What Is Genetic Testing?

Genetic testing involves looking for a fault or mutation in genes that cause a high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer within a family. These mutations are often found in the BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 genes. Genetic testing for breast cancer testing is done on a blood sample, usually starting with an affected family member. If a gene mutation is detected, other family members can be tested. This is known as predictive genetic testing.

Genetic testing is typically offered through a cancer clinic if appropriate, and a referral to a familial cancer clinic is arranged to consider genetic testing. Before testing occurs, you are counselled about the process to understand the potential implications.

Associate Professor Judy Kirk is a cancer geneticist at the Familial Cancer Service at Westmead Hospital.

She says genetic testing is looking for a mistake in the gene that causes a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer within a family.

“It’s testing that’s done on blood, in a family with a pretty strong family history of breast cancer where we would start by testing an affected family member.”

“Usually, we test a woman who’s had either breast or ovarian cancer, and we search a number of different genes to try and find a fault or mutation, that’s passed down through the family that causes that high risk,” she said.

“When we do that, there are a number of different genes that we can test and the ones that relate to breast cancer are two genes we’ve known about now for over 20 years. One of them is called BRCA1, the breast cancer one gene, and the other called BRCA2, the breast cancer two gene, and more recently it’s been found that mutations in another gene, known as PALB2 also cause a higher risk of breast cancer.”

Who Should Consider Genetic Testing?

Genetic testing for breast cancer is a crucial tool in identifying individuals at risk. You may consider it if you meet any of the criteria below:

• Personal History of Cancer: According to Harvard Medical School, individuals with a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer, especially if diagnosed at age 50 or younger. Males with breast cancer at any age should consider testing.
• Family History of Cancer: Individuals with two or more close family members (parents, siblings, and/or children) with a history of breast or ovarian cancer should consider testing.
• Known BRCA1 or BRCA2 Gene Mutations: If there is a family history of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, genetic testing is recommended.
• Ashkenazi Jewish Heritage: Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are at a higher risk.

In the first instance, a genetic test is done on a family member who has been affected by breast cancer. If the immediately affected family member has died or cannot be tested, other family members can still choose to be tested.

The information gained from the test can only be used for that individual tested and cannot tell us about the entire family. If no genetic fault is found in the tested individual, it is reassuring but does not rule out the possibility of a genetic fault in the family. Each family member would need to undergo genetic testing to understand their own risk.

Genetic testing for breast cancer is typically offered only through a cancer clinic where benefits and possible consequences of genetic testing will be discussed with the individual.

Genetic testing is a complex process and should always be undertaken with appropriate counselling and an understanding of the potential implications.

“I originally got tested for the BRCA mutation after my Auntie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 47. And then when my cousin turned 30 and she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. So, all of my family started getting tested at that point which included myself and in 2015 I found out I carried the gene mutation,” Skye said. Learn more about Skye’s story. 

What is a ‘Strong Family History’?

Associate Professor Kirk said a ‘strong family history’ is when there are two or more affected family members on one side of the family. Sometimes, individuals may not know this information, or their family may be predominantly male. In these cases, other factors are considered:

• Early age at breast cancer diagnosis.
• Presence of triple-negative breast cancer.
• High-grade, invasive epithelial ovarian cancer.

“Inherited gene mutations are not necessarily more common on the mother’s side of the family. Both sides of the family are equally more important in assessing risk”, she said.

What Happens if you Test Positive for the BRCA Gene?

If your test results identify a mutation in the BRCA gene, a personalised risk management plan is developed. Individuals with the BRCA1 gene mutation would typically commence their breast screening from age 30 in a specialised risk management clinic. This offers the expertise as well as the access to breast MRI for screening in addition to mammography or ultrasound. Additionally, these individuals are also given the option of risk-reducing surgery to remove all breast tissue, which is chosen by approximately 30% of high-risk women.

The BRCA 1 or 2 gene mutations also increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer. As there is no screening test for ovarian cancer, the best option is to consider surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes once a woman has finished their family by about the age 30.

