Hello Everyone!!

I just wanted to introduce myself, I am Crystal. I found this board a few days ago and enjoy reading and learning about this thing called cancer that has brought us all here. I was dx in Dec 2011 after having a breast reduction, which is when the cancer was found. I am 33 years old married and have 4 wonderful children, they range in age from 6 to 12. They are all healthy and for that I am thankful. I have had 5 surgeries (including bilateral mastectomy) and currently have TE in place, I have only had them a couple weeks but so far so good. I did 5 months of chemo and am currently taking Tamoxifen. I also did the genetic testing and that came back positive, but as far as anyone knows I am the first in the family for breast or ovarian cancer..Have a great Thanksgiving and remember lets be thankful for just 1 more day because there are others who would love just 1 more day....

Comments

  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    Welcome Let...
    and I know you probably did not want to be here but more that you needed to be here. But welcome none the less.

    It sounds as though you might have Triple Negative Breast Cancer since you said you got genetic testing. I know TNBC has a test for the BCRA1 and BCRA2 gene. Those two genes tend to increase your chances of ovarian cancer as well. If you have a different kind of breast cancer please let me know as you will be educating me about yet another aspect of breast cancer I did not know.

    I am in my 50's and got diagnosed in Feb of 2011. I also have 4 kids and over a dozen grandchildren. I do not know what TE in place means. But I am sure once you tell me what that means I will say to myself "of course it means......."

    I hope you will find the help you need at this site. I sure did.
  • mommaellen
    mommaellen Member Posts: 195

    Welcome Let...
    and I know you probably did not want to be here but more that you needed to be here. But welcome none the less.

    It sounds as though you might have Triple Negative Breast Cancer since you said you got genetic testing. I know TNBC has a test for the BCRA1 and BCRA2 gene. Those two genes tend to increase your chances of ovarian cancer as well. If you have a different kind of breast cancer please let me know as you will be educating me about yet another aspect of breast cancer I did not know.

    I am in my 50's and got diagnosed in Feb of 2011. I also have 4 kids and over a dozen grandchildren. I do not know what TE in place means. But I am sure once you tell me what that means I will say to myself "of course it means......."

    I hope you will find the help you need at this site. I sure did.

    TNBC
    Thanks for the information laughs_a_lot. I was told that I had the cancer in Feb. 2012. I went thru 6 rounds of chemo and has a mastectomy in August. I am currently going thru reconstruction with a TE. And thru all this noone ever told me about the BCRA1 & BCRA2 genes tend to increase my changes for ovarian cancer.

    I am going to do some more research on this.

    Mommaellen
  • Letgonletgodb_1
    Letgonletgodb_1 Member Posts: 8

    TNBC
    Thanks for the information laughs_a_lot. I was told that I had the cancer in Feb. 2012. I went thru 6 rounds of chemo and has a mastectomy in August. I am currently going thru reconstruction with a TE. And thru all this noone ever told me about the BCRA1 & BCRA2 genes tend to increase my changes for ovarian cancer.

    I am going to do some more research on this.

    Mommaellen

    I had the genetic testing
    I had the genetic testing because they was no history of bc in our family and I had just turned 33, so because i was young to get bc. I was positive for brca2, which is better to have than brca1 from what I was told...I am ER pos, prog pos, and Her neg. From what I read off my path report. I will go every 6 months and have a vaginal ultrasound to watch for any abnormalities. I am guessingi triple neg. Means not testing positive for est., prog., or her??? Let me know if this is correct laughs_a_lot..From everything I have read if your genetics tested positive you do have that increased risk because ovarian cancer is usually estrogen led, thus our female parts, breast and ovaries..Hopefully I undetstand all that is going on ;)
  • salls41
    salls41 Member Posts: 340

    Welcome Let...
    and I know you probably did not want to be here but more that you needed to be here. But welcome none the less.

    It sounds as though you might have Triple Negative Breast Cancer since you said you got genetic testing. I know TNBC has a test for the BCRA1 and BCRA2 gene. Those two genes tend to increase your chances of ovarian cancer as well. If you have a different kind of breast cancer please let me know as you will be educating me about yet another aspect of breast cancer I did not know.

    I am in my 50's and got diagnosed in Feb of 2011. I also have 4 kids and over a dozen grandchildren. I do not know what TE in place means. But I am sure once you tell me what that means I will say to myself "of course it means......."

