What Will Happen After Treatment
Youll be glad when treatment is over. For years after treatment ends, you will still see your cancer doctor. Be sure to go to all of these follow-up visits. You will have exams, blood tests, and maybe other tests to see if the cancer has come back.
The first few years, your visits may be every few months. The more time that passes from when you finished treatment, the less often the visits are needed.
If you still have a breast, youll need to get a mammogram every year. Depending on your treatment, you might need other tests as well, such as regular bone density tests or heart tests.
Having cancer and dealing with treatment can be hard, but it can also be a time to look at your life in new ways. If you are thinking about how to improve your health, call us at 1-800-227-2345 or talk to your cancer care team to find out what you can do to feel better.
You cant change the fact that you have cancer. What you can change is how you live the rest of your life making healthy choices and feeling as well as you can.
Prognosis And Survival Rates
Treatment may make triple-negative breast cancer go away. It depends on the size of your tumor, how quickly your cancer grows, and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of your body. The treatments may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, pain, fatigue, or mental fuzziness .
Itâs hard to say exactly what the odds are because cancer affects everyone differently. Plus, how well you do depends on how early you catch the cancer and how well you responded to treatment.
In general, about 91% of all women with triple-negative breast cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near the breast the 5 year relative survival rate is about 65%. If the cancer has spread to distant places, the 5 year relative survival rate is 12%.
Can Nutritional Supplements Lower Cancer Risk Or The Risk Of Cancer Coming Back
There is no evidence at this time that dietary supplements can lower the chance of cancer coming back or improve survival.
There is strong evidence that a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and other plant-based foods may reduce the risk of some types of cancer. And some recent studies suggest there may be a helpful effect on recurrence or survival for breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. But there is no evidence at this time that supplements can provide these benefits. Many healthful compounds are found in vegetables and fruits, and its likely that these compounds work together to create these helpful effects. Food is the best source of vitamins and minerals.
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Regulation Of Tumor Suppressor Genes In Tnbc
Figure 1. In the cytoplasm, PTEN mediates dephosphorylation of PIP3 to PIP 2 which inhibits the PI3k/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway leading to slower tumor growth. Histone deacetylase inhibitors activate PTEN nuclear translocation, whereas DNMTs cause hypermethylation of PTEN promoter and loss of its activity, which has been described during tumor progression. Binding of p53 to the PTEN promoter induces its transcription. Additionally, BMI1 binds to the PTEN protein in the nucleus inhibiting its expression. Consequently, BMI1 reduces PTEN’s ability to inhibit Akt activation in the cytoplasm. Common features observed in BLBC include mutations of the tumor suppressor Rb and the oncogene K-ras, and increased activity of Myc and HIF1)/ARNT, leading to increased cell proliferation.
Dietary Sources Of Polyphenols
Following the systematic search, a small subset of polyphenol types emerged as having human-derived evidence with regard to breast cancer recurrence. This review focuses on the human-derived evidence on breast cancer, and we focus the discussion on phenolic acids, flavonols, and isoflavones. Whilst cell line data on polyphenols such as curcumin and resveratrol are promising, very little has been conducted in human clinical trials.
3.4.1. Phenolic Acids
One of the major dietary sources of dietary phenolic is olive oil, which contains caffeic, oleuropein, and hydroxytyrosol, amongst others. Previous research attributes the health effects of olive oil to its high content in oleic acid. Nowadays, the health benefits of olive oil are also attributed to its phenolic content, namely olepurenoil . Researchers have indicated that the antioxidant capacity of polyphenols in olive oil may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancer .
3.4.2. Flavonols
Flavonols are the major polyphenolic sub-group of flavonoids, which are present in tea, onions, broccoli, and various common fruits. Example polyphenol flavonols include quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, and isorhamnetin, with an estimated intake of 12.9 mg/day in a typical Western diet .
3.4.3. Isoflavones
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Surgery For Breast Cancer
Most women with breast cancer have some type of surgery. Common types of breast surgery are lumpectomy, mastectomy, and taking out lymph nodes from the underarm. Women who have breast surgery may also decide to have the breast shape rebuilt, either at the same time or later on. This is called breast reconstruction.
Choosing between lumpectomy and mastectomy
Lumpectomy takes out the lump and a little bit of normal breast around it. It lets you keep most of your breast. The downside is that youll most likely need radiation treatment after surgery. But some women who have a mastectomy also need radiation afterward.
When choosing between a lumpectomy and mastectomy, be sure to get all the facts. At first you may think that a mastectomy is the best way to get it all out. Some women tend to choose mastectomy because of this. But most often, lumpectomy with radiation is just as good as mastectomy. Talk to your cancer care team. Learn as much as you can to make the right choice for you.
