Understanding Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Two Patient Diagnosis Stories

In this interview, patient leaders Sarah Kelly and Melissa Berry share their personal diagnosis stories to help educate others and raise awareness about advanced breast cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

They answer key questions about their experiences:

• What symptoms led to their diagnosis?
• Which tests were involved?
• What ultimately confirmed the presence of TNBC?

Sarah

I was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer in March 2015, while 32 weeks pregnant. One morning, my arm rubbed against my breast and felt sore. When I checked, I noticed a hard mass on the side.

At first, I wondered if it could be breast cancer, but I hoped it was just my body preparing for breastfeeding—perhaps a blocked milk duct. I brushed it off for two weeks, but when the soreness persisted, I searched my symptoms online. The search results claimed that breast cancer isn't usually painful, so I assumed I was fine. Lesson learned: don't rely on online searches for a diagnosis!

Consulting my doctor and sister

I happened to have a routine OB/GYN appointment scheduled for that afternoon. Before going, I called my sister, an oncology nurse, to ask her advice. She reassured me it was likely nothing, but advised me to mention it to my doctor anyway.

My OB/GYN had a similar reaction: "I'm sure it's nothing, but let's get it checked out." That was on a Tuesday. By Wednesday, I had an ultrasound, which revealed a five-centimeter mass on the side of my breast. The clinic asked me to return the following day.

Finding a lump in my armpit

Overnight, while checking myself, I noticed a second lump in my armpit. When I returned on Thursday, the care team performed biopsies on both the breast mass and the armpit node. On Friday, I received the call confirming breast cancer, though the exact subtype was still unknown.

Early the following week, I met with my surgeon and learned I had triple-negative breast cancer. Because the tumor was too large for immediate surgery, we started with chemotherapy.

Reflecting on awareness and genetics

Prior to my diagnosis, I had never even heard of triple-negative breast cancer. There was no family history of cancer, and my genetic testing came back negative for all known cancer-causing genes. As the first person in my family with this diagnosis, my daughter will eventually undergo genetic testing as she comes of age.

Melissa

Breast cancer runs deeply in my family. My grandmother had breast cancer decades ago—we suspect it was triple-negative based on her age, but that terminology didn't exist in the 1950s. My mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer, though hers was not triple-negative. My mom was actually ahead of her time; she participated in an early research study testing for genetic markers and discovered she carried a BRCA mutation.

Navigating genetic testing

When I was 32, my doctor recommended I get tested. I promised myself that if I tested positive, I wouldn't view it as a diagnosis, but rather as a GPS for my health—a tool to guide my preventative care. Deep down, I already knew the test would come back positive, and it did.

Because of my family history and the BRCA marker, doctors recommended a prophylactic oophorectomy (removing my ovaries) by age 40. I was comfortable with that decision; I already had two children and preferred surgical menopause over risking cancer. Not wanting the procedure to be my 40th birthday present, I scheduled it at age 39. I was living a healthy lifestyle—eating well, practicing yoga—but at age 43, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Catching the mass early

I went in for a routine mammogram without feeling any obvious lumps. The mass wasn't clearly visible on the initial scan and was barely palpable. However, during the clinical breast exam that accompanies screening protocols, the physician felt a small abnormality and placed a marker on my left breast.

While the mammogram didn't show much, a follow-up ultrasound identified an area of concern. To be thorough, the medical team performed a core needle biopsy, which confirmed a malignant tumor. Because of how quickly it appeared and developed, testing confirmed it was triple-negative breast cancer. Because there was no lymph node involvement, I was diagnosed with stage 1 TNBC.