Is Triple Negative a bad thing?

Welcome pdaly.  I'm sorry to hear about your mom and now your sister.  This must be very scary for you.  Your sister is lucky to have caught the breast cancer early.  Most triple negative cancers are Grade 3 (aggressive) so that's not surprising.  Chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are the typical treatments for triple negative cancer.  There are no targeted therapies (like hormonal) available.  For later stage cancer they are starting to explore other options but I don't think they're widely available, especially for a very early stage diagnosis, such as your sister's. 

Has anybody in your family been tested for the BRCA genetic mutation?

Hi pdaly,

I'm sorry to hear about your mom and sister.

On June 29th, I was diagnosed with TNBC, had lump on July 11th and started chemo on July 30th, had 4 rounds of AC and 4 rounds of Taxol, and will be completing my 33 radiation treatments on Jan 11th.  It's all doable.  And yes this type of cancer is an aggressive one, but sounds like it was caught early. 

Regardless of your age, you should be having yourself checked as well.  Like Twink suggested, you might want to have yourself tested for the BRCA genetic mutation. 

Hugs and prayers for your family. 

Brenda 

Ladies,

There is some data out there now that suggests that Adriamycin is not as effective as previously thought against triple negative BC.  If you are about to go, or are currently undergoing treatment, you should print out the relevant studies posted in BC.org and ask your doctor about what is right for you.   I do think we tend to "dumb down" medicine as much as possible by statements like "triple negative doesn't respond to chemo".  We learn more and more about BC and its treatments all the time.  I have scoured the internet for survival statistics whenever I get obsessive about all this, and I don't remember any statistics favoring other types of BC over this one.   Sometimes it is hard to figure out what's relevant and what's not, so you have to have a wise consultation with your oncologist to do what's best for you.

Bobbie 

Friends:

I have seen all possible doctors and have had every test. The latest was a PET scan and bone scan for the "spot" seen in my right lower lobe of lung and an echo.

I meet with the oncologist tomorrow (Wed) to make decisions. I am so hopeful that the spot on the lung is nothing and all we have to deal with is the left breast. Now, I am 3-, 4.6 cm (which amazingly I still can't feel!), MRI shows no lymph nodes (but that was a couple weeks ago and nothings been done so far so who knows what they'd show now) and I'm scared shitless!

Every doctor I spoke to changed my mind lumpectomy v. mastectomy. I really need some help. 2 ladies called me from Coolidge, AZ where we usually winter but we're stuck here in TX with no support from my daughter or her husband and the rest of our friends are in MI where we live. Boy, talk about being homeless.

First, the surgeon, radiologist and oncologist all say a lumpectomy. My breasts are large.

 Several friends I have talked to, that have had mastectomies (don't know all their details) say go with a mastectomy. Their reasoning is, just get it out and over with. The tumor is large, and I'm triple negative. The one has reconstruction immediately but the other did not and after 7 years has decided not to have reconstruction. One says don't do reconstruction now, just heal and go through whatever and then decide a year down the road.

Now, my husband and I were to go to AZ to be with friends for 3 months, until this. We'd still like to do that, but I don't know if that is possible. I want to continue having the Drs. here in Austin to overlook my case and call the shots regarding treatment. Is is possible to have a base in AZ for a couple months and get treatment there with TX overlooking everything? Is so, how do I do that?

My feelings/fantacies are: Have a mastectomy without immediate reconstruction. (the surgeon said that having the reconstruction immediately could cause problems, infection, etc. that would hold up the therapy). Get started on whatever therapy and then go to AZ for a month or so. I will be on AC + taxol - whatever that means and radiation. I am sure the surgeon said radiation with or without a mastectomy.

I just worry so that if I have a lumpectomy that it'll come right back considering everything.

Any suggestions, etc. would be so helpful. I really don't care about my breasts, I just want to live.

Also, can you swim while on treatment? Is a synthetic or real hair wig better? Shoot, my insurance will only pay $200 regardless but I'm going to get whatever one I want anyway no matter the cost.

Thanks all

Cookie

Pdaly - I am so sorry to hear about your mom and sister. To answer your question: my onc said that being Triple Negative is no worse than being ER/PR+. I hold on to that when I worry about my trip neg status. I am grade 3, very aggressive, which the chemo responds better to. I had the typical AC/Taxol combo followed by radiation.

Cookie - only you can make that decision. Weigh the options. The doctors do say that with mast or lumpectomy, the survival rates are the same; however, if you are worried about a recurrence, then you might want to consider mastectomy. It is a very tough decision to make - list your pros and cons and go with your gut. I had a mast myself, but was very small breasted with a large tumor; for me I didn't think twice and made my decision immediately(also had a prophylactic mast of the other breast as I am considered high risk), but that is me. I had AC/Taxol (adriamycin/cytoxan and Taxol every two weeks) and was able to work and pretty much carry on, so I'd think you'd be able to swim. You'll have your down days of course - a few days after tx, when you will not feel like doing much of anything. I would recommend a synthetic wig, much less maintainence involved and they look realistic.

Raye

Shirlan

Thanks for your info. I am triple negative, 4.6 cm, Left breast, MRI shows no lynph nodes, had to have bone and pet scan because there is a small spot. See the oncologist again tomorrow. Diagnosed on 12/14/07. Anxious to get something moving to start treatment. I have gone back and forth regarding lumpectomy v. mastectomy - I am saying mastectomy (this hour anyway), just because it is so aggressive being triple negative and the size. What is your take?

Cookie

I am Patty, I am 54 years young. I was diagnosed on Dec. 15,2003. Stage IIA, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma(atypical medullary) 2.8 cm,,er, pr,her2 all negative,grade 3, no nodes involved out of 23, no vascular invasion. Four days later had a lumpectomy, with clear margins. Then in Jan. 04,started chemo 4XAC every three weeks, and then 4 X Taxol every three weeks, and then did 33 radiation treatments. So far all good reports. In December 2007 had a routine followup appt with my onc. I requested a breast mri, I have dense breasts, and a chest ct scan, both were normal. All bloodwork, mammo, tumor markers were normal. I am over four years out from triple negative, there is hope. Happy New Year to all, I don't post much but read daily. They are doing alot of research on this type of breast cancer.

Hugs

Patty