I am 55. Can endocrine therapy manage my HER2-negative BC?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have just been diagnosed with HER2-negative breast cancer at the age of 55. I am trying to understand my treatment options. Will I need chemotherapy, or can I just have surgery and radiation? I have heard about hormone therapy - is that relevant for my type of cancer? What are the side effects I should expect? Also, I am concerned about the cancer coming back. What can I do to reduce my risk of recurrence? Lastly, how will this affect my overall health and life expectancy?

Please guide.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and can understand your concern.

You have been diagnosed with HER2-negative, but we want to know the status of other receptors, such as the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR). If ER and PR are negative, then no need for hormonal therapy.

It is better to know the size of the lump and the spread of the disease to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy will be given to reduce the stage, kill the cancer cells, and prevent their spread.

Triple-negative breast cancer (ER, PR, HER2/neu) is an aggressive type; it spreads fast, recurs, and requires aggressive treatment—chemotherapy followed by surgery.

The prognosis of TNBC (triple-negative breast cancer) is less than that of hormone receptor-positive cancer. You need to go through other investigations if you have not done so before, like a PET (positron emission tomography) scan, to see whether the tumor is localized or at an advanced stage.

Life expectancy with triple-negative disease depends on the stage, treatment, and individual factors. Stage 1 disease has a five-year survival of about 95 percent, while stage IV disease has a five-year survival of about 20 percent.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.