What does triple negative mean?

It refers to whether the tumor has the receptors for estrogen, progesterone and HER2. Each tumor is unique and the information will be in the pathology report. The most successful treatments target these receptors, sometimes with hormonals or Herceptin, but they are not indicated for triple negatives. TNBC can also be more aggressive and tends to recur more quickly. My recurrence came just two years from my initial diagnosis (at which time I was 49); not only was the cancer back in the form of a new tumor, but it had metastasized.

The lack of receptors can make the cancer more difficult to treat. I am a triple negative and am told that chemotherapy is really my only option. That being said, the disease also responds well to chemotherapy in many cases. 

My first oncologist did not seem to consider my case special in any way and delivered what he later defended as the "standard of care" for my diagnosis. I think your friend should educate herself about what being triple negative means, there are many sources of information, and don't hesitate to get a second or even a third opinion. If I had it to do over I would have found an oncologist to treat me as aggressively as possible. It might not have made a difference, or it might have changed everything. I will never know, but I am now in a fight for my life. 

I wish her well, she may find this forum a great source of information, camaraderie and comfort. I know that I do.

The only tools currently available for triple negative breast cancer are chemotherapy and radiation,but they work very well.  Usually, we get both to the extent they are safe for us.  The oncologist needs to decide if further chemo is warranted, and if radiation should be done.

I had inflammatory breast cancer but it wasn't until another theacher at my school got TripleNeg BC did I began to understand what that meant.  1. Estrogren resceptors negative, 2.Progesterogen receptors negative 3. Heur2 reseptors negative; thus Triple negative.  Through this event I learned I had both Inflammatory & triple negative bc.  Both aggressive & rare.  It does respond well to treatment anf you have to take any hormons after treatment is over.  But it also has a hgher rarte of reoccurrance. I am now out 3 1/2 years.  ;