How does triple-negative breast cancer affect a woman?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have been thinking about my colleague’s diagnosis. She had triple-negative breast cancer, and I am trying to wrap my head around it.

Isn't that something related to hormones?
Is it because she had too much or too little?
And how does that affect her treatment?
Does having this mean her body is more prone to these issues?

Please help.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Triple-negative breast cancers are less aggressive forms of breast cancer compared with other forms of breast cancer. When diagnosing breast cancer, pathologists test all breast tumors for three receptors (proteins) known to fuel breast cancer growth. If the cancer cells test negative for both estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) hormone receptors as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), the diagnosis is referred to as triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly than other types of breast cancer. Because of this, triple-negative breast cancer is considered to be more aggressive than other forms of breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer, also called basal-like breast cancer, is a subtype that is not affected by hormones.

Triple-negative breast cancers are treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and they usually respond well to this treatment. Surgery and radiation therapy are part of the treatment for other breast cancers. The treatment options for triple-negative breast cancers depend upon stage and molecular profile.

Risk Factors Associated with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC):

Age: Premenopausal women and those under the age of 50 have an increased risk of TNBC.
BRCA1 gene mutation: About 70 percent of the breast cancers diagnosed in women with an inherited BRCA1 mutation are TNBC.
Ethnicity: African American and Hispanic women have a higher rate of TNBC. Approximately 20 to 40 percent of breast cancers diagnosed in African American women are triple negative.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.