Texgal's Journey with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Ductal

I had had a mammogram less than a year before when I felt a mass across the top of my breast. Since I wasn't overdue for my mammogram and it wasn't sore, I put off calling a doctor for about a month due to a 90th birthday celebration for my mom and an upcoming vacation. My diagnosis came in Sept. of 2009.

One month from diagnosis, I was scheduled for surgery in Oct. 2009. That month had been a whirlwind of appointments and all the decisions to be made: stay in my hometown or go to a nearby larger city, use a local surgeon or an oncology surgeon in the other city, pick an oncologist, make decision about delayed reconstruction due to large possibility of future radiation treatment.

My chemo began two months after my diagnosis and one month after my surgery in 11/09. I credit my oncologist with the ease of my chemotherapy. I had 3 different anti-nausea medications that completely eliminated that problem. After each chemo, I had the shot to increase my white blood cell count so I never had to postpone a treatment because my count was down. I had six treatments spaced three weeks apart. My treatment would be on a Thursday afternoon and I would get my shot the next day. I would sleep much of Fri. through Sun. By Mon. I was able to return to work half-time, usually 10-2. During the three weeks, I would try to add time as I was able. Fatigue was my biggest obstacle.

My radiation began 5 weeks after my last chemo and 7 months after my diagnosis in 4/10. I had daily treatments M-F for 7 weeks. I would work until early afternoon when it was time for the treatment. Fatigue again was the biggest factor; I would go straight home to a nap after each treatment. I didn't have any blistering of my skin until the last 2 weeks. This was extremely uncomfortable but began to heal immediately after treatments ceased.

Numerous celebrations: completed treatment in May 2010 and went without a wig/hat in August 2010. I continue to have complete blood work done every 6 months and everything looks great! It's now 3 years since my diagnosis. With triple negative breast cancer, I know the re-occurrence rate is higher, so I will really celebrate when I hit 5 years!

About a year after my mastectomy, I noticed swelling in my arm and hand on my affected side. In July I had flown for the first time, wore an arm compression but had some swelling in my hand so I purchased an hand glove when I landed. The swelling subsided after that trip. My arm and hand began swelling at Thanksgiving of the same year. I had begun some exercises so the weights could have contributed but we don't know. I began lymphedemia massages on a regular basis and wore an arm compression during the day for over a year. This year I have reduced using the arm compression to only when I am doing repetitive movement and using both the arm and hand compression whenever I fly. I still feel constriction in my upper arm and I do self-massage to contribute to lymph movement.

I began my reconstruction process 7 months after the end of my radiation. I had surgeries in Jan., May, and Nov. of 2011. I considered them minor surgeries in the big scheme of things but they obviously still zap energy and take time to recuperate. I didn't realize how depleted I really was until I moved into 2012; now without any medical treatment occurring this year, I am finally regaining a energy level that I had forgotten I had.