Breast cancer negative

[soleila3]

My mum was diagnosed 7 years ago with breast cancer, she had mastectomy of the left breast, chemo, radiotherapy and was on tamoxifen for 5 years. Last year after 7 years she found a little kind of a lump, had another mastectomy of the right breast this time along again with radiotherapy and chemo. she is not in this country and there things are not straight forward but she was told recently it is negative and can't therefore has medicine this time. My question is is negative kind the worst? I am so worried about her lately and I am far from her. on top of this my nan maternal side has recently found a lump in her breast as well. I would so much like to hear from people with the negative breast cancer how they are doing? many thanks

[MelissaEppardCoach]

I hear your concern, and there are other things to consider besides being hormone receptor negative. Other considerations are the stage and grade of the tumor. Having no hormone receptors means that the tumor won't be responsive to some of these new hormone targeted therapies. I was diagnosed with a stage 1, grade 3, triple negative tumor in 2014. Because of the aggressiveness of a grade 3 tumor, my oncologist recommended a stronger cycle of chemotherapy. 3 years later, I am doing well. I see my oncologist every 6 months now, and follow up with my breast surgeon once a year.

[CalGal56]

Hi Soleila3 - I agree with the previous post there are other considerations beyond the hormone responsiveness of your Mum’s tumor. I can share a little of my history with you - but as we all know we are all different. My first cancer was triple negative, Stage 2, Nuclear Grade 3. I had 17 years cancer free! This past year I was diagnosed again and my pathology report is double positive, single negative Stage 1, Nuclear Grade 1-2, a completely “different” breast cancer. I had a mastectomy this time and am on an Aromatase Inhibitor (Aromatase inhibitors lower estrogen levels by stopping an enzyme in fat tissue (called aromatase) from changing other hormones into estrogen). Both times I had no node involvement meaning the cancer had /has not metastasized. What I want to stress more than anything is this is a treatable, beatable cancer for many of us. It may come back - and if/when it does I encourage all and today you and your Mum to stay the course, move forward and embrace your inner strength - there is often much more there than we know. It is a scary journey for our daughters, mine has travelled it with me both times - but we have emerged stronger and deeper connected each time (whether over many miles or not). Sending you good strong thoughts. And, remember this too shall pass.

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I'm triple neg. AI's may not necessarily be beneficial.