Knowing the estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status of your breast cancer is important in deciding treatment options. Read more here.
How common is triple-negative breast cancer? ; Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 10-15% of all breast cancers. These cancers tend to be more common in women younger than age 40, who are Black, or who have a BRCA1 mutation. Triple-negative breast cancer can have the same signs and symptoms as other common types of breast cancer. Once a breast cancer diagnosis has been made using imaging tests and a biopsy, the cancer cells will be checked for certain proteins. If the cells do not h...
Targeted drug therapy uses medicines that are directed at (target) proteins on breast cancer cells that help them grow, spread, and live longer. Targeted drugs work to destroy cancer cells or slow down their growth. They have side effects different from chemotherapy. Some targeted therapy drugs, for example, monoclonal antibodies, work in more than one way to control cancer cells and may also be considered immunotherapy because they boost the immune system. Like chemotherapy, these drugs enter t...
Triple-negative breast cancer doesn’t respond to treatments that target estrogen or progesterone receptors, but there are other treatments available.
called estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer. It means that estrogen is... triple-negative — are grouped together. With treatment, most women with very early stage breast...
Your HER2-negative breast cancer status affects how your cancer grows and responds to some treatments. Learn more about HER2-negative cancers.
Learn how levels of HER2 receptors (HER2-positive vs. HER2-negative breast cancer) affect prognosis and treatment options.
When is hormone therapy used for breast cancer? ; Hormone therapy is often used after surgery (as adjuvant therapy) to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Sometimes it is started before surgery (as neoadjuvant therapy). It is usually taken for at least 5 years. Treatment longer than 5 years might be offered to women whose cancers have a higher chance of coming back. A test called the Breast Cancer Index might be used to help decide if a woman will benefit from more than 5 years of ho...
Triple-negative breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer in which all receptor tests come back negative. It’s serious, but it responds well to treatment if you catch it early. Learn more about...
Key Points ; Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. ; A family history of breast cancer and other factors increase the risk of breast cancer. ; Breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations (changes).