She can flash back to that terrible moment with ease.
It was July 2017, and Miller was only 33.
You think, Am I going to die?
Illustration by D’Ara Nazaryan
Cancer is such an ugly word.
Its just so jarring to hear.
It kind of rips through your body, Miller tells SELF.
I had to check my feelings because I didnt want to tell my parents at that time.
That just put me at ease because she knew how I was feeling.
you could read more about how triple negative breast cancer differs from other forms of the illnesshere.
What exactly does my stage mean?
Maybe you dont want to know anything more than you have to at this point, which is valid.
Which route makes the most sense will depend on your exact case of breast cancer.
This can indicate how quickly the tumorcouldgrow and spread.
Also worth noting: Your stage doesnt change over time even if your cancer is treated or spreads.
Youve probably heard of the cancer staging system that goes from 0 to 4.
Stages 1 through 3 can indicate how advanced the cancer is between these two extremes.
Thats why you might hear terms like stage 1A or stage 3C.
Asking for clarification can be really helpful.
What are my treatment options?
Currently, the majority of triple negative breast cancers are treated with a combination of approaches, theCDCsays.
One mainstay in triple negative breast cancer treatment ischemotherapyto kill the cancer cells or at least shrink the tumor.
Other times, people base the extent of surgery on how much cancer is present.
Radiation to kill off any remaining cancer cells is also an option for some people.
This is usually required for patients who dont have a mastectomy, Dr. Mills says.
For instance, Miller, who had stage 0 cancer, had a lumpectomy followed by chemo then radiation.
Shes been cancer-free for just over a year.
We always like to take a stab at get [treatment] moving relatively quickly, Dr. Mills says.
You have to meet with a lot of different doctors when youre diagnosed with breast cancer.
Youre allowed to think.
Do I need any additional tests?
There are two main additional tests doctors sometimes recommend for people with triple negative breast cancer.
Some studieshave found that tumors in people with a BRCA mutation respond particularly well to certain kinds of chemotherapy.
These are all options your doctor can discuss with you in detail.
In March 2019, theU.S.
The treatment combines chemotherapy with an immunotherapy drug called atezolizumab, and other immunotherapy drugs are on the horizon.
Is there any way to make chemo easier to get through?
Chemotherapy has a bad reputation, Dr. Mills says.
A lot of those preconceptions are not correct.
He told her there would be side effects, but that there were also ways to mitigate them.
That was my experience, Greer tells SELF.
She did her best to carry that attitude beyond work too.
I think its important to give a shot to keep doing those things if you feel up to it.
Heres more information on commonchemotherapy side effectsand how to deal with them.
Your doctor may be able to offer up techniques for reducing whichever side effects most concern or impact you.
What can I expect from surgery and radiation?
As with basically anything else in life, not everyone has the same experiences with surgery and radiation.
There are still a few general things to know.
Lumpectomies are usually outpatient procedures with an estimated recovery time of about two weeks, theACSsays.
Typical side effects for both procedures are similar, including pain, tenderness, and swelling.
This is known aspost-mastectomy pain syndrome(PMPS), although it can also follow lumpectomies.
Ask your doctor about how to know if thats what youre experiencing and how to manage it.
Theyll also talk to you about how to spot signs of infection.
As for radiation, one of the main side effects is fatigue, according to theACS.
Its important to track your fatigue levels and report them to your care team.
Breast radiation can come with other side effects too, like soreness and stiff shoulders.
Are there any clinical trials available for me?
Learning about clinical trials is always a good idea for anyone, Dr. Mills says.
Trials arent necessarily looking for miracle drugs.
As amazing as that would be, doctors venture to lay out more realistic aims.
I cant promise or guarantee that will happen, but that is the goal, Dr. Nanda says.
For those who have advanced-stage disease, I am very clear.
Usually patients are pretty satisfied with that.
Where can I get emotional support?
I would say to anyone thats going through treatment, utilize those programs, she tells SELF.
She also appreciated the support networks she found through theACS.
That said, finding support in othercancerpatients can bring emotional challenges.
She found them quite depressing at times.
Greer still sees the value in seeking out this kind of kinship.
I need people who understand where I am because my friends dont get it.
On the other hand, youre going to see things that are hard.
How do I prepare for life after cancer?
But as your treatment progresses, it can help to have a plan.
I wish Id asked more about what to do after everything, Greer tells SELF.
Its not just physical symptoms that catch up with you after treatment is done.
You are going through so many emotions when you finally get that all clear, Miller says.
I remember going into the changing room and just crying.
The doctor was like, Its probably nothing, but I had already heard that.
Has it come back again?
ensure that youre okay mentally and emotionally, Miller says.
You go through so much.
