What happens when triple-negative breast cancer spreads?
When triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) spreads beyond the breast, it's called metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer. At this stage, cancer cells have traveled to other parts of the body and formed tumors there.
TNBC commonly spreads to
* Brain
* Liver
* Lungs
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What happens when triple-negative breast cancer spreads?
When triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) spreads beyond the breast, it's called metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer. At this stage, cancer cells have traveled to other parts of the body and formed tumors there.
TNBC commonly spreads to:
* Brain
* Liver
* Lungs
* Bones
Where the cancer spreads can affect your outlook and treatment options. As TNBC spreads, it may also develop mutations that make it resistant to treatments that previously worked.
Despite these challenges, treatment options are available. While hormone therapies and HER2-targeted treatments don't work for TNBC (since these cells lack those receptors), newer treatment options have become available for some people with metastatic TNBC.
Surgery, chemotherapy, and other systemic treatments may still be used depending on your specific situation. Your oncologist can discuss which treatments might work best based on where the cancer has spread and your overall health.
It's important to work closely with your cancer care team to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific needs.
March 5