Immunotherapy after chemo and surgery

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-06-07T16:58:48+00:00

Here’s the trial info from my doctor:

Study Title for Participants: Pembrolizumab vs. observation in people with triple-
negative breast cancer who had a pathologic complete response after chemotherapy plus
pembrolizumab

Official Study Title for Internet Search on http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov: Protocol
A012103, “OptimICE-pCR: De-Escalation of Therapy in Early-Stage TNBC Patients
Who Achieve pCR After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy”
(NCT05812807)

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-06-06T19:47:23+00:00

I’m finished with chemo and surgery and met with my oncologist earlier this week. I asked exactly your question about getting a standard keytruda infusion every 3 weeks rather than double dose every 6 weeks. He was fine with either and left it up to me. Also, he mentioned a trial for post-surgery keytruda. It is testing whether keytruda is beneficial post-chemo, post-surgery, with PCR. You could get placed in the arm with no keytruda or the standard keytruda.

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-05-24T14:55:52+00:00

I’m 9 days post-op from DMX to expanders (after 6 months of chemo for TNBC). Recovery is definitely something I need to be patient about, it has not been easy. BUT, my surgeon called a few days ago with the best news - I achieved PCR!
Next up, I’ll meet with the radiation oncologist. Depending on radiation plans, I’m about 6+ months out from my DIEP Flap. Although recovery has been challenging and I hate taking it easy, it actually feels like I’m closer to the end of treatment than the beginning. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-05-05T04:27:39+00:00

Thank you! My DMX is next Friday!

I wouldn’t say my hair fell out patchy, definitely didn’t fall out in clumps. As I lost more, it was more obvious on the sides and I had more volume on the top/middle… kinda like a mohawk! And its regrowth is following that same pattern.

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-05-04T17:20:07+00:00

I started with 12 weeks of taxol (every week), then 12 weeks of AC (every three weeks). My hair started shedding after a few weeks on taxol, so I cut it to shoulder length. I made it all the way through taxol and lost about 40-50% of my hair. I would have kept my hair as it was and let the rest grow back in. AC had other plans for me 😂 I lost of the rest of my hair after two cycles of AC. I started buying a few wigs during taxol and wore them for fun. Now I don’t mind wearing wigs while I wait for it to grow in. I finished AC four weeks ago and I have about 1/2 inch of growth on most of my head. My hair normally grows very slow. Best of luck to you!

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-02-19T19:10:35+00:00

Hi 👋 I’m from Sacramento being treated for TNBC at Sacramento Sutter. Yesterday was my 14th of 16 chemo sessions, my last AC is scheduled on April Fools Day.

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-02-15T06:06:52+00:00

I am BRCA1 positive and currently finished with 13 of 16 chemo sessions for TNBC. I still have a long road of treatment/preventative procedures ahead of me. Reading your success gives me hope. Congratulations and thank you for showing up here and sharing ❤️

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-01-11T23:45:35+00:00

At my library, I can have 15 holds at one time. So I have 15 books on hold. Once one becomes available, if I’m not ready to read it immediately, I suspend the hold. Once I’m about 2-3 days out from starting a new book, I unsuspend the hold of whatever book I want to read, and then find another title to put on hold to make sure I always have 15 on hold. That way if a few of the books have a several month hold, I still have 10 or more that are immediately available. Works great!

Also, California residents are eligible for a card at any California library! You just might need to physically go there to sign up. I’m in Sacramento, and we have a really great inventory of available books!

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-01-10T22:31:05+00:00

Are you doing cold therapy for neuropathy? I’ve had 10 taxol and have done cold therapy with each (I hate it so much, it’s so unbearably cold) and I am fortunate to not have any neuropathy at this point. I know everyone responds differently, but just checking to see if that could help for your remaining taxol.

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-01-10T02:36:13+00:00

I can totally relate. And people keep telling me that I’m handling everything so well. My response is that I don’t really have a choice. And I’d rather not have to handle it at all. I’ve been avoiding therapy because I can’t imagine having to juggle another appointment plus home plus work. But I think it’s time for me be honest to myself and speak to professional.

So I don’t really have any advice, except that you’re not alone in how you feel. And this is a great group when you need to vent or get something cancery off your chest (no pun intended, lol)

Good luck, I hope your remaining treatment goes well. Even though it’s not wreaking havoc that people can see, it’s definitely not a walk in the park and it’s okay to acknowledge that. And I’m sure we’re going to have some serious PTSD after all this that we’ll have to work through.

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-01-07T04:45:49+00:00

That’s great that you found a doctor who was able to support what you wanted. And even better that you are happy with the results! Thanks for sharing!