Reconstructive surgery
If you have breast surgery, you may want to think about having your breast shape rebuilt . Its not done to treat the cancer. It builds a breast shape that looks a lot like your natural breast.
If you are thinking about having reconstruction, you should talk to a plastic surgeon before the breast surgery is done. Your breast might be able to be rebuilt at the same time the surgery is done or later on.
Does Alcohol Increase The Risk Of Cancer Recurrence
Studies have found a link between alcohol intake and the risk of getting a number of cancers, such as cancer of the:
Alcohol use may be linked to stomach cancer, too.
In people who have already been diagnosed with cancer, alcohol intake could affect the risk for these new cancers.
Alcohol intake can also increase levels of estrogens in the blood. In theory, this could increase the risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer coming back after treatment. But only a few studies have looked at alcohol use in breast cancer survivors. About half of them link it to worse outcomes, while the other half either showed no harm or a benefit. One study found that the effect of alcohol may be worse in women who are overweight or obese.
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Dietary Intervention Primes Triple
A diet that starves triple-negative breast cancer cells of an essential nutrient primes the cancer cells to be more easily killed by a targeted antibody treatment, UW Carbone Cancer Center scientists report in a recent publication.
The studys senior author, Vincent Cryns, professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, says the study lays the foundation for a clinical trial to see if a low-methionine diet will help improve outcomes in women with triple-negative breast cancer.
Methionine is an essential amino acid that is present in low concentrations in some vegan diets.
Patients with triple-negative breast cancer have limited treatment options because their tumor cells lack the three receptors estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 commonly targeted in hormone or chemotherapy.
The journal Clinical Cancer Research chose the paper as a highlighted study in its June 15 edition.
Scientists have known for decades that methionine deficiency can block the growth of many types of cancer, but the underlying mechanisms have puzzled researchers.
Specifically, the researchers showed that when triple-negative breast cancer cells were deprived of methionine an essential nutrient abundant in meat, fish, some legumes and nuts, but low in fruits and vegetables the stressed cancer cells responded by increasing the amount of a receptor on the cells surface called TRAIL-R2.
Epigenetic Regulation And Dietary Control Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
- 1Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- 2University of Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- 3Department of Surgery, Breast Surgery Oncology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
Triple negative breast cancer represents a highly heterogeneous group of breast cancers, lacking expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 . TNBC are characterized by a high level of mutation and metastasis, poor clinical outcomes and overall survival. Here, we review the epigenetic mechanisms of regulation involved in cell pathways disrupted in TNBC, with particular emphasis on dietary food components that may be exploited for the development of effective strategies for management of TNBC.
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Foods That May Lower Breast Cancer Risk
Keep in mind that many factors are associated with breast cancer development. While improving your diet can improve your overall health and reduce your cancer risk in general, its only one piece of the puzzle.
Even with a healthy diet, you still need regular breast cancer screenings like mammograms and manual checks. After all, early detection and diagnosis significantly increase survival rates. Talk to your healthcare provider for advice about breast cancer screenings.
All the same, research suggests that these foods may lower your risk of this disease.
What Is The Risk For Triple
The disease can affect anyone, but is more likely to show up in those who are:
- Younger than age 50 .
- Black or Latinx.
- Living with a genetic condition called BRCA mutation that increases the risk for breast cancer and other forms of cancer. Most cancers diagnosed in people with the BRCA1 mutation are triple negative.
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How Does The Doctor Know I Have Breast Cancer
A change seen on your mammogram may be the first sign of breast cancer. Or you may have found a lump or other change in your breast.
The doctor will ask you questions about your health and will examine you. A breast exam is done, which includes looking for changes in the nipples or the skin of your breasts. The doctor will also check the lymph nodes under your arm and above your collarbone. Swollen or hard lymph nodes might mean breast cancer has spread there.
If signs are pointing to breast cancer, you will have more tests. Here are some of the tests you may need:
Mammogram: This is an x-ray of the breast. Mammograms are mostly used to find breast cancer early. But you might have another mammogram to look more closely at the breast problem you could have.
MRI scan: MRIs use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to make detailed pictures. MRIs can be used to learn more about the size of the cancer and look for other tumors in the breast.
Breast ultrasound: For this test, a small wand-like instrument is moved around on your breast. It gives off sound waves and picks up the echoes as they bounce off tissues. The echoes are made into a picture on a computer screen. Ultrasound can help the doctor see if a lump is a fluid-filled cyst , or if it’s a solid mass that could be cancer.
A Special Diet For Triple Negative Breast Cancer
There is exciting news in the world of cancer nutrition! For years, the triple negative breast cancer patient has been without a targeted treatment. But, the evidence is beginning to show that some triple-negative specific targeted treatment is on the horizon.
