Genetic Study Finds 4 Distinct Variations of Breast Cancer

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JoanQuilts
JoanQuilts Member Posts: 633
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

 

This is particularly interesting to women like me, who are triple negative:

Genetic Study Finds 4 Distinct Variations of Breast Cancer

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/health/study-finds-variations-of-breast-cancer.html?hp

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  • sylviaexmouthuk
    sylviaexmouthuk Member Posts: 7,847
    edited September 2012

    Hello JoanQuilts

    So sorry that you are having a second round of breast cancer, after 19 years. I am glad all is going well for you.

    Can you tell me whether you had triple negative breast cancer in 1992? I realise you may not have been told, but if you were put on Tamoxifen after treatment it was probably hormonal.

    With the new tumour, is it a completely new tumour, a primary, or is it a recurrence of the one you had the first time around?

    Wishing you all the very best.

    Sylvia

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  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 3,188
    edited September 2012

    It sure is, Joan!

    I am not triple neg., but I am thrilled at this new breakthrough.  It's a new hope for many.

    Those trials have got to get started and soon!

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  • JoanQuilts
    JoanQuilts Member Posts: 633
    edited September 2012

    Hi Sylvia:

    I was triple negative in 1992 and triple negative again in 2011!

    The doctors are calling it a new primary, same breast.  It is almost the same as the first time, except that it was slow-growing the first time (they didn't give it a "grade" back then) and a Grade 3 this time.

    Wishing you all the best!

    Joan

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited September 2012

    Really interesting stuff coming out from the genome project. But I have a question: I thought there was previous research indicating that only a portion of TNs tumours are also basal-cell like. I don't know if this new research has uncovered that they all are basal... or it's just inaccurate reporting here?  

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  • kane744
    kane744 Member Posts: 461
    edited September 2012

    I too have a new primary cancer, though mine was in opposite breast, found four years after the first. Chose to have BMX with no recon. Both were/are TN. Have one more round of chemo to go, though have had such a difficult time that I'm considering whether or not I want to go through the final one. It's scheduled for Oct. 3. I find it difficult to get too excited about new "findings" until after clinical trials, but am glad there is more interest in TN and hope they will soon find something to help us.

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  • sylviaexmouthuk
    sylviaexmouthuk Member Posts: 7,847
    edited September 2012
    Hello Joan


    Thank you for answering my questions.

    It is very common for triple negative breast cancers to be grade 3 and to be fast growing. A lot of women say that their tumour appears to come from nowhere. That is certainly what happened to me.

    I do hope all will go well for you.

    Here in the UK I think we have to do much better with cancer treatment in general and get a move on with trials. They say that cancer is a disease of old age, but I do not think that is now the case.

    Wishing you all the best and if you want to join in discussions on Calling all Triple Negatives in the UK, which I started two years ago, because I thought we were in the dark ages here, you are more than welcome. There are American women on this thread.

    Best wishes
    Sylvia

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  • sylviaexmouthuk
    sylviaexmouthuk Member Posts: 7,847
    edited September 2012
    Hello Luah


    We meet again, but this time we are not discussing the Royals as we were on Calling all TNS!!

    You are quite right about TN tumours not all being basal-like. My consultant told me that many are, but not all. I do not know if patients are now told that their TNBC is also basal-like. My tumour was not tested for this and nearly seven and a half years on I would not want to know.

    Of course, we have to remember there seems to be a lot of research around faulty and mutating genes, but from there to trials and to possible targeted treatments, is often a long and winding road with a lot of dead ends.

    I am always interested in posts form Canadians, as I lived there for seventeen years, Montreal, Ottawa and London, Ontario.

    Best wishes.
    Sylvia

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  • sylviaexmouthuk
    sylviaexmouthuk Member Posts: 7,847
    edited September 2012
    Hello kane744


    I just wanted to say that I was sorry to know that you had a new primary after four years.

    I was sorry to know that you have had such a difficult time with chemotherapy. It seems a pity not to have the last round of chemotherapy since you have come this far.

    I see from your details that you have never had any radiotherapy. Was there any reason for this? It is often used to mop up any stray cancer cells.

    Wishing to all the very best.
    Sylvia

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited September 2012

    Hi Sylvia: I don't think my tumour was tested for basal-like cells either... now I'm wondering if it should have been... or if doing the anthracycline was a waste (with risks)... but that's all water under the bridge now. As my very wise BS told me, you decide what to do based on the information you have at hand, and move on. I'm wonering if in the future, though, we TNs will be monitored more closely for possible ovarian cancer too.

    (I grew up in Montreal, but have lived in Toronto all my adult life.)

    ALl the best to you too... I read more than I post now, and always enjoy yours.   

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  • sylviaexmouthuk
    sylviaexmouthuk Member Posts: 7,847
    edited September 2012
    Hello Luah


    I think that it is best for us to forget about whether our tumours were basal-like or not, as it is just another source of worry. As for the anthracyclines, epirubicin and doxorubicin, all we can say is that we ended up in the clear. I have noticed from the postings that a lot of women are now getting just cyclophosphamide and a taxane, either docetaxel or paclitaxel. I suppose that the anthracyclines will gradually disappear.

    It is a bit worrying about TNS being similar to ovarian cancer, as my understanding is that with breast cancer you are at a higher risk of ovarian cancer anyway.

    I think we can worry ourselves to death over all this. Sometimes I think we are suffering from too much information and it causes fear and anxiety.

    I can understand why you do not post as much any more, but I am glad to know that you view my thread.

    Wishing you all the very best.
    Sylvia

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  • GSOsmiles
    GSOsmiles Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2012

    Hi all,

     I am new and found this discussion. I am a Metaplastic Breast Cancer patient who is Triple Negative. There don't seem to be many Metaplastic Cancer patients around. Do you all have different types of cancers in addition to being triple negative? I had a mastectomy Aug. 30, 2012 and I am getting ready to start Chemo. after the chemo I will have Radiation.

    Best wishes to all,

    GSOsmiles

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