Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the result of a cancerous tumor growing around the breast region. The initial sign of a breast cancer is the formation of an unusual lump in the area.

Sometimes, after diagnosis your report may state “Triple Negative Breast Cancer”. What exactly is this? Well, it is a type of cancer in which the breast cancer cells have been tested as negative for 3 vital receptors i.e. the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

In this case the growth of the cancer is not because of these receptors as in other cases where either 1 or 2 of these receptors affect the growth of the cancer. Amongst the total number of the breast cancer cases approximately 10-20% is found to be triple negative.

In such cases hormonal therapies like tamoxifen, Aromasin, Faslodex etc are not useful as the cancer does not respond to it. However, Chemotheraphy and Radiation therapy can help in treating triple negative breast cancer.

According to studies conducted, the chances of a triple negative cancer recurring and invading parts of the body beyond the breast are extremely high especially in the first 3 years even after a successful treatment. Even the five year survival rate seems lower in such cases.

The outcome of the breast cancer is often affected by the grade and stage of the cancer in a woman. As the grade increases the cancer cells appear to be more normal and healthy. Moreover, even their growth seems normal.

People who have inherited the mutation of the gene BRCA1 and women between the age group of 40-50 are most likely to develop triple negative breast cancer as against those above 60 years of age. Women of African- American origin and the Hispanic women are more susceptible to the same kind of breast cancer as compared to women of Asian origin or white women who are non-Hispanic.

It is right to be concerned when you’ve been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer as they are quite aggressive and can’t be treated with hormonal therapy and herceptin but it still is a disease that can be treated. Lots of researches have been done in order to find better ways to eradicate this disease.