“They usually start it in a risk management clinic where there’s special expertise and the availability of breast MRI for screening rather than simply mammography ultrasound and of course, those women are also given the opportunity risk reducing surgery for the breast tissue, which is taken up by maybe about 30% of high-risk women,” Associate Professor Kirk said.

“Many choose to have screening, but I think the more important thing is that these women, if they have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, are also at very high risk of ovarian cancer.”

“So it’s very important to identify these women because we can save lives from cancer if we look after them appropriately.”

Genetic Counselling

Genetic counselling typically involves:

• Risk Assessment: Genetic counselling begins with a risk assessment based on your personal and family history of breast cancer. This can help determine your likelihood of having an inherited BRCA gene mutation.
• Education: Genetic counsellors provide information about inherited gene changes that can increase breast cancer risk, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
• Testing Considerations: Genetic counsellors discuss the pros and cons of genetic testing, helping you understand what genetic testing can and cannot tell you before these tests are done. It is important to understand the implications for insurance and impacts on other family members.
• Support: Genetic counsellors provide resources and support to help you and your family make informed decisions about genetic testing.

What is the Life Expectancy of Someone with the BRCA Gene?

Individuals with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have an increased risk of developing certain cancers, particularly breast and ovarian cancers. However, having a BRCA gene mutation does not directly affect life expectancy.

The specific impact on life expectancy depends on various factors, including the individual’s overall health, access to medical care, early detection, and the effectiveness of preventative measures taken.

Where Can I Get Genetic Testing in Australia?

If you have a strong family history and would like to be tested, Associate Professor Kirk said to contact your local familiar cancer clinic.

“Most of this genetic testing is done through specialist clinics, either private or public and the genetic testing is covered by the system either Medicare or by the state health departments where it’s quite likely that we’ll find something, perhaps an over 10% chance that we’re going to find something.”

“If the chance is less than that, it tends not to be covered by the system and in that case the patient can pay for that testing,” she said.

“Again, it’s usually done through a specialist familiar cancer service, so that they understand the limitations of the testing in that circumstance and the implications of insurance and for other family members etc.”

“So, they’re fully informed before the testing about what could be expected, what genes are going to be tested and what could be the impact of finding something or finding nothing in some situations.”

What Is Radiation Therapy?

About half of Australians and New Zealanders diagnosed with cancer each year may benefit from radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, uses radiation, such as high-energy x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams or protons, to kill or damage cancer cells and stop them from growing, in a way which spares the normal tissue around the cancer.

Professor Julia White is a tenured Professor of Radiation Oncology and Koltz Sisters Chair for Cancer Research at The Ohio State University.
She explained that radiation is an important part of breast cancer treatment for most patients.

“In breast cancer treatment, it’s used for every stage of breast cancer,” she said.

“In early stage breast cancer, the main focus of radiation is to help women keep their breasts.”

“We know the addition of radiation following a breast conserving surgery or a lumpectomy is really what makes the treatment equivalent of removing the breast.”

“In more locally advanced breast cancer, when the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, it’s a barometer or a sign, that the cancer is at risk of spreading to the blood stream and causing distant metastases.”

“So, in node positive, armpit node positive breast cancer, we’re able to use radiation to treat the lymph nodes and reduce the chance of that cancer spreading through distant metastases.”

“And then the last way we use radiation, is when breast cancer is incurable, it’s metastatic, and patients and women are having pain or disrupting their lives with function problem because of pain, radiation can be used to help reduce the symptoms and improve quality of life in women with metastatic breast cancer.”

How Much Radiation Is Given?

Professor White explained patient safety is the priority when deciding what dose of radiation should be given.

“To make radiation safe we have to divide the dose of radiation we want to give into many doses that are delivered Monday through Friday – five days a week and that allows the normal tissue surrounding the cancer to heal appropriately.”

“So, most radiation gets delivered for breast conserving therapy to help women keep their breasts. If they have early stage breast cancer it’s done in about three to four weeks, Monday through Friday. So, typically somewhere between 15 and 21 treatments is what’s used regularly.”