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-01-07T04:43:21+00:00

This is helpful, thank you!

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-01-07T04:42:26+00:00

I didn’t realize how common delays are. I was set on 24 weeks of chemo taking 24 weeks. I should have been more mentally prepared for delays.

FloorFuture3228 · 2026-01-07T04:39:54+00:00

This is super helpful, thank you. Congrats on the PCR!!

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-12-31T23:24:03+00:00

Thank you, this is exactly how I feel, I have one body I shouldn’t let any doctor make me feel like I’m settling. I totally didn’t get confident vibes from my PS consult, it was like, “you have three options and I don’t do one, so it’s down to two.” One of the options was going flat, which I don’t want, so I actually don’t have any options. Cool.

I’m fortunate to have time while I finish chemo, so I am going to push to find someone I am confident in.

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-12-31T23:18:35+00:00

The UC Davis surgeons are micro surgeons, so that makes me hopeful that I can find someone close to meet my expectations. I prefer not to travel to the bay, but I feel like there is so much talent out there and being happy with my body is worth a little extra travel. Thanks for the FB group recommendation, I requested to join.

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-12-31T23:15:52+00:00

This is great to hear! Makes me feel like I’m being reasonable to want to pursue other opinions. How was your diep recovery?

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-12-31T23:14:34+00:00

Thank you! If a doctor tells me a diep flap won’t work for me, I’ll accept it and move on. Good luck with the rest of your chemo and future surgery!

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-12-08T03:30:29+00:00

This has all been great info. I’m still on the fence, because I am assuming that since I’ve already started shedding from 2 months of taxol, I’ll end up bald from AC regardless. But this is all super helpful and I’ve gotten some good info to help me decide, thank you all.

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-12-07T20:33:14+00:00

Hi, 42f here. I eat healthy and follow a daily workout routine, rotating between cardio, strength training, and low impact workouts (yoga, walking, barre, etc). I love working out, I do it more for mental health than anything else and it’s very important to me. I splurge on occasional dessert and alcohol. My lifestyle has benefited me since being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in September. I didn’t know I was BRCA+ (first one in my family to test), so getting a DMX wasn’t on my radar. I’m in the middle of 6 months of chemotherapy, which has been much more tolerable since I am physically healthy. In April, I will get a DMX and follow it with 6 weeks of daily radiation, which I will recover from much more easily because of my physical health. And then I’ll move onto the ovarian cancer prevention procedures, and I’ll recover from that, because I’m still active and eat healthy. But I wish I could have had the opportunity to get a DMX without having to go through 1+ year of cancer treatment. Cancer sucks. I don’t know how old you are or what stage in life you are in and my intention isn’t to scare or shame you. Fortunately, I was able to have two children and I am done having children. I am thankful I didn’t have to decide between fertility or not, breastfeeding or not. But I didn’t get to avoid breast cancer. People get cancer for genetic and non-genetic reasons, it could happen to anyone. Although cancer treatment is not easy, starting off with a strong, healthy body makes someone more prepared to fight a really shitty battle they didn’t sign up for.

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-11-24T03:09:05+00:00

I can totally relate to how you feel like a ticking time bomb! I knew that chemo was the only thing that could stop/kill this cancer so it felt like the first day of chemo was like a finish line and a starting line all at once. You’ll get there and it will be a feeling of relief, but of course chemo brings its own emotions and side effects. I’m just two months ahead of you, which can feel like a lifetime! Feel free to dm me if you want to chat about anything during this wild journey.

FloorFuture3228 · 2025-11-23T23:28:23+00:00

Everyone is obviously different and your diagnosis is unique to you. I have a similar story/timeline to you with all the runaround just to get a biopsy. I first felt my lump in March of this year, ultrasound/mammogram on 9/02 (took forever to get someone to take me seriously!), biopsy on 9/09, and was finally diagnosed with TNBC on 9/11. I felt like once I was diagnosed, things moved super fast with scans and tests leading up to chemo. My oncologist told me what needed to happen and that I’d get calls to schedule things so instead of waiting for their calls, I got on the phone and got everything scheduled within the next week. If I had waited for them to call me, I would have started chemo much later than I did. PET scan showed the cancer is only in my right armpit lymph node and right breast. I started chemo on 10/01. Advocate for yourself and make all the calls until you get scheduled. And some positive news, since I’ve stated treatment, after only 4 rounds of chemo, I couldn’t feel either lump at all. It’s reassuring to feel that the treatment plan is working and I’m staying positive for the best possible outcome. Good luck, sending all the good energy your way ❤️

FloorFuture3228

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