How can I assess the risk of triple-negative breast cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am only 42 years old, and I am lost. They told me I have triple-negative breast cancer, and I do not even know what that means. The tumor is larger, up to 0.8 to 2 inches, and has spread to nearby lymph nodes. They say it is stage 2. I am terrified.

Is this a death sentence?
I cannot stop crying. What am I facing here?
Will I have to undergo chemotherapy?
Will I lose my hair?
Will my breasts be removed?
My aunt beat breast cancer, but this feels different. She had some hormone therapy that worked. Will that help me?
I am so scared I can barely breathe. What is going to happen to me and my family?

I do not know if I am strong enough for this.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Triple-negative breast cancers are a slightly more aggressive form of breast cancer, and the recurrence rates are a little higher compared with hormone-positive breast cancers.

Triple-negative breast cancers are treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and they usually respond well to this treatment initially. Surgery and radiation therapy are part of the treatment for other breast cancers. Breast cancer can be diagnosed through imaging techniques like mammography, ultrasound, and MRI.

Once a breast mass is detected, it needs to be biopsied to confirm the diagnosis and to check whether it is triple-negative or hormone-positive breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer is more common in younger or premenopausal women, and many of them have a BRCA (breast cancer gene) genetic mutation. 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.

Triple-negative breast cancer is more likely to affect younger and premenopausal women because BRCA mutations are also more common in younger and premenopausal women compared with postmenopausal women. These are inherited genetic mutations that increase cancer risk.

I hope this information helps you.

Revert in case of queries.

Thank you.