“When we treat the lymph nodes, that’s typically between 15 to 25 treatments Monday through Friday, five days per week.”

Professor White’s experience is in predominately in the United States and she said these doses can differ worldwide.

She said women will typically receive between three to five weeks of radiation. However, she said, it’s not as daunting as it sounds.

“That sounds miserable right. Five weeks of radiation.”

“You’re in the radiation centre for about an hour a day at most, and you’re on the radiation treatment table on average for about 20 minutes, the on time for the actual radiation machine is only between 8 and 12 minutes typically and you won’t feel anything, you won’t see anything, you hear the machine kind of click on and click off during the treatment.”

Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy

Professor White said most patients will suffer side effects from this treatment.

“Nearly every patient who goes through radiation therapy, either for breast conservation or because her lymph nodes have cancer cells in them, have symptoms from the radiation.”

Professor White said the skin is what takes the brunt of the radiation.

“By the end of radiation nearly 100% of patients will have some skin discoloration; usually redness of the skin or tanning the skin, the skin darkens and that can be really managed regularly early intervention with moisturisers, emollients and anti-itch creams to help keep patients safe.”

She said most women can manage these side effects through topical agents and over the counter medicines. However, there are treatments that can be prescribed from your treating physician if symptoms persist.

Research Into Radiation Therapy

Although radiation therapy is an established treatment in breast cancer, there is continuing research into how best to personalise the treatment.

Now that we understand so much more about the biology of breast cancer, we think we can identify women who can have successful breast conservation with just having surgery.”

“Now that won’t be everyone, but there is a subset of patients out there.”

“For example, luminal breast cancers which are characterised by being hormone sensitive and particularly women who are dedicated to taking their endocrine treatment, we can identify biologically some that can be done with breast conservation after surgery.”

Another area of research is into how best to reduce the number of treatments for suitable patients.

“There is partial breast irradiation, which can be done somewhere between five and eight days of radiation and that reduces the burden of treatment.”

“What characterises all our clinical trials are trying to fit whatever the stage of cancer is and the needs of the patient, trying to make sure we have a strategy for radiation, that either means back off a little bit or enhances or intensifying a little bit, figuring that out is, I think, is where the goal of our radiation is right now.”

Breast Cancer Trials currently has one clinical trial investigating if some women with early breast cancer can avoid radiation therapy.

The EXPERT trial uses a genomic test of breast cancer tissue to identify which patients are suitable.

You can learn more about our open clinical trials here.

The Impact Of A Breast Cancer Diagnosis

A breast cancer diagnosis can have a huge financial impact on women and men, and their families.

The diagnosis often comes as a shock and many are financial unprepared and unaware of how much out-of-pocket costs come with treatment.

Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) surveyed 2,000 of its members who have received a breast cancer diagnosis, about the out-of-pocket costs of their breast cancer treatment and care, and other associated costs faced in the first five years after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Public or Private Health

BCNA CEO Kirsten Pillatti said they found a huge range of costs for treatment and care across the private and public health system.

“We know that from the survey that 12% had no costs from their breast cancer experience which is great.”

“But we know that even if people make a choice to go public that there are out of pocket costs.”

“I think really what the research highlighted was that there was a big range and there is often a shock value to that range and so anywhere from 25% of the 2,000 had out of pocket costs of more $21,000 and those who were in private had an average of $17,500 out of pocket.”

She said previous research found through their State of the Nation reports found that many people were un-informed about the costs associated with public and private care.

“What we heard was that at the point of being told you had breast cancer, either through BreastScreen or your GP, the only question you’re asked is ‘Do you have private health insurance?’”

“I think for many people who have been paying private health insurance for years and now have been diagnosed, they think it’s going to help them be fast tracked through the system and help with a lot of your anxiety,” said Ms Pillatti.

“But actually, what people don’t realise is just how many things have out of pocket costs and how many things are not covered by your private health insurance.”

“The biggest shock of all, being that radiotherapy in breast cancer is not covered by your private health insurer and I think there is an absolute lack of clarity from clinicians to patients around that.”

