Triple negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer. Around 15 out of 100 (around 15%) breast cancers are of this type.

Treatment for triple negative breast cancer

The main treatments for triple negative breast cancer are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The treatment you need depends on:

• where the cancer is

• the size of the cancer and whether it has spread (the stage)

• how abnormal the cells look under the microscope (the grade)

• your general health

Surgery and radiotherapy

You might have surgery to remove:

• an area of the breast (breast conserving surgery)

• the whole breast (mastectomy)

When you have surgery, the surgeon usually takes out some of the ​lymph nodes​  under your arm. They test these nodes to see if they contain cancer cells. The surgeon might check the lymph nodes closest to the breast using a procedure called sentinel lymph node biopsy. Testing the lymph nodes helps to find the stage of the cancer and decide on further treatment.

After breast conserving surgery you usually have radiotherapy to the rest of the breast.

Chemotherapy

You might have chemotherapy before surgery. This is called neo adjuvant treatment. The aim is to shrink the cancer enough to make the operation possible. Or it might mean that you can have an area of the breast removed, instead of needing a mastectomy.

You usually also have chemotherapy after the operation. This reduces the risk of the breast cancer coming back. You usually have a combination of chemotherapy drugs that might include:

• doxorubicin

• cyclophosphamide

• paclitaxel

• fluorouracil

• docetaxel

• epirubicin

• cisplatin

• carboplatin

• capecitabine

Immunotherapy

Your doctor might suggest you have treatment with pembrolizumab. Pembrolizumab is a type of immunotherapy. It stimulates the body's ​immune system​ to fight cancer cells.

You might have pembrolizumab with chemotherapy before surgery. This is to reduce the size of the cancer before the operation. You then continue to have it on its own after surgery.

Drugs that strengthen the bones (bisphosphonates)

You might have drugs to prevent or slow down bone thinning (osteoporosis). These are called bisphosphonates. They can help treat or reduce bone damage caused by breast cancer. You usually have it alongside your cancer treatment.

You may also have bisphosphonates if you have breast cancer that has spread to the bones. This is to prevent any bone problems and reduce pain.

Find out more about treatments for breast cancer

Follow up

You have regular check ups and mammograms after treatment for triple negative breast cancer. How often you have check ups depends on your individual situation.

You usually have a mammogram every year, for at least 5 years after treatment. 

It’s important to remember that you can contact your doctor or specialist nurse if you notice a new symptom or have questions. You can also speak to your GP.

Read more about breast cancer follow up

Coping with triple negative breast cancer

Coping with triple negative breast cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available to you and your family.

The UK charity for Triple Negative Breast Cancer 

This charity is dedicated to helping people with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). They provide information about TNBC and support through an online community you can join. Here you can communicate and share each others experiences.

Email: info@ukcharityfortnbc.org

Join the online community

Go to UK Charity for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Read about what you can do to cope with breast cancer