What Is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 10 % to 15 % of all breast cancers. These kinds of breast cancer do not have any receptors regularly found in breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer is invasive breast cancer. They are estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and human epidermal growth factor (HER2-negative).
This means these cancer cells do not have receptors for the hormones progesterone or estrogen and do not make too much of the HER2 protein. Therefore, they do not respond to the medicines that target the HER2 protein or hormonal therapy medicines. Fortunately, chemotherapy is still a practical option.
Triple-negative breast cancer is considered more aggressive than other forms of cancer. Because it is more likely to have spread beyond the breast, there is a higher chance of returning it within the first three years of treatment. It is also considered to be fatal within the first five years. But once these milestones are passed, the chance of beating it is about the same as someone with any other type of breast cancer.
What Causes Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
The exact cause of triple-negative breast cancer is not known. But the researchers suspect that it may be due to BRCA1 genetic mutation. The BRCA1 gene is intended to prevent cancer, but when it mutates, the genes reverse course and make the cells more vulnerable to cancer.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
Triple-negative breast cancer symptoms are the same as other common breast cancers.
Possible signs of breast cancer include:
-
A mass or lump in the breast.
-
Dimpled skin.
-
Breast or nipple pain.
-
Nipple retraction, a nipple that turns inward
-
Nipple or breast skin is dry, thickened, flaking, or red.
-
Swelling in all or part of a breast.
-
Swollen lymph nodes, this symptom occurs when the breast cancer spreads to the lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone.
How Can Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Be Diagnosed?
When the doctors find an area in the breast that is not normal, a biopsy (a small tissue removed from the affected area and examined) is carried out. If there is cancer, more tests are carried out to determine the exact cancer subtype. Identifying the subtype of cancer is a part of the staging process when providers decide how to treat cancer. If the cells do not test positive for progesterone, estrogen, or HER2 receptors, they are diagnosed as triple-negative breast cancer. It may take a few weeks to get biopsy results.
The doctor will also stage cancer and check the size and location of the cancer and whether it has spread to adjacent tissues.
The following test is carried out to find all the above things:
-
Ultrasound.
-
Computed tomography (CT) scan.
-
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What Are the Treatment Options for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
Triple-negative breast cancer is normally treated with a combination of drugs and new approaches to existing radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy treatments.
1. Chemotherapy - In chemotherapy, powerful medicine is used to kill cancer cells, which will be the first thing the doctor tries. Medicines may be provided as a pill or intravenously (IV). In the early stages, this type of cancer may respond better to chemotherapy than others.
The doctor can use chemotherapy in any of the following ways:
-
Neoadjuvant Therapy: In this method, chemotherapy is used before the surgery to shrink the tumor and make the operation uncomplicated. This method is the most preferred approach in advanced breast cancer cases.
-
Adjuvant Therapy: The chemotherapy method is usually used after surgery. This method is preferred if the tumor is large or the lymph nodes are involved. In this stage, there are high chances for relapse. Other adjuvant therapy, like hormone treatments, will not work with triple-negative breast cancer.
-
Immunotherapy: This treatment stimulates the immune system to help healthy cells identify and attack cancer cells or to produce more cancer-fighting cells. Immunotherapy can be used along with chemotherapy before surgery to shrink the tumor. Immunotherapy can be provided for about a year after the surgery with post-surgery radiation therapy.
2. Surgery - Surgery can be a mastectomy or lumpectomy.
Mastectomy: Because triple-negative breast cancer is aggressive, many doctors agree that it is best to do a mastectomy to remove the entire breast and nearby lymph nodes (it is the little oval-shaped organs that are part of the immune system) if the cancer has spread further.
This method is followed if the following happens:
-
Several tumors.
-
The tumor is too large.
-
Tumor in the nipple.
-
The cancer is in the skin.
-
The patient already had breast cancer.
-
Calcium deposits or other abnormal cells in the breast.
Lumpectomy: A surgeon removes the lump from the breast during a lumpectomy. Sometimes, nearby lymph nodes are also removed if cancer has spread. This surgery takes an hour or two.
3. Radiation - A lumpectomy is usually followed by radiation therapy that helps reduce the chances of cancer returning or recurring. During radiation, high-energy radiation is given to the breast to kill any remaining cancer cells. It typically takes about 20 minutes per day. Approximately four to five days a week for nearly six weeks are generally prescribed for most women with triple-negative breast cancer.
What Are the Sides Effects of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment?
- Hair Loss - There may be some or all hair loss within about two to four weeks of starting chemotherapy. The hair will grow four to six weeks after the last chemotherapy treatment.
- Nausea - Most women feel exhausted and sick for a day or two after each chemotherapy treatment. The doctor can prescribe medicine to treat nausea.
- Tiredness - Most women feel tired and have problems remembering things after radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
- Lymphedema - If the lymph nodes are removed during surgery or radiation treatment is received to the lymph nodes, then the lymph fluid may not be able to drain appropriately, causing fluid build-up under the skin and causing part of the body to swell.
- Skin Changes - The skin around which the radiation is received may get some redness or peeling.
Conclusion:
Triple-negative breast cancer is an invasive and one of the most challenging breast cancers to be treated. But there are many effective treatments for triple-negative breast cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation. New improvements in the medical field bring more hope for this rare cancer. Adequately checking your breast in front of a mirror is recommended to look for abnormalities in its shape. If you note any lump in your breast, seek the help of a healthcare provider at the earliest.
