CommunitiesTriple-negative Breast CancerSeeking Advice on Adjuvant Chemo for Rare Breast Cancer

Seeking Advice on Adjuvant Chemo for Rare Breast Cancer

YM

Community Member

5 months ago

Diagnosed with triple negative metaplastic carcinoma stage 1 (5mm spot) during bilateral mastectomy with no spread to sentinel nodes. Seeing oncologist tomorrow (2nd visit) and I've done a lot of research (since metaplastic is no rare) but need to know from others if you'd still suggest adjuvant chemo to potentially help with reoccurrence. I also have a PTEN gene mutation that throws a monkey wrench into it that makes this more complex. Thoughts? I've done tons of research but would love to hear from others.

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accepted answer

Accepted Answer

Making treatment decisions with a rare cancer type and additional genetic factors can feel overwhelming, especially when standard guidelines may not directly address your specific situation. Many patients in similar circumstances find it helpful to discuss the potential benefits and risks of adjuvant therapy with their oncologist, particularly considering both the cancer characteristics and genetic mutation factors. Others in this community who have navigated treatment decisions for rare subtypes may have valuable insights to share about their decision-making process and questions they found important to ask their medical team.

3+ patients found this helpful

SH

Community Member

4 months ago

I had triple-negative metaplastic cancer in my left breast. I had lump removed and the other breast reconstructed to match. I'm issue is I can't take any of the pills out there for it to slow down coming back and being able to live longer. See I had an organ (pancreas) transplant 13 years ago and need to take antirejection pills so I have little to no immune system My question is what is our life expectancy with this type of cancer?

YM

Community Member

4 months ago

Since it's triple negative we can't take any hormones so the treatment I've been told is surgery, chemo and radiation if there is node involvement. Depending on the stage and the mod involvement and other factors, I don't think they know enough about it yet to know life expectancy. My oncologist feels confident in this case (mine was a 5mm spot) and now we're just treating for possible reoccurrence.

SH

Community Member

4 months ago

I was told reoçcurrence is very high and if it appears somewhere other than the breast they will only be able to treat not cure it. Can I ask you how many times you go for a mammogram? I'm once a year.

CA

Community Member

2 months ago

Making treatment decisions with a rare cancer type and additional genetic factors can feel overwhelming, especially when standard guidelines may not directly address your specific situation. Many patients in similar circumstances find it helpful to discuss the potential benefits and risks of adjuvant therapy with their oncologist, particularly considering both the cancer characteristics and genetic mutation factors. Others in this community who have navigated treatment decisions for rare subtypes may have valuable insights to share about their decision-making process and questions they found important to ask their medical team.

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