Coping With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Australian singer-songwriter Sam McClymont, 38, has recounted the shock she felt as she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis after deciding to see a specialist. Her treatment plan includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
- “Triple-negative” means the cancer is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors: estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain common therapies.
- In addition to surgery and radiation, chemotherapy is a mainstay of treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. Different chemotherapy combinations may be used to treat this aggressive form of cancer.
- In some cases, immunotherapy — which harnesses the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells — will be used for triple-negative breast cancer.
- Coping with a breast cancer diagnosis can be one of the most daunting hurdles you’ve faced in your life. Experts tell SurvivorNet that leaning into your support group, keeping a journal, and a mental health professional are all effective ways to help you cope.
McClymont, an Australian country music artist known for being a member of the family band The McClymonts, alongside her sisters Brooke and Mollie, recounted her shock diagnosis in a recent interview with Woman’s Day, where she looked back on her December 2023 appointment with a breast specialist—something she wasn’t sure if she wanted to go to.
Read MoreMcClymont told Woman’s Day, “A mammogram and biopsy had just showed I had a non-cancerous tumor in my breast but it was still really sore. I decided to go to see the specialist anyway and see what my options were.View this post on Instagram
“As soon as he examined me, he said that he wasn’t comfortable with the lump or the [non cancerous] result I’d had.”
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Three weeks later, when she returned to her followup appointment, which she “hadn’t been asked to bring anyone,” she was informed she had an aggressive form of triple-negative breast cancer.
McClymont explained the whirlwind of emotions she felt, saying, “I was instantly crying. It was a shock. He was telling me about all the treatments, but I couldn’t believe it.
“I was bawling when I called Ben and my younger sister Mollie. Then she was crying. Nobody was expecting this.”
To combat the disease, McClymont underwent months of chemotherapy, including surgery. She may also have a mastectomy done and radiation treatment.
Fortunately, the cancer did not spread to her lymph nodes, doctors informed her following chemo and surgery.
Now she’s incredibly grateful for having visited the breast specialists. She added, “If my GP [doctor] hadn’t had the foresight to make that appointment and if I’d decided not to go, then it would have spread.”
View this post on Instagram
McClymont, who also recently got a new stylish, and very realistic, wig, took to Instagram to promote her interview with Woman’s Day Australia.
She captioned the post, “Thank you @womansdayaus for sharing my story this week in your magazine. Being diagnosed at 38 with triple negative breast cancer has certainly been life changing. Everyday I am learning to give up control of things I cannot change, and hand myself over to fighting this.
“There is still a long way to go in my treatment but I hope you enjoy reading about my journey so far.”
McClymont first opened up about her diagnosis back in April by sharing a photo of her hugging her sons with a shaved head, and writing alongside it, “It has become my full-time job having treatment. It has begun with chemotherapy/immunotherapy, which in total will be 5 months, followed by surgery and then radiation.
“Sometimes, it feels like Groundhog Day when I find myself back at the hospital for my weekly chemo, blood tests and shots. Friends and family have been incredibly supportive as Ben, the boys, and I navigate our new routine.”
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She continued, “Feeling like I can’t be the mother and wife I want to be has been the hardest, as there are days I can’t get out of bed. I can’t be ‘Sam McClymont’ as I have cancelled all my work for the year, which also feels like losing a huge part of my identity.
“When I am feeling my lowest, I remind myself of something my oncologist told me: ‘Give me a year so you can have 50 more.’ It always gets me through. I know I will come out the other side of this, but it’s one step at a time.”
View this post on Instagram
Understanding Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of the disease and makes up for approxiamatelyab 20 percent of all breast cancers. The treatment approach varies from patient to patient and may include a combination of different treatments.
Early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatments may use a combination of chemotherapy drugs.
Expert Resources On Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- ‘It’s A Game Changer’: FDA Approves Keytruda, Chemo Combo To Treat Aggressive Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Chemo Plus Immunotherapy for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- More Than 80% of Women With Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Experienced a Prolonged Event-Free Survival With Keytruda Plus Chemotherapy Regimen
- Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatments To Consider
- New Study Identifies Genes Linked to Increased Risk for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Treating Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
For example, a CMF regimen is an abbreviation for combining chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil. AC stands for doxorubicin (Adriamycin) with cyclophosphamide, and ACT just indicates that a taxane drug is added to the regimen. Likewise, TC is an abbreviation for a regimen of Taxotere and cyclophosphamide.
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In 2021, the FDA approved the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab for the treatment of early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is already used to treat other cancers, including melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Doctors heralded the FDA’s approval of pembrolizumab as a potentially paradigm-shifting advancement in breast cancer treatment.
For patients with stage 2 or 3 TNBC, adding the immune-boosting medication pembrolizumab to combination chemotherapy before surgery increases chances of living free of breast cancer, explains oncologist Dr. Sylvia Adams, director of the Breast Cancer Center at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
She was one of several researchers involved with the pembrolizumab trials. “It changes the standard of care and should be discussed with all patients diagnosed with stage 2-3 TNBC,” she adds. “Yes, it’s a game-changer, though there is much more to be learned.”
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Is Your Cancer Really Triple-Negative?
Dr. Heather McArthur, Clinical Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Simmons Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has spoken with SurvivorNet on this relevant topic.
You might be told you have triple-negative breast cancer, that means that your cancer is not being fueled by any of the three main types of receptors: estrogen, progesterone nor the HER2 protein. But now you could be categorized as HER2 low instead of HER2 negative.
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Breast cancer cells with higher-than-normal levels of HER2 are called HER2-positive, those with low levels of HER2 are (or were) called HER2 negative. Recently, however, researchers have looked to further expand this definition to include patients that have a minimal amount of HER2 expression but do not meet the classic definition for HER2-positive tumors. This group has been called HER2 “low” and is very important as it represents almost 50% of all patients with breast cancer.
This excitement stems from the fact that HER2-low breast cancers are targetable with a recently new FDA-approved Enhertu (Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki). It appears that Enhertu is extremely effective for appropriate patients and can greatly improve their quality of life and help them live longer.
Therefore, it is exceedingly important to discuss with your physician about your HER2 status.
Coping with an Emotional Breast Cancer Diagnosis
When you are diagnosed with cancer, feelings of fear and anxiety are completely normal. SurvivorNet experts recommend four tips for women diagnosed with breast cancer to better cope with their emotions during this difficult stage of the journey.
- Let your family and close friends know and let them help. After a diagnosis, you’re often faced with a ton of emotions and need help. It would be best if you encouraged people close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. Many cancer warriors have shared with SurvivorNet that keeping a journal is an effective tool for acknowledging your feelings and emotions.
- Join a cancer support group. There is a good chance someone else is facing what you are facing or has been through this emotional leg of the journey before. Support groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you about what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Seek professional help from a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than bottling them inside can be therapeutic.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about how to keep your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take in my daily life to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
- Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and maintaining a healthy weight?
- I’ve been having trouble sleeping, do you have any treatment recommendations?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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