What are the survival rates and prognosis for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?

Hey all! ❤️. I was diagnosed with TNBC Feb 2023, Stage 3 with tumors 3.5 cm and 1.5 cm in my breast and axilla. I did chemo before surgery aka neoadjuvant chemo, and finished my 20th and last round of chemo 1.5 weeks ago! I had Adriamycin, Carboplatin, Doxorubicin and Cytoxan for 8 weeks then Taxol interspersed with Pembrolizumab. It was daunting but I'm writing to tell you- YOU CAN DO THIS!!! My tumors have shrunk so much that only the marker clips from the biopsy were detected. I changed my mind and will only get a lumpectomy instead of the mastectomy I was so sad yet sold on at the beginning of this journey! During treatments, I got side effects but not all of them and not all at once. Be aware but try not to worry about side effects until it happens. Drink lots of water! I believe it's what minimized my nausea and kept away the mouth sores! If you have pain, take painkillers right away to get ahead of it. Don't wait for it to get bad and you're miserable waiting for it to kick in. My lumpectomy is 9/1/23, then radiation. Bring it on! I can do this!

Did you get by without having Doxorubicin?

I forgot about that one. Yes. I had Doxorubicin in the first 8 weeks.

I’m at 8 years Survivor of TNBC. I joined several clinician trials and it does make a difference.

I'm afraid of Doxorubicin because of my heart valve replacement.

I was diagnosed withtriple negative stage 3 in Nov. 2022. I was only able to take six chemo treatments as my body became  Toxic and we had to stop. I went for a lumpectomy for a 2.3 size tumor. I then had 20 radiation treatments and now I am on Keytruda for a year. My doctor wants me to also take chemo pills now. I’m afraid to take them and become toxic again plus losing my hair for a second time is very traumatic. I am at a loss of what to do now to try to keep the reoccurrence of the breast cancer. Any Similar cases out there?

I asked my nurse nurse navigator this recently and he said the prognosis is much better than what you find online. It is because it is based on data of women treated decades ago and our treatment options have improved dramatically. Lots of hope!

I found the book Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer to be very helpful after I was initially diagnosed. It is a wee bit dated, but still very helpful to let you know the majority of women survive TNBC.

The more I learn about TNBC the less fear I have. It's not a death sentence. My doctor is giving me neoadjuvant therapy which consists of chemo to shrink the tumor before surgical removal. I am bouyed because after only 2 treatments I can already feel the tumor (by my own hand) has shrunk dramatically. You can be cured. Don't be frightened.

I'm a 9-year TNBC Survivor. I joined a few clinical trials too and I am here today to bring hope!

Trialsofcolor what treatments did they provide and how long?

I am 7 years since diagnosis of TNBC. 16 cycles of AC/T. I now go once a year for mammogram and am in a survivorship clinic.

I started with HER+ stage 3 in 2016. Had mastectomy on my right side. Chemo included Doxorubicin. After 6 months of chemo, I was put on Anastrozole for 10 years. No recurrence. However, in August 2024 I had a tumor on my left side. Diagnosed with TNBC. I had another mastectomy. No Docorubicin because I had it 8 years ago. So I'm now in chemo with Taxol, Carboplatin, and Keytruda . I'll have my 3rd treatment next week. After effects haven't been overwhelming but I went in knowing what to expect. So now I'm still being treated for the HER+ and TNBC. Once you've been diagnosed with cancer, I don't think you ever lose the dreaded "will it come back". I'm 70 now and looking forward to getting my life back, but I know you don't get your old energy back for quite a while. I'm just planning to do what I want while I can. I might wear myself out but I can rest later. Good luck to all on your brave journey.