    I hope you will find the help you need at this site. I sure did.

    .
    TE = Tissue Expanders
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    I hope you find this the
    I hope you find this the right place to help you...it has certainly helped me to build friendships here. I have found the compassion and knowledge here extremely impressive and helpful. And there are others here with kids, mine are 16 and 11. They were 14 and 9 when I started this journey.

    Yes, triple negative means ER=,PR-, and HER-. That changes the options available for treatment, hormone treatment or herceptin don't help one bit.

    As far as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing goes...I did the test and the results were negative. But in going through that process I decided it doesn't mean anything. If you test positive, you may or may not get ovarian cancer. If you test negative, you may or may not get ovarian cancer. If you test positive, your children may or may not get cancer. If you test negative, your children may or may not get cancer. Plus, there are so many other genetic issues that we don't know how to test for...It's all a crap shoot. I also decided to take what I've been given and deal with that to the best of my ability. I hope no one is offended by my crap shoot philosophy, it is just my opinion.

    And yes, I am thankful for each and every day...but I'm working for lots of them!!!

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • I hope you find this the
    I hope you find this the right place to help you...it has certainly helped me to build friendships here. I have found the compassion and knowledge here extremely impressive and helpful. And there are others here with kids, mine are 16 and 11. They were 14 and 9 when I started this journey.

    Yes, triple negative means ER=,PR-, and HER-. That changes the options available for treatment, hormone treatment or herceptin don't help one bit.

    As far as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing goes...I did the test and the results were negative. But in going through that process I decided it doesn't mean anything. If you test positive, you may or may not get ovarian cancer. If you test negative, you may or may not get ovarian cancer. If you test positive, your children may or may not get cancer. If you test negative, your children may or may not get cancer. Plus, there are so many other genetic issues that we don't know how to test for...It's all a crap shoot. I also decided to take what I've been given and deal with that to the best of my ability. I hope no one is offended by my crap shoot philosophy, it is just my opinion.

    And yes, I am thankful for each and every day...but I'm working for lots of them!!!

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Hi Chrystal glad you found
    Hi Chrystal glad you found this site, but sorry to hear about your dx I am 53 years old and was dx in May of this year. I had a lumpectomy in June and did 33 rounds of rads. I have been on arimidex since 10/10/12 and am just taking it one day at a time. As far as I know I am the first person in my family to be diagnosed with breast cancer. A very good friend of mine told me years ago(15) that everything happens for a reason, but we will never figure out the reason so don't try. Some of the best advice I ever got.


    Take care
    Patricia
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991

    I hope you find this the
    I hope you find this the right place to help you...it has certainly helped me to build friendships here. I have found the compassion and knowledge here extremely impressive and helpful. And there are others here with kids, mine are 16 and 11. They were 14 and 9 when I started this journey.

    Yes, triple negative means ER=,PR-, and HER-. That changes the options available for treatment, hormone treatment or herceptin don't help one bit.

    As far as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing goes...I did the test and the results were negative. But in going through that process I decided it doesn't mean anything. If you test positive, you may or may not get ovarian cancer. If you test negative, you may or may not get ovarian cancer. If you test positive, your children may or may not get cancer. If you test negative, your children may or may not get cancer. Plus, there are so many other genetic issues that we don't know how to test for...It's all a crap shoot. I also decided to take what I've been given and deal with that to the best of my ability. I hope no one is offended by my crap shoot philosophy, it is just my opinion.

    And yes, I am thankful for each and every day...but I'm working for lots of them!!!

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Hello! I am sorry that you
    Hello! I am sorry that you are on this site, but, I think you will find it is full of great, supportive and encouraging pink sisters. Post often and let us get to know you better. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!


    Hugs, Angie
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    Angie2U said:

    Hello! I am sorry that you
    Hello! I am sorry that you are on this site, but, I think you will find it is full of great, supportive and encouraging pink sisters. Post often and let us get to know you better. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!


    Hugs, Angie

    Crystal ... Just checking in with you ..
    How are things? Is your fatigue any better? We are here for you ..

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

    Vicki Sam
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    welcome..sorry we had to
    welcome..sorry we had to meet here! I too am the one and only (thankfully) with BC in my family (ALONG with ulcertive colitis the ONLY one-20 yrs now)

    Thinking of you....

    Denise