Can triple-negative breast cancer come back in the other breast?

Studies have shown that triple-negative breast cancer is more likely to spread beyond the breast and more likely to recur (come back) after treatment. It tends to be higher grade than other types of breast cancer.

Can triple-negative breast cancer come back after mastectomy?

That’s important because triple-negative breast cancer is more aggressive than other forms. It’s more likely to have spread beyond your breast at the time it’s found, and there’s a higher chance it will come back within the first 3 years after treatment.

What percentage of breast cancer patients have recurrence?

On average, 7 percent to 11 percent of women with early breast cancer experience a local recurrence during this time. For patients with a family history of cancer, or a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, the cancer recurrence rate is higher.

What grade of breast cancer is triple negative?

It tends to be higher grade than other types of breast cancer. The higher the grade, the less the cancer cells resemble normal, healthy breast cells in their appearance and growth patterns. On a scale of 1 to 3, triple-negative breast cancer often is grade 3.

What are the treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)?

What Are the Treatment Options for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)? 1 Surgery. In breast-conserving surgery, or a lumpectomy, the tumor and a small amount… 2 Radiation therapy. Radiation is used to kill any cancer cells that might have been left… 3 Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is an effective treatment for TNBC,…

Are treatments changing long-term outcomes for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer?

Recent treatments may be changing long-term outlook for at least some people with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer according to two 2019 reports. In one, a woman is currently 15 years out from her diagnosis of stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer without any evidence of disease.

Do triple-negative tumors respond better to chemotherapy or immunotherapy?

That said, triple-negative tumors tend to respond better to chemotherapy. For metastatic triple-negative tumors, an immunotherapy drug was approved in 2018 only for triple-negative breast cancer.