Basal-like breast cancer

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HyaT
HyaT Member Posts: 11
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi I was just diagnosed with Basal like breast cancer and just wanted to find out if anyone on this forum has had any experience with this type of cancer. I have been doing some research and most of what I read suggests that it is a very aggressive cancer with low if not poor clinical outcome.

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2012

    There is some information on basal-like breast cancers on the main breastcancer.org site. 
     
    We hope this helps.
     
    Your Mods 
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  • tasoulla_s
    tasoulla_s Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2012

    at my report says basal-like and when i asked my oncologist said it is another name of the triple negative.......got very confused and search in the internet but got very confused.....didn't understant..

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  • Didapper
    Didapper Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2012

    I'm new to this forum. Can someone tell how I can start my own topic. Thanks!

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  • marieof3
    marieof3 Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2012

    I am triple negative and i saw alot of comparisons between the 2 in columns also but my oncologist did not refer to my cancer as basal like at all,if that helps?

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  • HyaT
    HyaT Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012

    Hi the term that my Dr used was Basal like breast cancer but I read on the Internet that they were the same. I'm still doing some researches so if I learn anything new ill let u know.



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  • HyaT
    HyaT Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012

    Thank you I will check it out.

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  • HyaT
    HyaT Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012

    Hi have you had treatment for your basal-like breast cancer if so what treatment have you had is it working and any side effects. Sorry for all these questions but I only just found out two days ago about my condition and Im pretty scared as it seems to be such an aggressive type.

    Thanks

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited March 2012

    Didapper:

    go to the forum you want to post in, i.e., go to triple negative forum.  Right below the title of the forum you are in you will see a burgandy box with "post new topic here" (or whatever it says!).  Click on that and title your heading for the post and then write the post.  It's really easy - just make sure you are on the cover page to the particular forum you want to post in.

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  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited March 2012

    HyaT-I am not sure if mine is basal or not. I believe they say triple neg and brca 1 pos are most likely to be basal and I have all of that. My path report does not mention it though. Do they have to do a special test to see if it is basal type? I will try to find out. My treatment was ac followed by abraxane/avastin. I had a complete response to chemo.

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  • HyaT
    HyaT Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012

    Thank uou bak94 for sharing. Im sorry for sounding stupid but what is ac and does having a complete response means that your body accepted the chemo favorably? sorry new to all the jargons. Will catch up though....:)

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited March 2012

    Bak:

    Yes, a different test to find out.  It is not standard practice on most biopsies.  I asked my onc three years ago if I could have mine tested (biopsy had already been done) and she said - why?  it won't make any difference in your treatment, and if it is basal - you'll then think that the chemo won't work and that it's going to kill you.  She was right - she knew me well.  Never did find out - dropped pursuing it after that .  What difference does it really make as they still have no definitive drugs for basal type and non basal type TN.  Perhaps someday soon.......

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  • christina1961
    christina1961 Member Posts: 736
    edited March 2012

    At my initial pathology for the core biopsy, the test they performed on my sample for "basal" phenotype involved two markers: 5/6 cytokeratins and EGRF. If either is elevated, then it is classified as basal. Mine was classified as basal because the 5/6 cytokeratins were elevated, but the EGRF only "focally" positive.  Some things I have read say it is better to not have the EGRF elevated so even with basal phenotype I guess there are differences within.

    When the slight ER positivity showed up in the tumor they took out, the pathologist reviewing my pathology slides at UNC said an argument could be made against it being basal type because it is low estrogen positive, but my oncologist disagrees.  As Linda wrote, I really don't think it matters at this point and from what I've read, there is still some disagreement about whether basal is worse than non-basal when the other markers are the same (ER-, PR-, etc.)

    Hya, you don't sound stupid! This is a crash course none of us wanted to take, that's for sure. Smile

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  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited March 2012

    ac is adriamycin and cytoxin, a chemo combination. I had chemo before surgery and when they did the pathology on the tissue there was no cancer! A complete response to chemo, yippeeee! It's a good thing, but many do not get a complete response and do just fine! And a complete response is not a guarantee, but it is good!

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  • HyaT
    HyaT Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012

    Thanks guys for all those great responses.It is so comforting to have exchanges with people who have had some experience in this surreal feeling.

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  • Karen3
    Karen3 Member Posts: 307
    edited March 2012

    Hi HyaT

     When I was first diagnosed, I was told I was 'Basal Triple Negative'. Most basal like cancers are TN. I am also BRCA1 of 'unknown significance'. My understanding is that Basal cancers can be more aggressive and they are usually Grade 3 but, in my experience at least, the treatment is the same as any other tumour.I am not sure if this helps but let me know if you need any more info.

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  • HyaT
    HyaT Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012

    Hi Karen thank you for your contribution it certainly helps to know that treatment is similar if not the same. I'm hoping to see my Dr. This week sometime I was diagnose a week ago but he is yet to discuss treatment and the way forward as yet.

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  • HyaT
    HyaT Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012

    My first chemo is scheduled for April 11th and Im a bit nervious and so dont know what to expect. My Dr. said that one of the side effects is swollen arm which can be permanent has anyone had that experience?

    Hyat

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  • Catherine22
    Catherine22 Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2012

    Hi,

    I am 1% ER+ and 'very weak staining' 10%PR+. I would love to know what this REALLY means. My MO said that technically makes me ER+PR+, but actually it is 99% triple negative. Soooo confusing, how do I get clarification? As everyone knows, it is difficult enough to wrap one's head around this without the bizarre blurriness of percentages. I am wondering how either affects treatment and prognosis.....

    I always feel better when I know more. :) 

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  • Karen3
    Karen3 Member Posts: 307
    edited April 2012

    Hi Catherine22

    I found your post interesting because of course TN cancer is complicated! Not all TN cancers are the same and I have always found it frustrating. For example, I get very frustrated when I read that TN cancers respond well to chemo. I did not respond at all to chemo and my treatment was withdrawn half way through. The latest research confirms what I am sure many of us suspected all along. TN cancers have been regarded as 'one cancer' when in fact there are many different types within that category. Your situation is part of that 'continuum' - you are not fully ER / PR + nor fully TN and in fact you are more TN than anything else. Your treatment will differ in that you will be offered Tamoxifen but of course you must also be aware that your cancer is fuelled by other things too - not just hormones. I have read somewhere that those who are weakly hormone positive and offered Tamoxifen, are found to be fully TN if they have a future recurrence / second primary tumour. Not sure if any of this helps - this BC business is complicated!! The sooner we can all get treatment specific to our individual tumours the better.

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