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This a space to get real about metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with honest stories, information and resources. By exposing the realities of this cancer, we will all become stronger in the face of it.
Meet Denise, Els, Christelle, Irène, and Jeannin, who share their stories and experiences with triple-negative breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer (advanced breast cancer or stage 4 breast cancer).
These videos have been beautifully developed by our partner Pink Ribbon Belgium, with support from Gilead Sciences.
After my breast cancer and relapse 20 years later, I changed the way I plan. I no longer make long-term plans, I now plan according to my medical appointments. For example, my next appointment is in three months, so I think about what I can do between now and then. I can go out, I can live my life, but always until the next check-up. I've learned to live more for today and tomorrow, and I take better care of myself, focusing on well-being.
- Els lives with metastatic breast cancer.
According to the tests, the diagnosis was triple-negative cancer. The doctor first told me that it wasn't this type of breast cancer... it's not the second possibility... nor the third... And I said: but what is it then? I went from "it'll be okay" to "it's not nothing after all.
- Denise, living with triple-negative breast cancer.
A metastatic breast cancer (mBC) or breast cancer stage 4 is a breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a distinct subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of all three common hormonal receptors.
Metastatic Breast Cancer is most commonly categorized based on certain receptors or proteins either present or not present on cancer cells. Knowing your status will help you and your healthcare team identify treatment options.
There are four main subtypes, determined by the presence of hormone receptors (HR), such as receptors for the hormones estrogen (ER) and/or progesterone (PR), and HER2 receptors (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, a protein involved in cell growth).
Cancer cells test positive for hormone receptors (ER+ and/or PR+) and negative for HER2 proteins. This is the most common subtype of breast cancer. Among HER2-negative cancers, it is possible to have low levels of HER2, which is called HER2-low.
Cancer cells test positive for HER2 proteins and negative for hormone receptors.
This type of breast cancer is positive for one or both hormone receptors as well as HER2 proteins.
The cancer cells test negative for hormone receptors and have little or no HER2 proteins. This subtype is known as triple-negative breast cancer.
Supporting someone you care about who is ill can make us feel helpless. What should you say? What should you do? How can you avoid saying or doing the wrong thing?
This 16-page guide is a real compass for kindness.
It lists phrases to avoid, words of comfort, and gestures that really help.
Written by Delphine Rémy, author of Cancer? Je gère ! (Cancer? I can handle it!) and host of the podcast Naître princesse, devenir guerrière (Born a princess, become a warrior), it is based on her own experiences and those of many people affected by the disease.
Read it, share it, keep it close by. Because we all know someone who is going through this disease.
BE-UNB-1637
