Understanding Triple-negative Breast Cancer And Its Treatment

Your health is our priority so, we are here with an important piece of information for you. Know about triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its treatment in this guide.

What Is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?

A type of breast cancer that does not have three common receptors, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor is a triple-negative breast cancer. Low levels or lack of these three receptors can make it harder to treat this cancer with hormone therapies or drugs. That is why practitioners adopt different treatments to deal with types of cancer.

Symptoms

Some symptoms of triple-negative breast cancer are similar to other breast cancers. Have a look at some of them:

• Pain in the breast or nipple.
• Swelling in part of a breast.
• Dry, flaking or red nipple or breast skin.
• Nipple discharge.
• Lump

Causes

Although practitioners cannot tell the exact cause of triple-negative breast cancer, here are some factors that can lead to it:

• Family History: If someone in your family has breast cancer or other cancer, that can increase the chances of developing triple-negative breast cancer. Genes play an important role in spreading the cancers.
• Lifestyle: Your diet, exercise routine and the environment you live in are certain factors that can develop the risk of triple-negative breast cancer. Although it is not said that these are the reasons, one must maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Hormone Receptor Status: One feature differentiating this cancer from others is hormone receptor status. If estrogen and progesterone receptors are absent then it means triple-negative breast cancer will not respond to hormone therapies.

Chances Of Getting Tripple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Triple-negative breast cancer is a rare cancer and accounts for 10-20% of all breast cancers. People who are more likely to get affected are:

Younger Women

Triple-negative breast cancer is more likely to affect younger women, who are under 40 because genetic risk factors are more often found in them.

Black Women

Black women are at higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer, than any other group of women. Take a look at studies that say that younger black women are at higher risk of breast cancer than white women. Have a look at some factors:

• Social Factors: Black women face barriers in society such as lower income, higher prices of medications, insurance issues and transport problems.
• Environment: The poor environment and lifestyle of black women stress them out and poor nutrition leads to a lack of sufficient vitamins and minerals.
• Genetics: Certain gene mutations are higher in black women, especially the BRCA1 gene. This increases the risk of having triple-negative breast cancer.

Hispanic And African American Women

Hispanic women are also known as Latinas. African American women and Hispanic women are at higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer.

Treatments

If you identified the symptoms of triple-negative breast cancer then immediately seek a professional’s advice. They will suggest the best treatment possible. Your surgeon can suggest these treatments:

Chemotherapy

Considered an important treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, chemotherapy is more effective against cancer cells that grow faster. Your practitioner will suggest chemotherapy if triple-negative breast cancer is low-grade or has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Radiation Therapy

A local therapy that kills cancer cells left after surgery is radiation therapy. Radiation therapy can be given inside the body in some cases usually, it is given from outside the body by an external beam.

Surgery

To remove cancer from your breast your practitioner will suggest some sort of surgery. A lumpectomy can be suggested. It is a breast cancer treatment, without damaging your breast a treatment will be performed to remove the tumour and some surrounding tissue. The above-mentioned are some of the most practised treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. Your doctor will examine you and then they will provide you with the best possible treatment.

Success Rate Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Treatments

The success rate of any treatment depends on different factors. You have seen how rare triple-negative breast cancer is. If treated rightly and with professional care the success rate of treatment on average is 77%. Your health plays an important role before, during and after the treatment. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Avoid smoking, alcohol and poor diet. This will help in better outcomes and the healing process.

Conclusion

Although triple-negative breast cancer is rare, one must not take unnecessary risks. Your health and mental peace must be your priority. Your lifestyle and genetic factors are the most responsible for your health. The actual reason behind triple-negative breast cancer is not confirmed yet so take good care of yourself. If you are looking for a particular treatment like “breast oncoplasty” then research online and get yourself a professional treatment. Your life is in your hands so give your best for a better life.