Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Colleen Donahue, girlfriend of Jon Gosselin, 44, just recently went public with with news that she has been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. She went through a mastectomy and might need chemotherapy.
- Donahue delayed her mammogram for nearly three years due to COVID-19 and “lack of time.” The cancer was caught in an early stage.
- Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of the disease, and needs to be treated differently than a typically treatment plan. The typical first-line treatment plan is chemotherapy.
Gosselin rose to public fame through his TV show Jon & Kate Plus 8 with his now ex-wife Kate Gosselin. The television show aired from 2007-2009 and followed the large Gosselin family as they navigated everyday life together. Jon and Kate were married for 10 years until divorcing in 2009, which prompted Jon to leave the program. He and Donahue have been dating since 2014.
Read More“The reason I decided to post this was that I was lucky that it was caught early,” Donahue writes. “And to remind everyone not to put off your mammograms and do your monthly breast exams. Set a monthly alarm if needed. Even men, who can also get breast cancer. Early detection will make the world of difference and give you a better fighting chance.”
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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Explained
Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of the disease, and needs to be treated differently than a typically treatment plan. Triple-negative means that your cancer is not being fueled by any of the three main types of receptorsestrogen, progesterone nor the Her2 protein. This being the case, the cancer won't respond to certain targeted therapies including hormone therapy or Her2-targeted agents. For this specific form of the disease, chemotherapy is typically recommended as first-line treatment.
Related: How to Deal With the Side Effects of Chemotherapy
For those who don’t respond to chemotherapy, your doctor may also recommend a clinical trial which involves immunotherapy or very specific targeted therapies. Despite the disease being known as aggressive, there’s still treatment options available for women facing this diagnosis. However, catching it early before it has spread can help the treatment process tremendously. This is why scheduling your mammograms is essential for your health and future.
“What I’m most concerned about is the women who haven’t been in for a mammogram for two, three, four years, or have never had a mammogram,” Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, previously told SurvivorNet. “We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives. Every doctor that I know, every organization that I know really encourages women to have a mammogram.”
Dr. Connie Lehman breaks down breast cancer screening guidelines
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