What is Basal-type Breast Cancer?

Hi Penny, I was very moved by your story and the lack of info you had access to because of the unusual nature of your diagnosis - so I did a bit of research and found a group dedicated entirely to triple negative breast cancer fellow travellers, Here is the link below (check out the spotlight stories for inspiration).  Also, from my own experience, I find having an Oncologist oversee my case, rather than the surgeon who operated on me (who was wonderful but, as you discovered, not a cancer expert) really helpful.  Will be thinking of you, girl.  Lizzy

http://www.tnbcfoundation.org

Hi Penni

Just another quick one before I toddle off to bed.  You will see I have changed my profile pic.  I am the one on the right as you look at the pic.  The two girls that I mentioned that are doing well are with me in the profile pic.  Both girls were diagnosed in 2007 with triple neg cancer, have had chemo and I think you will agree look great!!!  and they are amazing, beautiful girls.

Tanya

Thanks Tanya again for your wonderful advice and suggestions.  I will be seeking a referral to another surgeon tomorrow for second opinion and ongoing care in this respect from here forward.

I am hoping that another member to this site may have been diagnosed or previously diagnosed with my particular cancer whom may be able to shed some light - I'll wait and see.  My breast health care nurse calls me "special" - as a result of my cancer type being rare.

Thanks for the positive feedback regarding your friends who have had triple negative cancers and the effectiveness of chemo.  This type of information is invaluable to me at present.  Still not looking forward to chemo all the same.

It has been a pleasure to meet with you as well.  Stay healthy, live life to the fullest and keep in touch.

Your advice has been very much appreciated.

Penni

WOW, thanks Penni, I am humbled by your response!!

I apologise that I could not shed any light on your question, but there is one thing that I have learnt through my journey and I will share with you....

In the beginning I used to just sit quietly and take it all that i was told and not ask questions and accepted everything that I learnt as gospel.

I now know that even medical people do not have all the answers and if they do not have the answers, I push, probe, dig and ask someone else.  My advice to you is to do the same until someone can tell you what you want to know. If the surgeon that is assigned to you does not know, ask for another one to talk to.  I know this is easy for me to say, now that I am out the other side!!  And I know that you are still probably coming to terms with what had happened to you, so hang in there hon. 

I have some wonderful friends that have had a triple neg cancer and they are doing really well years after treatment.  Also, from my understanding (again this is limited) triple neg cancers respond well to chemo and also the longer the time since diagnosis the less likely cancer is to reoccur which is a good thing.

Great to meet you and thank you for your kind words.

Tanya

WOW, thanks Penni, I am humbled by your response!!

I apologise that I could not shed any light on your question, but there is one thing that I have learnt through my journey and I will share with you....

In the beginning I used to just sit quietly and take it all that i was told and not ask questions and accepted everything that I learnt as gospel.

I now know that even medical people do not have all the answers and if they do not have the answers, I push, probe, dig and ask someone else.  My advice to you is to do the same until someone can tell you what you want to know. If the surgeon that is assigned to you does not know, ask for another one to talk to.  I know this is easy for me to say, now that I am out the other side!!  And I know that you are still probably coming to terms with what had happened to you, so hang in there hon. 

I have some wonderful friends that have had a triple neg cancer and they are doing really well years after treatment.  Also, from my understanding (again this is limited) triple neg cancers respond well to chemo and also the longer the time since diagnosis the less likely cancer is to reoccur which is a good thing.

Great to meet you and thank you for your kind words.

Tanya

Hi Tanya

I hope you don't mind I read your personal profile prior to reading you response to my posted question and I admire you immensely as a person with good strength.

I thought the exact same way when I "accidentally" found the lump - it's nothing! . . . harden tissue after 2 births or as a result of my later daughter applying pressure to the specific point of the breast as she climbs over me!  How stupid was I ??!

Great thing about being a student is instinctively researching the findings of the lumpectomy, ie. pathology results being basal type cancer.  The issue is there is no definitive cause as to how? why? outcome? that I am aware of or have been able to find.

I concur my surgeon should be able to explain this however, apparently I have an "experimental" surgeon whom has an interest in the breast cancer field but does not form part of the breast cancer clinic surgeons of my local hospital.  Frustrating is a light phrase to use, will be changed this week!  How do you know what you don't know? Do we rely on our GP's for appropriate referrals?  I am so aggrivated over the situation it heightens my anger and annoyance yet I have no control.

I understand that my cancer type is "triple negative" as you describe and as research has prevailed, no determination of the prognosis or outcome of the cancer is definitively defined - what does this mean? Is my life going to be impacted? I have sooooo many questions that no one has on-line seemly answered, which does not assist in my planning!

All the same, thank you for involving yourself in this conversation, which is unique, and congratulations on your prognosis.  You are one of those people I would easily form a friendship, based on your profile, so hopefully I can follow in your footsteps.

Good fortune and continued health to you and your family!

Many respects and wishes

Penni

Hi  Penni

From my understanding of this (which for the record is very limited).  The basal like refers to the pathology of your cancer.  I would assume that you have what is called a triple negative breast cancer?  which means that it is not "fed" by estrogen, predesterone and negative HER2.

I think this is a question for your surgeon or oncologist, because it refers to your specific pathology of the tumour.  I am sorry for your diagnosis, and hope that you are able to get some answers that you need.

Good luck.

Tanya