Women with triple-negative breast cancer have a much higher risk for the spread of the disease to the brain. The absence of human epidermal growth factor receptors on the breast is indicative of triple-negative breast cancer. The researchers published their findings in the journal Breast Cancer Research. In addition, triple-negative cancers had a shorter median survival period than those with non-triple-negative breast cancer. In addition, the incidence of intracranial disease was nearly double among triple-negative breast cancer patients.
Although the five-year survival rate for people with triple-negative breast cancer is still low, the numbers are encouraging. It is estimated that 91% of triple-negative cancer survivors are still alive five years after diagnosis. That rate is higher than that of regional and distant breast cancers. Unfortunately, triple-negative breast cancer is more likely to recur than other forms. However, the risk peaks at around three years after treatment and quickly declines.
While there are many factors that influence the risk of triple-negative breast cancer, breastfeeding is one exception. Studies have shown that breastfeeding is linked to a 25 to 50% lower risk for triple-negative breast cancer among parous women. The AMBER Consortium results add to this evidence. According to Palmer et al., breastfeeding has a significantly lower risk of triple-negative disease than non-breastfeeding women.
In addition to being a risk factor for developing this type of cancer, a person’s family history of breast cancer may increase their likelihood of contracting this condition. If you have triple-negative breast cancer, you should be tested for BRCA1 gene mutation. It is also common to have the BRCA1 gene mutation. Genetic testing may help guide treatment decisions and may improve your chances for survival. Once you have your results, you should consult with a specialist.
Antiangiogenic drugs are an effective way to combat triple-negative breast cancer. A combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is often more effective than chemotherapy alone. Immunotherapy uses the patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer. But the treatments are not without their own risks. Besides, many patients with triple-negative breast cancer can survive chemotherapy alone. Moreover, it is important to understand that the cancer that is resistant to drugs is also prone to recurrence.
The Mayo Clinic tests the tumors for all three receptors. About 15 percent of breast cancers have triple-negative traits. Treatment for this disease is based on other types of cancer, including hormone-driven and HER2-driven types. The Mayo Clinic also tests for the HER2 gene. A breast tumor with this gene status is characterized by pejorative characteristics. If you have this type of cancer, your best bet is to seek treatment before it progresses to metastatic stage.
A similar proportion of patients with triple-negative tumors were diagnosed with adenoid cystic cancer and metaplastic breast cancer. The survival rate differed by histological type, however. The adenoid cystic patients had higher survival rates at five years, despite receiving 4 times as much chemotherapy as the metaplastic breast cancer patients. However, the optimal treatment for triple-negative breast cancer remains to be determined. Because of the differences in histology and genetics between the two, novel targeted treatments should be developed to treat this disease.
