Triple Negative Cancer

A few days after my initial diagnosis, I was given further information about the cancer. The tumor is triple negative.  It's pretty harsh but not without hope.

TNBC is a more aggressive, invasive (more likely to metastasis early on), faster growing form of cancer, less likely to show up on an annual mammogram and has a poorer prognosis. It is said to be one of the more challenging subtypes of cancer.

I’m going to list some basic facts about TNC here. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time researching this type of cancer; reading studies, blogs and posts on various sites from those diagnosed with this particular form of cancer. It’s not all bad news. There is a silver lining.

It is thus named because the hormone receptors test negative.

 Estrogen receptor-negative (ER-)  

 Progesterone receptor-negative (PR-)  

 HER2/neu-negative (HER2-)    

Because triple negative breast cancers are negative for the hormone receptors they cannot be treated with hormone therapy as many cancers can.

14-20% of cancers are triple negative.

TNC occur more often in

 Younger women  

 African American women
 BRCA1 gene mutation carriers (I will be tested for this)

Triple negative breast cancers appear more likely to recur than other breast cancers. Recurrence for these cancers often involves metastasis (when cancer spreads to other organs), especially to the brain or lungs. Triple negative breast cancers tend to recur within a few years and when they recur, prognosis is usually poor.

^The Silver Lining:

Chemotherapy can be very effective in treating triple negative cancer. Also, triple negative breast cancers tend to recur early, if I survive five years without a recurrence, my chances of survival are high. I’ve read that three years is also an important hurdle to cross without recurrence.

Because the tumor is triple negative and so large, I am being treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (before surgery). My response to the chemo will give a better idea of my prognosis. If I respond well and the tumor deceases my chances of survival increase. The size reduction will also improve my surgical options and the surgeon won’t need to cut out so much tissue.

This is where you come in. Visualize the tumor shrinking. It’s in my right breast. I believe that this can help and there are studies to back this up. I will post more about this in another post.

The bad news

-It's aggressive, fast growing and less likely to show up on a annual mammogram

-It's invasive - more like to metastasis early on

-It has a high reoccurrence rate in the first 2-3 years after diagnosis

-Has a poorer prognosis than any other type of breast cancer due to lack of targeted treatments for TN (Triple Negative)

-Much higher mortality rate

The good news

If I stay clean for somewhere between 3-5 years, it pretty much leaves gives me a clean slate.

Increasing my chances of survival

-daily exercise and weight loss will lessen my rate of reoccurrence

-a healthy low diet with 5 serving of fruit and veggies will also improve my rate of survival

-no hydrogenated fat, processed foods

-more sleep