Triple Negative recurrance

Abendintheroad

Are there any signs to look for if the cancer is coming back somewhere else? And where does it usually happen?

Carool

I had triple positive, but I assume the symptoms of metastases are the same.

Breast cancer tends to metastasize to the bones, the lungs, the liver, and/or the brain. Of course, mets can be anywhere. Even the skin or eyes.

From what I know, any pain that persists for more than two or three weeks should be checked out with one’s oncologist. Of course, everyone has pains that don’t go away after a few weeks, and usually the pain is caused by something benign, so no reason to fear metastases right away. However, it’s good to check out such pain if it persists.

Same goes for any other unusual and persistent symptoms.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve died a thousand deaths when something hurts me and doesn’t resolve soon! It’s good to be vigilant, but we who had cancer can be hypervigilant and end up driving ourselves crazy.

When in doubt, call your oncologist. I wish you good health.

MLT

I haveTNBC. It has metastasized to sternum and liver. I had 2 Drs tell me that slightly bulging sternum was arthritis. They didn't consider my history of BC. Luckily, I had a checkup with my surgeon. I am doing well with current treatment.
You need to be diligent about noticing any changes in your body. Never be afraid to contact your Dr about these changes. Be proactive. Wishing you the best.

Kayelen

I have HR+/HER2- with mets to bones and now liver. When i first felt bone pain in my back and ribs, dr kept sending me to physical therapy. I KNEW there was more to it and finally had to insist on more in depth testing. A bone scan found the mets due to Breast cancer spread. Anything you feel that is not 'right' about your body, go to your doctor right away especially now that you are diagnosed with cancer. I felt no pain at all, a little tickle in my mid spine then lots of pain in ribs and 3 months later had the BC diagnosis.

debphill

I agree with the girls, You don't want to be consumed with the fear of recurrence, but you do need to be your own best advocate. I also had TNBC, I am approximately 2 years NED. but in this last year I was getting very bad discomfort under my right arm, the arm they removed the nodes from. I waited 2-3 weeks. fortunately after a sonogram of the area, no recurrence was found. The doctor feels it was a tendon that was acting up . Now I have capsular contracture in my right breast and will need implant exchange. My oncologist has told me usually if TNBC returns it is in the area of the mastectomy, or in distant places. To be aware, but try not to live in fear. I always feel we know our bodies best. If something doesn't feel right and you've given it a little time, and it remains, contact your doctor. I'd rather be told it's Nothing, and if it isn't, you can get working on it! Stay strong, You are brave & fierce.

fiddler

As you probably already know, TNBC is unlike any other BC. The 1st 2 years post-treatment are the scariest because that's when it recurs the most often. The next scariest is the 5 year mark - if a TNBC survivor makes that, there's a 78% chance of survival. then there's the 10 year mark.

A breast cancer researcher told me that TNBC recurrence is the opposite of all other cancers. Whereas all other BCs have a higher rate of recurrence the longer they go, with TNBC it's the opposite - the longer you survive the less chance of recurrence.

That said, my onco doc said TNBC most often recurs in the liver, lungs and brain, but it can metastasize anywhere, and he said that it RARELY comes back in the same breast, but if it comes back it can come back in the other breast.

Vanderbilt U. researched TNBC and suggested 2 things: it is ovarian cancer cells that wandered off (my words); there are 2 types - a type that never comes back and a type that comes back within 2-5 years.

Because TNBC is not hormone dependent, no hormones are used to treat it.

Be vigilant; do your breast exams and get the mammos on time. Well, and listen to your intuition - had I not listened to an inner voice screaming "Get a mammogram!" I wouldn't be here. Then the radiologist decided I had a "false negative" result and she was right.

God/Creator/Source/guardian angel will lead you to where you need to go. "All" you need to do is listen and act on it without second thoughts.

fiddler

Also, look for pain in the hip - mets of the bone....

fiddler

And good luck, best wishes for longevity.