How Location Impacts Treatment Options

Another discovery of the report was how location can affect treatment options and employment impact.

“In metro areas, 50% of households had a loss of household hours. But if you look regional areas, 70% had a significant loss of household hours.”

“We also found in rural areas their out of pocket costs were the same but actually they were having less treatment options,” said Ms Pillatti.

“So, many people were choosing not to have reconstruction, not to have radiotherapy and really, sadly, not to have some of the follow up tests that are required just because they simply can’t afford it.”

She said the fall-out from this can have a significant impact on the patient’s future health.

“84% of our members report the thing they most fear about is that their breast cancer will return or will, if they’re a metastatic patient, progress.”

“When people are forced to either pay for their electricity or pay for a scan that month,then electricity is going to win, and this is one of the real fundamental problems of the financial toxicity that we have.”

Ms Pillatti encourages anyone who is struggling financially during their breast cancer experience should contact Centrelink, The Cancer Council or BCNA for assistance.

You can read the full Financial Impacts of Breast Cancer in Australia report here.

Why Do We Measure Breast Cancer Survival?

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare keeps track of survival rates for all cancers in Australia. The survival rate is a way of measuring how many people are alive at a certain time after a diagnosis.

For example, an 85% survival rate at five years means that five years after the diagnosis of breast cancer, 85% (or 85 out of every 100) patients are alive. It is a common way of understanding and comparing the outcomes for people with a range of different health conditions.

The chance of surviving breast cancer five years from diagnosis has increased from 73% to 91% in the last 20 years in Australia, thanks in large part to clinical trials research. The uptake in breast cancer screening has also contributed to this increase, with screening allowing for breast cancers to be found earlier.

But this overall number changes dramatically depending on what stage of breast cancer you are diagnosed with.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released its latest data on five-year survival rates.

It shows that those diagnosed with stage one breast cancer have a 100% five-year survival rate whereas those diagnosed at stage four have a 32% five-year survival rate.

Why Is There A Difference In Survival Rates?

There are a number of reasons why the survival rate decreases from stage one to stage four. When breast cancer metastasises, or reaches stage four, it has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body which makes it more difficult to treat. In some cases, this is because it has already been exposed to therapeutic drugs and has acquired a resistance to them.

What is metastatic breast cancer?

The data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that age had little impact upon survival rates for early breast cancer.

Females diagnosed with early stage (stage one and two) breast cancer had similar survival rates across all ages. However, females diagnosed with advanced cancer had lower survival with increasing age.

The data also showed that your postcode has little impact upon your survival, with survivors generally similar by remoteness and socioeconomic status area.

How Is Breast Cancer Trials Research Helping to Improve Survival Rates?

Breast Cancer Trials is actively working to increase survival rates across all breast cancers.

Breast Cancer Trials currently has two clinical trials open to patients with early breast cancer; EXPERT and OPTIMA, three clinical trials open to those with metastatic breast cancer; FINER, and CAPTURE, and one clinical trial open for the prevention of breast cancer; BRCA-P.

• Learn more about the Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) research program.
• Learn more about understanding breast cancer statistics and survival rates.
• Learn more about breast cancer prevention and how to reduce your risk.
• Read further about this data from The Australia Institute of Health and Welfare.

Breast Cancer Types

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. It occurs when abnormal or damaged cells grow in an uncontrolled manner and a tumour is formed. Breast cancer can occur in both women and men, although it is less common for it to occur in men. In Australia the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer by age 85 is 1 in 7 for women and 1 in 675 for men.

Breast cancer is not just one disease, but several. There are a number of different breast cancer subtypes and treatments are becoming increasingly personalised for patients.

You can learn about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer here.

You can learn about breast cancer prevention and how to reduce your risk of breast cancer here.

Non-Invasive Breast Conditions

Invasive Breast Cancers – Histological Subtypes

Invasive Breast Cancers – Treatment Targets

Breast Cancer Stages

If you have any concerns regarding your treatment or diagnosis, speak with you treating physician.

You can learn more about open Breast Cancer Trials clinical trials here.

What Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)?

Triple negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that does not have the three most common type of receptors known to make most breast cancers grow – oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). Triple negative breast cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all breast cancers.

Triple negative breast cancer is a more aggressive cancer that usually occurs at an earlier age. It has a greater chance of developing into a metastatic stage and has poorer clinical outcomes as shown by higher relapse rates and lower survival rates. Because it does not have receptors that can be targeted by medications such as hormone- and HER2-blocking drugs, it has fewer treatment options available.

On this page, we’ll look at some of the symptoms of triple negative breast cancer, as well as treatment and prevention options.

What Are The Symptoms Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

The symptoms of TNBC are the same as any other type of breast cancer. Symptoms can include:

• New lump in the breast, armpit area or around the collarbone
• Change in breast size or shape
• Changes to the nipple, such as sores or crusting, an ulcer or inverted nipple
• Clear or bloody nipple discharge
• Changes to the skin including redness, puckering or dimpling (an ‘orange peel’ appearance)
• Breast tenderness or pain

Learn more about the symptoms of breast cancer.

Who Is At Risk Of Developing Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

No one has a definitive answer on what causes breast cancer. Anyone can be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and should be aware of their own personal risk factors. You can use the online iPrevent tool to better understand your breast cancer risk and act on it.

There are a number of known risk factors for triple negative breast cancer including:

• BRCA Mutations – A BRCA1 gene mutation is associated with a higher risk of triple negative breast cancer. However, most triple negative breast cancers are not caused by a BRCA gene mutation. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, you may wish to consider genetic testing. This is something to discuss with your doctor.
• Pre-Menopausal Women – While the average age of first being diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia is 61, triple negative breast cancer occurs more often in patients who are pre-menopausal or under 50 years of age. The cause of triple negative breast cancer in this young age group is not yet completely known. However, it could be due to breasts of younger women in their childbearing and breastfeeding years is of a different composition to the breast of an older women who has been menopausal for a long time.
• African American and African Women – Triple negative breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in African American and African women compared with white or Hispanic women. This is thought to be due to genes or mutations that pre-dispose this group of women, particularly pre-menopausal women, to triple negative breast cancer.

Treatment Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Standard treatment of early stage triple negative breast cancer (stage 1 and stage 2) typically includes the following:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Usually a course of radiotherapy

Often chemotherapy treatment is given prior to breast surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy), as it can effectively reduce the size of the breast cancer while providing useful information about the effectiveness of the treatment being given.

Prevention of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

For those who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, there are important considerations for the prevention of breast cancer. Women who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations have an approximate 70% risk of developing breast cancer and up to 40% risk of developing ovarian cancer over their lifetimes.

There are preventative strategies for those with this genetic mutations which include protective surgery via the removal of both healthy breasts and hormonal therapy medicines such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. Removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes helps reduce the risk of both ovarian and breast cancer. The breast cancer benefit is due to a reduction in the levels of oestrogen in the body.

There is no definitive way to prevent breast cancer, however there are a number of risk factors that you can manage to reduce the likelihood of future breast cancer. This includes maintaining a healthy body weight, not smoking and engaging in regular exercise. You can read about breast cancer prevention and how to reduce your risk here.

In one of our recent free online Q&A’s moderated by Author and Journalist, Annabel Crabb, our panel of experts discussed Triple Negative Breast Cancer, including the latest in research, treatments and genetics relating to this disease. If you missed out on this Q&A, you can access the recording below.

What is the Survival Rate of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Whilst there are no statistics on the specific survival rates for triple negative breast cancer, the relative 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is 92%. This means that those who have breast cancer are, on average, 92% as likely as those who don’t have the disease to live for at least 5 years after their diagnosis.

The survival rate is an estimate across the population, and an individual’s chance of survival is dependent on their specific characteristics and the nature of the tumour, such as the stage of the breast cancer at diagnosis, the age, gender and the subtype of the breast cancer (ER+, HER2+ or triple negative breast cancer).

