo/taxol regime is quite a new regime for triple neg, in fact I am one of 4 woman under The Christy that has started it. It is normally used for secondary breast cancer.    I feel very confident that my treatment regime is quite cutting edge, as they are changing the treatments for triple neg all the time. My oncologist is also very forward thinking, so I am happy to be a guinea pig....   I am happy to answer any other questions, so please ask. We are a bit of a minority, but the great news is it responds very very well to chemo.....   All the best  ... View more

Hi    I was diagnosed with Triple Neg in September. Stage 3, but a small tumour, and not in my lymph nodes. I underwent a lumpectomy a week after diagnosis. Since then I have had 4, 3 weekly doses of EC. I then had a 3 week break, and have now started 12 weekly doses of Taxol/carboplatin at a reduced dose. I will then have 15 sessions of radiotherapy.   I never questioned the EC part of it, as I was assured it was the strongest/most toxic of all chemos by my nurses. I suppose I just assumed it must be doing the job, if they considered it the worst. A little daunting admitedly, but I am happy to say, it did not live up to its dreaded reputation, and I came through the other side.    The carbo/taxol regime is quite a new regime for triple neg, in fact I am one of 4 woman under The Christy that has started it. It is normally used for secondary breast cancer.    I feel very confident that my treatment regime is quite cutting edge, as they are changing the treatments for triple neg all the time. My oncologist is also very forward thinking, so I am happy to be a guinea pig....   I am happy to answer any other questions, so please ask. We are a bit of a minority, but the great news is it responds very very well to chemo.....   All the best  ... View more