Will my 56-year-old aunt need lifelong chemotherapy for TNBC?

Question

Hello doctor,

My aunt is 56 years old and has been diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. Her tumor size was 0.23 inches, and the surgeon removed it. She is undergoing chemotherapy along with radiation. She wanted to know how long she had to undergo treatment procedures. She is fed up with too many hospital visits. She has lost her hair completely, and she is depressed, too.

Also, we wanted to know about the severity of this cancer. Can this be cured completely? Will it keep recurring? Can she live longer? She has a 23-year-old daughter, too. What are the chances of her daughter being at risk for breast cancer? Can this be prevented?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Triple-negative breast cancers are a more aggressive form of breast cancer compared to hormone-positive types. This subtype lacks hormone receptors (estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor) and does not respond to hormone treatments, often growing and spreading faster than other forms. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, with the exact plan depending on the disease's stage and molecular profile.

Triple-negative breast cancer is more common in younger or premenopausal women, and many have BRCA genetic mutations. Therefore, BRCA (breast cancer gene) testing is recommended, and if positive, family members, including daughters, should also undergo screening to detect or prevent breast cancer early. While early-stage triple-negative breast cancer can often be curable with treatment, the recurrence rate from stages one to three is around 40 percent.

To reduce the risk of breast cancer, it is advised to maintain a healthy weight, breastfeed for as long as possible, eat a balanced diet, stay physically active, and begin breast cancer screening at age 25 if there is a family history of the disease.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Take care.