How can TNBC be treated in a 42-year-old woman?

Question

Hello doctor,

I was recently diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at age 42. My doctor said it is an aggressive type, and I am scared.

What are the latest treatment options available?
I have heard chemotherapy is the main approach, but are there any targeted therapies or immunotherapies that might work? What about clinical trials?
My family history includes breast cancer in my maternal grandmother, but she was much older. I am worried about my prognosis and passing down the risk to my two teenage daughters. Can you explain more about the genetic aspects, and if there are preventive measures my girls should consider?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Triple-negative breast cancers are a less aggressive form of breast cancer compared with other types of breast cancer, for example, hormone-positive breast cancers.

Triple-negative means it has no hormone receptors (ER or estrogen receptor and PR or progesterone receptor), will not respond to hormone treatment, and tends to grow and spread faster than other forms of breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancers are treated with chemotherapy (treatment that uses drugs to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, either by killing them or preventing them from growing) and immunotherapy (a form of therapy that uses drugs to either boost or suppress the immune system to aid the immune system against cancer, infection, and other conditions). Surgery and radiation therapy are also part of the treatment.

The exact treatment plan depends on the stage and molecular profile of the disease. Ultimately, in the early and later stages, triple-negative breast cancer responds well to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Triple-negative breast cancer is more common in younger or premenopausal women, and many of them have BRCA (breast cancer gene) genetic mutations. So it is recommended to do BRCA genetic testing, and in case it proves to be positive, other family members should also go for screening and BRCA testing to prevent breast cancer or detect it early.

Most patients will have triple-negative breast cancer at an early stage that is curable with treatment.

To prevent breast cancer, follow these options:

Avoid becoming overweight.
Breastfeed babies for as long as possible.
Eat healthy.
Be physically active.
Enroll in breast screening at an early age (25 years of age) if there is a family history of breast cancer.

I hope this helps.

Thank you, and take care.

Regards.