Today is March 3rd, which is also Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Awareness Day! This day is dedicated to spreading knowledge about TNBC, a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that accounts for 10 to 20 percent of all breast cancer cases.
What Makes Triple Negative Breast Cancer Different? To understand what makes TNBC unique, it helps to know some breast cancer basics. Doctors determine the type of breast cancer by testing for specific receptors on cancer cells. These receptors - proteins that bind to substances in the body to cause a reaction - include the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).
Unlike other breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer is negative for all three of these receptors. This means it does not have ER, PR, or HER2 receptors, making it unresponsive to many common targeted therapies, such as tamoxifen (which targets the estrogen receptor) and trastuzumab (Herceptin, which targets HER2).
Treatment Challenges and Options Since hormone therapies and HER2-targeted treatments are not effective, TNBC is typically treated with chemotherapy, which has shown to be the most effective approach. However, ongoing research is exploring new treatment options, including immunotherapy and clinical trials, offering hope for more targeted and effective treatments in the future.
Who Is at Risk? TNBC is more common in younger women under the age of 50 and disproportionately affects African American women, though it can impact individuals of all races. TNBC is known for being aggressive and fast-growing, and it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Oddly enough, my breast cancer was estrogen positive and our daughter’s breast cancer was triple negative. She has her checkups yearly in September and is NED (no evidence of disease)! She found the lump three months after an ‘all clear’ checkup, which is why it is so important to do self exams as well as imaging. Knowing your body is so very important.
Have you had your yearly mammogram?
