Triple-positive breast cancer

概述

Triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) is a type of breast cancer. Like other types of breast cancer, TPBC starts as a growth of cells in the breast. What makes TPBC different from other types is that the cancer cells use the hormones estrogen and progesterone to help them grow. The cells also make extra HER2 protein.

This type of breast cancer is called triple positive because the cells test positive for three things: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 protein. Because of these results, TPBC has more treatment options than other breast cancer types. Treatment with estrogen blocker therapy medicines can stop hormones from helping the cancer grow. Targeted therapy medicines may help treat this cancer by attacking cells that make too much HER2 protein.

Which treatments your healthcare team recommends may depend on the cancer's stage and other factors. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy and medicines.

When it's found in the early stages, TPBC often can be cured. Even when a cure isn't possible, treatments can slow the growth of the cancer and help extend your life.

Research and information often include TPBC in the larger category of HR-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer.

症状

Triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) often doesn't cause symptoms at first. When symptoms happen, they often are similar to those of other breast cancers.

TPBC signs and symptoms may include:

• An area of thickening in part of the breast that makes it feel different from the surrounding tissue.
• A nipple that looks flattened or turns inward.
• A change in breast skin color. The skin may look pink, red, purple or brown, or darker than the surrounding skin.
• Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast.
• Changes to the skin over the breast, such as skin that looks dimpled or looks like an orange peel.
• Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the skin on the breast.

When to see a healthcare professional

Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if you notice a change in your breasts, such as a lump, skin that looks puckered, thickening under the skin or nipple discharge. Report these changes even if you recently had a mammogram.

病因

The exact cause of triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) often isn't known. Healthcare professionals know that it starts when changes happen in the DNA inside breast cells. But exactly what causes these genetic changes isn't always known.

DNA gives cells instructions for when to grow, divide and die. Changes in DNA can cause breast cells to grow out of control and live longer than they should. These extra cells can form a tumor.

Some DNA changes that lead to cancer are passed from parents to children. These are called inherited DNA changes.

Not everyone with an inherited DNA change gets cancer. Most people who get cancer don't have an inherited DNA change. It's likely that TPBC is caused by inherited and other factors.

The DNA changes that lead to triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) can cause the cancer cells to grow into nearby tissue.

Over time, cancer cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it's called metastatic cancer. Like other breast cancers, triple-positive breast cancer most often spreads to the bones, lungs, liver and brain.

风险因素

The risk factors for triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) are similar to those for breast cancer in general. Factors that raise the risk of breast cancer in general include:

• A family history of breast cancer. If a parent, sibling or child had breast cancer, your risk of breast cancer is increased. The risk is higher if your family has a history of getting breast cancer at a young age. The risk also is higher if you have multiple family members with breast cancer. Still, most people diagnosed with breast cancer don't have a family history of the disease.
• A personal history of breast cancer. If you've had cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of getting cancer in the other breast.
• A personal history of breast conditions. Certain breast conditions are markers for a higher risk of breast cancer. If you've had a breast biopsy that found one of these conditions, you have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Sex at birth. Breast cancer is much more common in women. But anyone with breast tissue can get breast cancer.
• Younger age when periods start. Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.
• Older age when menopause starts. Beginning menopause after age 55 increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Dense breast tissue. Breast tissue is made up of fatty tissue and dense tissue. Fatty tissue is made of fat. Dense tissue is made of milk glands, milk ducts and fibrous tissue. If you have dense breasts, you have more dense tissue than fatty tissue in your breasts. Having dense breasts increases the risk of developing breast cancer and makes it harder to detect cancer on a mammogram. Talk with your healthcare team about other tests you might have in addition to mammograms to look for breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Having your first child at an older age. Giving birth to your first child after age 35 may increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Having never been pregnant. Having been pregnant one or more times lowers the risk of breast cancer. Never having been pregnant increases the risk.
• Inherited DNA changes that increase cancer risk. Certain DNA changes that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most well-known changes are called BRCA1 and BRCA2. These changes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but not everyone with these DNA changes gets cancer.
• Menopausal hormone therapy. Taking certain hormone therapy medicines to manage the symptoms of menopause may increase the risk of breast cancer. The risk is linked to hormone therapy medicines that combine estrogen and progesterone.
• Older age. The risk of breast cancer increases as you age. Triple-positive breast cancer can happen at any adult age but tends to happen at an older age compared with other types of breast cancer.
• Obesity. People with obesity have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Radiation exposure. Radiation treatments to the chest during childhood or young adulthood raise the risk of breast cancer.

预防

There is no sure way to prevent triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC). But you can take steps to help lower your risk of triple-positive breast cancer and other types of breast cancer.

Ask about breast cancer screening

Talk with a healthcare professional about when to begin breast cancer screening. Ask about the benefits and risks of screening. Together, you can decide what breast cancer screening tests are right for you.

Become familiar with your breasts

Perform occasional breast self-exams to become familiar with how your breasts usually look and feel. Tell a healthcare professional if you notice any new changes.

Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all

For breast cancer prevention, there is no safe amount of alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit how often you drink and keep the amount small. If you're concerned about your breast cancer risk, you may choose not to drink alcohol.

Exercise most days of the week

Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. If you haven't been active lately, ask a healthcare professional whether it's OK and start slowly.

Limit menopausal hormone therapy

Hormone therapy that uses a combination of estrogen and progesterone may increase the risk of breast cancer. Talk with a healthcare professional about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy.

Maintain a healthy weight

Ask a healthcare professional what weight range is healthy for you. If weight loss is recommended, ask about what changes to diet and exercise can be made to reach that goal.

Talk with a healthcare professional about your cancer risk

If you have a family history of breast cancer or think that you may have an increased risk of breast cancer, talk about it with your healthcare professional. Preventive medicines, surgery and more-frequent screening may be options for people with a high risk of breast cancer.