There is no one-size-fits all approach to treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a type of breast cancer that is known to be aggressive and has fewer treatment options than more common types of breast cancer. Treatment often involves a sequence of different cancer therapies. Treatment is also evolving as medical researchers and healthcare providers learn more about TNBC and how it responds to treatment.
The decision of how to treat TNBC will depend on multiple factors about the cancer and about the person being treated. If you are in the process of treatment or planning treatment, the questions below can help you during your conversations with your healthcare team—and help you get a better idea of what you can expect from treatment.
General questions when planning treatment
Your overall health, treatment costs, what kind of support you’ll need, and how to get in touch with your healthcare team are all important topics to discuss when planning treatment.
Here are some questions to ask your healthcare team:
- What do you need to know about my current health and medical history? For example, existing health conditions, pregnancy, and any medications you are taking (prescription, over the counter, and supplements). Ask if you need to stop taking any medications prior to treatment.
- Should I have genetic testing or speak to a genetic counselor? Should my family members be tested for genetic mutations?
- How much will treatment cost? Who can I talk to if I have concerns about the cost of treatment?
- What lifestyle changes should I make before or during treatment? For example, how much time away from work will you need for treatment.
- What support services are available to help me during treatment?
- Who can I reach out to if I have a question? Who should I contact if I have an emergency?
- Should I consider participating in a clinical trial?
Cancer treatment, pregnancy, and fertility
Fertility is another important topic to discuss with a healthcare team. Cancer treatments can affect fertility, and in some cases can cause infertility. If preserving fertility is a priority in your treatment, tell your healthcare team as soon as possible. It's recommended that you consult a fertility expert if you are planning on becoming pregnant.
Questions about a recommended surgical procedure
You will want to know the name of the procedure, what parts of the breast will be removed during surgery, and details about the process, including recovery time:
- What type of surgical procedure are you recommending? Is breast-conserving surgery an option? Do you recommend mastectomy?
- What exactly will the surgery remove? For example, how much breast tissue, how many lymph nodes, and the location of those lymph nodes.
- How will this surgery affect the appearance of my breasts? Will surgery affect the ability to breastfeed in the future?
- Why do you recommend this type of surgery for my specific diagnosis?
- What is the goal of this surgery?
- What are the risks and potential complications of this procedure?
- Can you explain the different steps of the procedure? How long will the surgery take? What type of anesthesia will I be given?
- How long can I expect to be at the hospital?
- What is the recovery process like? What is the timeline for recovery? What type of support will I need during recovery? What can I do to prepare ahead of time (For example, preparations around the home).
- During recovery, what will be my restrictions on activities and work?
- What complications should I watch for during recovery?
- What are my options for breast reconstruction following surgery?
Questions about neoadjuvant therapy
Neoadjuvant therapy is cancer treatment given prior to surgery, often to shrink a tumor to make it easier to remove with surgery. This often includes chemotherapy, or chemotherapy used in combination with immunotherapy.
- What type of neoadjuvant therapies do you recommend? Know the exact name of the therapy being given, the dosage, and how it’s administered.
- How long will this part of treatment take?
- Where will I go for treatment and how often?
- What are the goals of neoadjuvant therapy?
- How will we know if this treatment is working?
- What are the risks? What are the potential side effects? Ask about both short-term and long-term side effects.
- How will my day-to-day life be affected by this treatment? What type of support does a person usually need with this type of therapy?
- Are there things I will need to avoid during this part of treatment?
Questions about adjuvant therapy
Adjuvant therapy is follow-up treatment after surgery. This may include radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy drugs.
- What type of adjuvant therapy do you recommend and why? Again, know the exact name of the therapy being given, the dosage, and how it’s administered.
- How soon after surgery will these treatments start?
- What type of follow-up care and monitoring will I need? How will we know if treatment is working?
- What are the potential benefits? What are the potential risks and side effects?
- How will this treatment affect my day-to-day life? Are there restrictions I need to follow during this part of treatment?
- Where will I go for treatment and how often?
- How long will I be taking this therapy?
- Are there additional steps after adjuvant therapy?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with TNBC, your best source of information will be your healthcare team.
Sources: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Triple-n... + 12
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Triple-negative breast cancer.
- American Cancer Society. Triple-negative Breast Cancer.
- American Cancer Society. Treatment of Triple-negative Breast Cancer.
- Nating Xiong, Heming Wu, and Zhikang Yu. Advancements and challenges in triple-negative breast cancer: a comprehensive review of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Frontiers in Oncology, 2024. Vol. 14.
- American Cancer Society. Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Breast Cancer.
- American Cancer Society. Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk.
- American Cancer Society. Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: Answers to Common Questions.
- American Cancer Society. Surgery for Breast Cancer.
- MedlinePlus. Mastectomy and breast reconstruction - what to ask your doctor.
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Neoadjuvant therapy.
- National Cancer Institute. Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Treatment.
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Adjuvant therapy.
- Moffitt Cancer Center. Triple Negative Breast Cancer Recurrence.
