well, guess I'm joining this group...hello:)

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gcpommom
gcpommom Member Posts: 883
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Was dx with metaplastic bc, originally thought to be very low but er+, however after my mastectomy on Friday, and new path report, I am triple neg.  Not a huge surprise, since metaplastic is almost always tn

Now, I understand that I can not utilize additional treatments such as tamoxifen or herceptin(?sp), but still unclear on what exactly being tn means for me in the long run.

Judy B.

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  • sftfemme65
    sftfemme65 Member Posts: 790
    edited January 2009

    Hi what exactly is metaplastic bc?

    Teresa

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited January 2009

    Triple negs means you will not have any "maintenance" drugs after completing your treatment.  Hormone positive bc ladies can take hormone drugs for 5 to 10 years. And Her2 ladies take Hercepton for one year after completing treatment. This gives them a higher chance of not having a recurrences.  With Triple Neg we must wait to see if it will return. You should be watch closely my your doctor the first three years.  After that TN are less likely to have a recurrence.

    Flalady

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  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited January 2009

    Thanks, Flalady, that's about what I had figured, and I am glad to hear that chance of recurrence can drop after 3 years.

    Teresa, metaplastic bc accounts for only 1% of b.c.'s.  The tumors are almost always grade 3, are almost always TN, and very aggressive.  The cells themselves are different, they are highly differentiated squamous cells, and do not travel via the lymph nodes but through the bloodstream, so having 0 affected lymph nodes is not unusual.  It was just labeled as a subcategory in 2000, and there is no definite research on the best course of chemo yet, so it is treated like IDC.  It tends to spread easily to the lungs, and recurrence rates are higher than with IDC.  Some doctors treat it as they would lung cancer right from the start, but not many will do that yet. 

    So far, mine was small,2.9cm (average tumor size is over 4cm, it grows very quickly).  My lung xray was clear as were my bone scans.  I had good margins on all but one side, but it was still clear. 

    So, I hope that my onc has some experience with MBC, I meet him or her on Monday.  I truly wish all the best for all of us here, such a great group of strong, kind women :)

    Judy B.

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