Cancer Research UK main site

Metastatic triple negative breast cancer

Charlottelou
Offline

Hi all,

New here!

In short, my partners mum was diagnosed with stage 1 triple negative breast cancer in December 21 and she had the lump removed, had chemotherapy and rung the bell when treatment was over in November 22. They done a mammogram at the end of it and all was clear and hadn’t spread. That of course wasn’t the case!! 

In May 23 (this year) she was then told the cancer had spread to distant areas (lung, brain and adrenal gland) so they firstly removed 2 tumours from the brain and have started chemotherapy again. She had her 3rd session today. 

Today we had had news to say the cancer has now spread to her eyes. She has had poor sight ever since the brain operation and still cannot see properly/hardly at all. 

She will now be on treatment for the foreseeable in order to prolong her life. She cannot be cured as the cancer has metastasised. 

I feel that because of the nature of the cancer to begin with, they should have done a full body scan at the end of the very first treatment for the triple negative breast cancer because of how likely it is to spread. Them doing a mammogram of course only showed if it had cleared from the breast which it had. My partner mentioned this to them and they said they were sorry. It’s just not the answer to it all :(

I feel like it’s just bad news after bad news so I just wanted to see if anyone had a story of a similar situation as I can’t see anything online and her situation just seems so rare and unfortunate. TNBC is apparently rare and so is the cancer spreading to the adrenal gland. I guess I just want to hear a happy story from someone to ease our minds. My partner is beside himself :(

Thank you all. Wish you all well.

Charlotte xx

  • Offline

    Charlotte 

    I had breast cancer last year but not TNBC my friend had TNBC the same time as me she’s due her first annual check next month 

    but she did have a body scan along the way during and after chemo ,.but she had a private medical insurance x 

    im praying that your mother in law will be ok bless you and all your family sending a huge hug your way xx 

    big hugs love Lara xx 

  • Offline

    Hi, sorry to hear about your MiL. It's a fear that remains after treatment,

    Something we have learned, cancer needs to be a certain size before it can be picked up on any of the current scans that are available. Whilst no one can know because of the lack of scan she received, nothing would have probably shown up at that stage. All it takes is a single cell, and there is absolutely no set pattern of how fast or how slow that cancer may grow. Some folk get a clear scan, then a month or 2 later, it's throughout the body. Then there are some who can go years without anything showing up, only for the same cancer to reappear elsewhere.

    Unfortunately, no one as far as we're aware gets an end of treatment full body scan on the NHS. My wife only got a mid treatment one. When her treatment finished, she had to wait an entire year just for a post treatment mamo. An entire year. Sheesh, that took us by surprise and her cancer was considered the most aggressive, and it was a kick up the backside away from being stage 4 at diagnosis. It was locally extensive. So if you're stage 1, there's no hope of getting that scan.

    I'll be clear about this, i accept there may be science behind this and accept i might be wrong, but imo, the lack of scans stinks of nothing more than a cost-cutting exercise. The usual NHS nonsense.

  • Offline in reply to laraj

    Hi Lara,

    Thank you for your message - I really appreciate it. 

    I’m so glad you’re okay now and I hope with all my heart that it remains this way for you

    All the best to your friend too - I hope all goes well with the check up xx

  • Offline in reply to ProfBaw

    Hi there, 

    I couldn’t have put it better myself to be honest. You’re right (I’m sure) in every way. It’s exactly what I think too.

    Appreciate your message and wish you all the best x

  • Offline in reply to Charlottelou

    Charlotte 

    Thank you for well wishes lovely 

    stay here for chats and support whenever you need it we are all here for you love Lara xxx 

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.