The 5-year survival rate for Stage 1 (early) breast cancer is, on average, 100% and Stage 2 is 95%. For locally advanced cancers (known as Stage 3) the survival rate is 81%, while the 5-year survival rate for Stage 4 (metastatic breast cancer) is significantly lower at 32%.

Clinical Trials Research on Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Primary results of the CHARIOT clinical trial were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) international conference in 2022. This was a world-first Australian clinical trial developed by Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) researchers that was open to both women and men diagnosed with triple negative early breast cancer. The trial recruited 34 patients at eight participating institutions throughout Australia.

The purpose of the CHARIOT clinical trial was to see if using two immunotherapy drugs (nivolumab and ipilimumab) together with standard chemotherapy (paclitaxel) before surgery, was safe and effective and could stimulate the body’s immune system to kill the cancer cells. And, if continuing treatment with one of these drugs (nivolumab) after surgery can keep the immune system active to eradicate any residual cancer cells.

The trial found that in patients with early-stage triple negative breast cancer who did not respond to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the addition of nivolumab and ipilimumab resulted in a promising response rate with 24% of participants achieving a complete disappearance of their cancer within the breast and lymph nodes by the time of surgery. This treatment was able to be delivered safely, with some patients experiencing known and expected side effects of immunotherapy. These side effects were able to be successfully treated.

Professor Sherene Loi is the Study Chair of the CHARIOT clinical trial, Board Director at BCT and Head of the Translational Breast Cancer Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She says longer term follow up is needed to help determine the overall effectiveness of this treatment approach and the benefits to patients.

The Neo-N clinical trial aims to identify more effective treatment options for early stage triple negative breast cancer patients, by combining an immunotherapy drug (nivolumab) together with chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) prior to surgery. 

Often cancers can avoid detection and attached from the body’s immune system. This study will help us understand if nivolumab given for a short period on its own, before commencing treatment with chemotherapy, can effectively activate the body’s anti-cancer immune response and contribute to better outcomes for triple negative breast cancer patients. Patients who respond well to this treatment may be able to avoid the short and -long-term effects of anthracycline-based chemotherapy that would often be used for this type of breast cancer.

Results from Neo-N were announced at the end of 2023 and more information about this trial is available in this video.

If you would like to support the life-saving research program of Breast Cancer Trials by making a donation, click here.

Your donation will help us to conduct research into triple negative breast cancer, like the studies described above, and provide more treatment options to patients.

Long-Term Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivors

Diane Barker was diagnosed with locally advanced triple negative breast cancer in December 2020, at just 44 years of age.

“I do remember feeling incredibly tired, like more tired than I had ever felt in my entire life. And yes, I’ve got a busy job, but I just thought maybe something was going on. And actually, my GP and I were about to start a process of, you know, a sleep clinic and doing a sleep study to see what was happening,” Diane said.

“But I was also, going through a process of having regular mammograms and ultrasounds, because my mum had had breast cancer when she was 59. So, when I turned 40, my GP said we should start doing this for you. So, I’d been doing that for a few years, and everything was fine.”

“I went to my regular scan and that process with the mammogram and the ultrasound and some red flags started appearing. I thought that maybe something might be going on when the technician called the radiographer into the room to have a look herself and I could just see the look of concern that she couldn’t entirely mask on her face. I had to go back for a biopsy, which is when I started to really think that maybe something serious was going on.”

“Then when I got the result from my GP, I was in the middle of a meeting at work and she said, I’m afraid it’s cancer. That was when everything changed for me. It was quite shocking. I was preparing myself for that news, but really nothing can prepare you for news like that. It’s devastating. It’s absolutely devastating.”

Learn more about Diane’s story here.

Early Detection is Key to Treating TNBC

Triple negative breast cancer tends to be a more aggressive disease than some other breast cancers which means it grows faster, and has fewer effective treatment options. Triple negative breast cancer is also more likely to recur within two to three years of diagnosis, as opposed to 10 to 15 years for those with oestrogen receptor – positive breast cancer. Early detection is therefore vital. If you have a strong family history, you should consider discussing your prevention and testing options with your doctor.

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