Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am 72 years old and was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The cancer was not metastatic and had not spread to the lymph nodes. I underwent a successful mastectomy three months ago.
For the past two months, I have been taking chemotherapy. My recent blood tests showed a white blood cell (WBC) count of 5,150, and my ESR has also decreased.
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I hope you are doing well, and I wish you a smooth and complete recovery.
I know that you are currently going through a period of stress and fear, especially after surgery, and now that you have started chemotherapy and are beginning to experience its side effects.
I would like to reassure you that triple-negative breast cancer is a condition that can be treated and controlled, and the good news in your case is that there is no lymph node metastasis and no distant metastasis, which are both very positive signs and should give you hope and confidence to continue your treatment.
Chemotherapy can be challenging at the beginning, and its side effects may include low blood counts, a higher risk of infection, weakness, tingling, hair loss, gastrointestinal symptoms, diarrhea, and vomiting. All of these side effects are common and expected, but the important thing is that they are usually reversible, and once the chemotherapy cycles are completed, these symptoms gradually improve and your condition starts returning to normal and often becomes even better than before.
As I mentioned, since there is no distant metastasis, this is a very encouraging situation, and it means that the disease is under good control and remains highly treatable.
So, please try not to worry and continue with your treatment plan. If you feel that you need additional emotional support, you may also consider joining an online support group where you can connect with people going through similar experiences, and many patients find that sharing their journey with others helps them feel stronger and more optimistic.
I hope this explanation is clear and reassuring, and I wish you continued strength, health, and recovery throughout your treatment journey.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and take care.
Regards.
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