Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple Negative breast cancer (TNBC) refers to breast cancer cells that do not have estrogen or progesterone receptors and do not make too much of the HER2 protein. These tumors can be found in about 10-15% of all breast cancer cases. They are generally more aggressive than hormone-receptor positive and HER2-positive breast cancer. They can also be harder to treat.

Researchers don’t know what causes Triple Negative breast cancer, but they do know some things that can increase a woman’s risk for developing it. Women under the age of 40 and those with African or Asian ancestry are at higher risk for triple-negative breast cancer than other women. This is because basal-like breast cancers tend to be found in younger women and are more common in women of color. Women who have a BRCA gene mutation are also at higher risk for triple-negative breast cancer because of the way the genes are changed to cause it.

Symptoms of breast cancer can include lumps in your chest or armpit, tenderness in your underarms, a change in the size of your nipple, nipple pain that doesn’t go away and swollen lymph nodes (called neoplasms) under your arms or in your neck. If you have any of these symptoms, visit your healthcare provider to get checked out.

Your healthcare provider will use imaging tests and a biopsy to find out if you have breast cancer. During a biopsy, tissue or fluid is removed from the affected area and looked at under a microscope. If the test results show that you have breast cancer, your doctor will tell you what type you have.

If your cancer is in stage I through III, your treatment options may include surgery and chemotherapy. You may also receive radiation therapy, which uses targeted, high-energy rays to destroy the tumor.

With the help of advances in research and new treatments, survival rates for triple-negative breast cancer continue to improve. However, the disease can still come back or spread to other parts of your body.

At Moffitt Cancer Center, we offer a full range of advanced treatments for all types and stages of breast cancer, including triple-negative. We use a multispecialty team of doctors to develop your individual treatment plan. Our team meets weekly to review your progress and fine-tune your plan if necessary.

Our Don & Erika Wallace Comprehensive Breast Program has a dedicated team of breast cancer specialists, who can provide you with expert care for all aspects of your condition. We can also help you cope with the physical and emotional challenges that come with a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer. We can direct you to support programs and groups where you can talk with others who have the same condition. We can even connect you with counselors who have specific knowledge of TNBC.