Cancer Research UK main site

Wife diagnosed with TNBC

Worried-husband
Offline

My wife has been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Confirmed Stage 1 and grade 2, just waiting to start chemotherapy and then radiotherapy, is this guaranteed to be terminal, I can’t ask myself as my wife has asked me not to and no one is saying it and I’m worried that this is being kept from me. 

also, is it a case of once you get cancer you are pretty much guranteed to die of it at some point   

  • Offline

    Hello,

    I think that breast cancer treatments have come on leaps and bounds and most are very treatable nowadays, but obviously a cancer diagnosis is always scary and of course there are risks. I have stage 2 grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and have been told that my treatment plan should successfully clear me of disease and I'll come out the other side. There will always be the chance that it will come back, but that won't necessarily be for a long time and if it does, it will be treated again. I know women who had breast cancer 25 years ago who are still here to tell the tale :) 

  • Offline in reply to SharLou

    I really appreciate your quick reply, it’s the fact that it’s a triple negative that I was wondering if that made it terminal, I’m deliberately not google it as advised 

  • in reply to Worried-husband

    Hello Worried-husband

    I can see that Sharlou has already shared some really positive advice with you and I'm glad to see you are avoiding Google as we know that many people are left feeling necessarily scared and worried after searching the internet for answers. 

    We do have some information about triple negative breast cancer on our website and I wanted to reassure you that having a TNBC diagnosis is not an automatic terminal diagnosis. I can see that you've already posted in our Ask the Nurses topic area and shared that the surgeon told your wife this was treatable and curable. This is really positive to hear. 

    The nurse team will be back in the office tomorrow and will reply to your post as soon as they can but I wonder if you might find it helpful to talk through some of your questions and concerns with them. I know they will be happy to offer any advice, information and support they can. They're available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0808 800 4040. 

    I hope that over the coming days you can find the reassurance that you need so you can support your wife through the rest of her treatment plan. 

    Keep in touch Worried-husband and let us know how you both get on. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.