triple negative and er+? Confused

Options
gwendolendenise
gwendolendenise Member Posts: 9
edited May 2018 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi ladies!

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in January but after receiving my path report back after surgery it showed my cancer had 35% er+. I'm thrown off...does that mean I have both tnbc and er+ or am I just er+ now? Because tnbc is supposed to be negative to all receptors I thought? Any input is greatly appreciated.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2017

    Gwendolen,

    First, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry you haven't gotten any responses yet, but we hope you will receive some soon!

    It's possible that since you don't have a full picture about your diagnosis until the tumor is removed and tested, your initial diagnosis was thought to be triple-negative, but tested estrogen positive after extraction. It's common for an initial diagnosis to be contradicted upon receiving the final path report.

    Can anyone else weigh in?

    --The Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Neanie44
    Neanie44 Member Posts: 73
    edited November 2017

    Hi gwendolemndenise,

    I feel we are somewhat in the same boat, but at 2 different ends. I was not formally diagnosed with TNC, but feel as though my doctors have stopped short of saying it. With my tumor weakly ER+ 30%, PR -, HER -2 - it was confusing why initially I was told I would only require radiation, but when the Oncotype Test returned a result of 44, immediately Chemo infusion was discussed with a sense of urgency. My pathology report did not state TNC, but my physician stated that the tumor had all the characteristics of that type of cancer. Forgive me saying, but I am glad to know I am not the only one that seems to be confused about the information that we are given. Knowing more today than what knew 4 months ago, I feel that this needs to be discussed with my Oncologist, which I will do at the next appointment. If you have not received a second opinion, it might be worth your while to do so and please ask questions and do your research. When I was first diagnosed, my boss who is a retiring Hem/Onc doctor told me "that the best patient is a knowledgeable patient". I took that to heart and it has calmed me in my worst times. No matter how bad the circumstances are - if you know what you are dealing with you will make the best decisions for YOU.

    Prayers to you and keep posting - I'll be checking in with you. :-)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Neanie44
    Neanie44 Member Posts: 73
    edited December 2017

    Hi Ladies,

    I hope everyone has been well. Just so I didn't confuse - I changed my "name" from NewNormal44 to Neanie44. I feel as though a part of me is starting to be somewhat normal, if we can ever say that - and Neanie was a nickname my little sister loves to call me. I may be crazy, but I think it is part of my emotional cleansing.


    Take Care all -

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 404
    edited December 2017

    I am 3%ER+, PR-, HER-. My MO considers anything over 1% to be positive. So I am not considered TNC.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mike3121
    mike3121 Member Posts: 410
    edited December 2017

    My wife has had, at the same time, a large ER+, grade 1, 100% estrogen tumor in her breast. Inside of that was smaller, ER+, grade 3, 30% estrogen. In 9 of her lymph nodes was metaplastic triple negative BC. After lifetime AC, radiation and operations, the BC was gone for a little over a year.

    The cancer came back about a year ago and was ER+, grade 1, 3% Estrogen. Six months later it went crazy with numerous mets to spine and hips. It had changed to triple negative. Xeloda has, so far, reduced or eradicated the mets.

    MikeW.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TraceyLou
    TraceyLou Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2018

    Hi All - I find it all confusing! I was diagnosed as TN in October 2017, however after pathology, the larger mass had 5% ER+ but i'm still considered TN b/c other smaller tumors and 4 nodes showed the TN (I think!). My MO did start me on Tamoxifen though also. so much to know...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited February 2018

    TraceyLou - I had three tumors - 2 ER+ (100%) and one TN. I also had an intrammary node positive, which was ER+. I agree it is confusing and scary.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited March 2018

    I was dx'd in 2010 as TN after initial biopsy. After neoadjuvant chemo, I had the breast removed and final pathology was 8% ER+, so I got to take Arimidex for years. When I was dx'd in 2017 as Stage IV, it was entirely TN. I've always considered myself TN, in spite of the minimally ER+ results after surgery. Either that or Arimidex killed that 8% and all that's left is the TN.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lightlee
    Lightlee Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2018

    Hello. When I was originally diagnosed by core biopsy results were TNBC. My biopsy slides were retested st a major cancer center and indicated that I was 2% ER positive. I did AC and 10weekly Taxols with Carboplatin added. I had lumpectomy. Final pathology reflected me as 60%ER positive, with 95% resresidual disease. Now on hormone therapy for five years

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bubba2017
    Bubba2017 Member Posts: 12
    edited May 2018

    There is a lot of literature on tumors that express some ER+ and Androgen Positivity (AR+) and research on ratios of estrogen to androgen and combined therapies such as Arimidex and Enzalutamide (XTandi) are being tried. Testing for the androgen receptor might be worth asking about in such cases also. I usually follow and post in the AR+ TNBC group.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories