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Trifina’s Resource Page for Women with Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Being newly diagnosed can be very overwhelming and google can be a big place to search for information. In this resource page, I share with you noteworthy links to websites, the latest research/news articles and books that I think might be of use to you in navigating through your treatment and beyond.
I will be constantly adding and updating these as I come across any new information.
BOOKS
Before diving into these, please understand that I have read these books and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful. Please don’t spend any money unless you feel you need them or that they will help you.
Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer by Patricia Prijatel is a great book if you’re newly diagnosed and want the run down on Triple Negative Breast Cancer. You’ll quickly learn how TNBC fits into the bigger picture of breast cancer without having to resort to reading complex research papers.
The author has a background in journalism and is a 12 year TNBC survivor. Patricia isn’t a scientist or a medical professional, however, the book has been edited by several health professionals including a breast surgeon, pathologist, nurse and dietitian so we know the information is reliable.
I love how Patricia breaks down and explains the medical and scientific language. I believe learning the lingo is important if we’re going to effectively communicate with our doctors.
She guides the reader step-by-step from understanding the diagnosis, the biology of TNBC, the treatment options, right through to healthy living. She weaves in her story and other stories of women battling TNBC which makes this book highly readable and a resource you would go back to, time and time again.
You can CHECK OUT HER BOOK HERE.
FACEBOOK GROUPS
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivors - women and their support persons can join
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivors - for women only
Brca+ Triple Negative Breast Cancer - women with TNBC and the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
WEBSITES
Moonshot Program for TNBC at the MD Anderson - This page describes a personalised approach to treating TNBC called the moon-shot program that’s being done at the MD Anderson. This study is based on the 6 sub-types of TNBC that have been identified.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ARTICLES
The Epigenetics of Triple-Negative and Basal-Like Breast Cancer: Current Knowledge. Journal of Breast Cancer 2018
Advances in the systemic treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Current Oncology, June 2018.
RECENT NEWS ARTICLES
OCTOBER 2018
Results from an immunotherapy clinical trial using atezolizumab (Tecentriq) + nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in newly diagnosed Stage 4 TNBC - There was no statistical significance between the group that received chemo vs the group that received chemo + immunotherapy however, when researchers looked closely, they saw a median increase in survival of 10 months in women who had high expression of PD-L1.
Considering women with metastatic TNBC have a survival of ~10-18 months this is quite a marked improvement.
Takeaway: women with high expression of PD-L1 in their tumours may respond well to immunotherapy.
MD Anderson Immunologist Jim Anderson Wins Nobel Prize (Oct 1, 2018) - Immunologist working on the Moon-shot program for TNBC wins the Nobel Prize.