This is great news for you if you want to take back the control cancer has taken from you and reduce your fear around this diagnosisyou are not powerless! This is new information in the triple-negative breast cancer community and it will help you to be an active participant in your cancer treatment and get you on your way to thriving after cancer.
Whether you are a breast cancer patient or survivor or are dealing with another type of cancer, lets take a look at what these new studies might mean for you
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Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Currently, a few treatment options exist for TNBC but have limited specificity. Taxanes are microtubules stabilizers that inhibit cell division. They have been shown to be more effective in the therapy of TNBC than in hormone receptor positive BC . Anthracyclines inhibit RNA synthesis and they have been used alone for the treatment of TNBC patients with limited success, but with better outcomes when used in combination with taxanes. Platinum agents induce cell death in BRCA1 mutant cells, due to their ability to prevent replication fork and inducing double strands breaks. Therapy with carboplatin and cisplatin was found to improve overall survival in TNBC patients. The best clinical outcomes were achieved when platinum compounds were used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents . Epigenetic drugs, i.e., HDAC inhibitors have been used in chromatin modifier therapies as adjuvants to sensitize TNBC cells. However, results have been mixed, as HDAC inhibitors induce re-expression of silenced tumor suppressors genes, but also inhibit expression of pro-apoptotic genes that down-regulate cell proliferation . Recently, a window-of-opportunity study examined the possibility of using valproic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, as a possible neoadjuvant in TNBC patients. Even though a low number of women were available for evaluation, valproic acid treatment caused a 10% decrease in proliferation of breast tumors assessed by Ki-67 expression .
What Do These Mean For Me
This is important research, but there is no single approach that would help anyone diagnosed with breast cancer. Actually, everyone is different, and the details of our diagnosis play an important role in shaping the best diet to get through cancer.
Furthermore, different treatments work in different ways, making it very difficult for any one single approach to work for everyone.
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Editors Choice In Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive breast cancers because of its resistance to treatments. However, recentstudies have shown that fasting-mimicking dietswhich include roughly 50 percent fewer calories and reduced proteins and sugars compared to average dietscan slow tumor growth.
Giulia Salvadori, a postdoc at the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology in Italy, studied the mechanism behind how fasting affects tumors in biogerontologist Valter Longos lab. Their team experimented with cancer stem cells, both those cultured on nutrient-poor substrates and those in mice given a fasting-type diet. The results showed that lower glucose levels in the nutrient-poor conditions downregulated protein kinase A, an enzyme that promotes cancer cell growth and spread. This resulted in fewer and smaller tumors and longer mouse survival.
The study also examined retrospective data from 81 triple-negative breast cancer patients and found that lower blood glucose levels correlated with higher survival rates, though Longo notes the need for clinical trials to validate the effect. If the combination treatment was also successful in humans, Panda adds, researchers have to make a new drug discovery, but could instead use existing drugs to improve survival.
G. Salvadori et al., Fasting-mimicking diet blocks triple-negative breast cancer and cancer stem cell escape, Cell Metab, 33:224759, 2021.
Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer An Aggressive Form Of Cancer
Its true that triple negative breast cancers can grow quickly. But your prognosis or expected outcome depends on more factors than your cancer subtype. Healthcare providers will also consider your tumors size and whether it has spread to your lymph nodes and other parts of your breast. Its also helpful to know researchers are focusing on ways to slow the spread of TNBC.
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What Is The Life Expectancy Of Triple
In general, about 91% of all women with triple-negative breast cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near the breast the 5 year relative survival rate is about 65%. If the cancer has spread to distant places, the 5 year relative survival rate is 12%.
Herbal Supplements Vitamins And Minerals
Getting a wide range of vitamins and minerals should be easy when youre eating lots of produce, but its not always that simple. Our soil is so degraded even organic produce doesnt have the nutrition it used to have. If you cannot grow your own produce in the most optimum conditions with the best soil, we recommend a primarily food-based nutrition powder from a source you know and trust. Not whole food sourced, we mean actual food like rose hips, lemon peels, chlorella, etc. When these nutrition formulas are done right, the enzymes are left intact.
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One mineral deficiency can lead to other minerals being out of balance, causing an array of problems, including an inability to assimilate vitamins. In most cases, this is why taking one or two specific minerals for a long period of time is not recommended, unless under the supervision of a well-informed naturopath. Incidentally, the same is true for many vitamins. Get the bulk of your nutrition from raw food, first and foremost. Let food be your foundation.
There are a ton of herbal tinctures, extracts, and other supplements that kill cancer cells. Echinacea, oil of oregano, clove oil, goldenseal, berberine, astragalus, pau d´arco, red clover, and skullcap are a few of the many plant-based herbal supplements that kill cancer cells. Study after study shows that many of the right plants and plant extracts have more power to kill off cancer cells than conventional treatments.
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