Triple Negative Breast Cancer -Description, Risk Factors, Treatments

About Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Triple negative breast cancer cells are estrogen-receptor negative, progesterone-receptor negative, and HER2 negative. Since the cancer is not fueled by those hormones, nor by the HER2 protein, standard cancer drugs like selective estrogen receptor modulators , aromatase inhibitors , and Herceptin will not be effective in treating this class of cancer. Basal cell breast cancer usuallydoesn't have receptors for estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 –- so it is likely to be triple negative. Groups At Risk for Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Although people of any race might develop this form of breast cancer, studies have found that some racial groups are at higher risk. Those groups are: *. Black *. Hispanic *. Asian Common Features Linked With Triple Negative Breast Cancer: A population study based on the California Cancer Registry found that women who werediagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) were likely to be under the age of 40, Black or Hispanic, and were living at a low socioeconomic status. Their cancers were more aggressive than estrogen-receptor positive tumors, and were diagnosed at a later stage of the disease. In the five years after treatment, risk of recurrence was high. Risk Factors for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatments For Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Surgery , chemotherapy , and radiation may be recommended to treat this class of breast cancer. Triple negative cancer cells are particularly responsive to chemotherapy. Drugs that may be used are paclitaxel , anthracyclines , and cyclophosphamide . Newer drugs that may be effective are ixabepilone , bevacizumab , cetuximab , and PARP inhibitors. High-Risk Women Should Be Vigilant About Breast Health Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade, who is doing research on triple-negative breast cancer patients in Chicago and Nigeria says, "Womenwith triple negative breast cancer need to know that a diagnosis is not a death sentence. It's aggressive but can be treated. The earlier the detection, the better." The standard guidelines for starting mammograms at age 40 are not helping women at risk for TNBC. "If you're at risk," Olopade says, "you don't want to wait until you're 40 to be screened." Women should start doing a monthly breast self-exam at age 20, and have annual clinical breast exams . If you are under 40, find a breast lump and suspect you may be at high risk, talk to your doctor about having a breast ultrasound or a mammogram.