Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 6 Important Facts About Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Explained by an Oncologist

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type than others, with a faster growth rate and a higher risk of metastasis. Experts say it’s called triple negative because cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors. TNBC is often detected during routine breast cancer screening, such as mammograms, even before symptoms appear.

Doctors say it accounts for at least 15 percent of all invasive breast cancer cases in the West. “Studies have shown that its pooled estimate of prevalence in India is up to 24.04 per cent. According to GLOBOCAN data (2018), 1,62,468 new cases were reported with death of 87,090 cases,” Dr Viju Murthy, MS, DNB, MCh, MD, HCG Cancer Center told Times Now.

Who is at higher risk of developing TNBC??

According to Dr. Murthy, about 80-90 percent of patients with triple negative breast cancer They are diagnosed at stage I, II or III. “This is when the disease can potentially be cured. “A lumpy sensation in the breast, skin/nipple changes, or abnormalities on screening mammography will be the typical presentation, followed by a biopsy confirming the presence of invasive cancer and triple negative status,” he said.

What makes triple negative breast cancer more difficult to treat?

Mainly, the treatment for this cancer targets estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and the HER2 protein, where these three markers behave like locks on a cancer cell.

There are specific medications, or “keys”, that we can use to unlock these locks. “But these keys will not work in triple negative breast cancer, which can make its treatment difficult. So, we have to use other strategies to treat it,” Dr. Murthy said.

Ways to treat triple negative breast cancer

Dr. Murthy says that treatment for this cancer depends on the stage at the time of diagnosis. “Most patients with stage I disease are treated first with surgery followed by chemotherapy. For patients with stage II or III disease, standard treatment includes six months of chemotherapy plus immunotherapy, then surgery and possibly radiation,” he said.

Most patients will receive six months of immunotherapy after surgery.

what is the survival rate for triple negative breast cancer?

The survival rate of TNBC depends on several factors, some of which include:

Patients with earlier-stage disease who respond well to treatment tend to have a much better chance of surviving. Each patient’s circumstances are unique, so it is important to discuss your prognosis with your doctor.

What research is being done to advance the treatment of TNBC?

Platinum-based chemotherapy, targeted drugs such as a PARP inhibitor or antibody-drug conjugate, or immunotherapy with chemotherapy are currently used in triple-negative cancers. Dr Murthy says research is now also looking at antibody-drug conjugate to treat the advanced stage of this disease.