Three Strikes

...and you might be out:

Women with what is referred to as "triple-negative" breast cancer are more likely than other women with breast cancer to experience a relapse, a new study by Canadian researchers shows.

Triple-negative breast cancers are estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and HER2-negative.

The study shows women with triple-negative breast cancer were almost twice as likely to develop distant relapse even after accounting for other factors related to relapse such as tumour size and involvement of lymph nodes.

"To confirm both the aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancers regardless of other tumour features, and the distinct pattern of relapse will help identify those patients who need aggressive treatment up front," said Dr. Rebecca Dent, a medical oncologist at Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Centre.

Dent collaborated on the study with Dr. Steven Narod at Women's College Hospital. 

Their study found that the pattern of relapse had a rapidly rising rate in the first two years following diagnosis and a peak at two to three years followed by a decline over the next five.

Link

My CA was triple negative. But I am almost 6 years out from diagnosis.   

Comments

[Shirl]

Prayers that you'll stay clear, dear Gail!