Hi all Not sure who this reaches if anyone, but one question I have to ask is what is basal-type breast cancer? I understand that Basal cancer is a skin cancer typr however I am confused how this relates to breast cancer, that I have been diagnosed, and the relevance or potential of this cancer in the situ? If anyone can see my post and are in a similar situation, can you please make contact as I am finding it difficult to ascertain conclusive reasoning of the triggering / nature of this cancer type? Furthermore, has anyone gone through chemo in this cancer type? If so, what type and what were your experiences?

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

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

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

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

What is Basal-type Breast Cancer?

17 Replies

Deeay
Member
14 years ago
Hi Penni, Hope this finds you well again after treatment? I was just wondering how you are going. I'm triple negative too and finished treatment in October last year. I read everything I could lay my hands on and it got quite depressing. As good as the tnbc.org website is, there ARE a lot of people suffering on it..... The best news is, that the longer we stay healthy the chances we will stay that way are better than for other breast cancers! Take care, Diane
Penni
Member
14 years ago
Hey Lizzy - I did realise that you responded to Khali's reply but your message was well received and beautiful, supportive and positive! I would be interested to receive any of your findings from your research. Anything worthwhile to my journey??

Sorry to hear that you were affected by the bushfires moreover, I hope your property or that of family was directly affected. You must be a strong person to be surrounded by such a tragic event whilst going through your treatment! Very admirable and inspiring!

Keep in touch - take care of yourself.

PS: I love your occupation!

Pen
Penni
Member
14 years ago
Hey Lizzy - I did realise that you responded to Khali's reply but your message was well received and beautiful, supportive and positive! I would be interested to receive any of your findings from your research. Anything worthwhile to my journey??

Sorry to hear that you were affected by the bushfires moreover, I hope your property or that of family was directly affected. You must be a strong person to be surrounded by such a tragic event whilst going through your treatment! Very admirable and inspiring!

Keep in touch - take care of yourself.

PS: I love your occupation!

Pen
Elizabeth_Cole
Member
14 years ago
I read the wrong message and replied to your previous one. But you'll figure it out. As I said, thinking of you.
Elizabeth_Cole
Member
14 years ago
What a time you've been having! But I am delighted to hear from you. Yes, even the strong find the going tough at times so I hope you are getting the support you need and are able to cut back on all those commitments.

I don't have a 3neg cancer statis, actually. I read your blog when you first joined this forum, and felt moved to do some research on it because nobody seemed to be replying to your query and (as a trained filmmaker and current writer) research is something I can do easily. Your plight moved me also because a friend had just been diagnosed with another of the rarer varieties. My own cancer was Estrogen positive and was treated successfully. I am six years down the track now and have my annual check up next month. I can relate to what you say about other issues going on at the same time as the cancer treatment. Life is so like that! We had major bushfires here in the Grampians while I was recovering.

I hope the news for the new lesion is not too disheartening for you. It is hard having to go through it all again - but you are still young and seem to have a great deal to live for. Did you know Australians have the best survival rate in the world due to the excellent treatment we receive here?

Will be thinking of you,

Lizzy
Penni
Member
14 years ago
Hi Khali

Thank you for your warm and understood sentiments!

I am so sorry that it has taken me sooo long to reply to your post however, working f/t, undertaking uni and family commitments in conjunction with my cancer diagnosis and treatment had caused me to "hit the brick wall". I mean I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety (go figure!) and cumulative stress. I had more going on in my life in addition to the breast cancer diagnosis that trying to ignore this, caused me more grief and anxiety than I could possibly expect to imagine! Particularly given that I am a very strong person and similarly in personality!

I reciprocate your thoughts and wishes, I hope all is well with you? If you get read this, could you let me know how your going. It is unusual to find one of 15% of the breast cancer population that has been diagnosed with the triple negative type.

Unfortunately for me, my recent 3 month MRI has found a possible lesion in the right breast, which I believe has been there since my first situation. All the same, I will go through the process and hope for the best. I just hope that if the other lesion is negative orientated, I can avoid cancer - not at the detriment of my life!!

I have not perused your profile at this stage but will do so in due course.

Thanks again for your kind words, thoughts and I hope for you, your medical status has remained positive!

Sent with Kind thoughts . .

Pen xx
Elizabeth_Cole
Member
14 years ago
How are you doing, Penni? I've been thinking of you. Wondering how you have coped with your treatment program. Just sending you some warm fuzzies....xx Lizzy
khali
Member
15 years ago
Hello Penni,

                       Let me start by saying thankyou,i"ve just read your blog & finally i've found more information about my diagnosis.I was diagnosed with trip neg basal type breast cancer in 2008.It happened so fast for me.

             The cancer was found in my left breast.Due to the size of my tumour(9cm)i was told that i would have to have a mastectomy so i chose to have both breast removed.My lymph nodes were also removed(left side only).Chemo started in the Feb 2009.The type of chemo i had was FEC 100.Pretty strong dose but because of the size & type of cancer it was needed.I have written more about my journey in my profile which you are more than welcome to read.After chemo i than had radiotherapy.

   Each one of us heals,reacts & thinks differently & I realise that you are probably half way through chemo if that is what you opted for but i just wanted you to know that there is someone else out there who has already gone though it & can maybe be there for you if you have any questions.

           It is now 2011 & all is going well for me & this i hope will be the same for you.Wishing you a bright & beautiful 2011.

   Khali.x
Penni
Member
15 years ago
Hi Lizzy

Thanks for the aforementioned website - I did not think to research triple negative cancers - you are a gem!

I have spent hours surfing the site and have gained loads of information and knowledge of triple negative cancers including the basal-type. I feel more comfortable going forward with this knowledge on board, so thank you very much.

My husband and I are meeting with our Oncologist and Radiotherapist next Friday. This will provide me with direction on treatment and hopefully more opportune outcome than some of the basal-like cancer stories in the tnbcf site. Fingers and legs crossed! I am intrigued to ascertain whether my cancer has developed as a result of genetics - from my father's side of bowel cancer - this is the only explanation I can associate my situation.

Thank you for your kind words, through and support, I greatly appreciate you finding the above site on my behalf.

Kind regards

Penni