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Chemo advances for triple-negatives?

Page last modified on: September 19, 2008
Question from Teeny: Are there any advances in chemo treatments for women who are ER/PR (estrogen/progesterone) negative and HER-2 negative? There seems to be so much hope for women with positive receptors, but we get very little info regarding cutting-edge treatments for those with negative receptors.
Answers —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: It's a very common concern for women who have estrogen-receptor-negative tumors. Some of my patients struggle with this from the day of diagnosis, as soon as they understand the implications of having or not having the hormone receptors.

It's important to remember that chemotherapy - both the older and the newer drugs - are very effective in estrogen-receptor-negative cells. In fact, the benefit of chemotherapy has often been shown to be greater in tumors that don't have hormone receptors. Nonetheless, we share your frustration with the rate of progress in breast cancer care.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: The amount of information on breast cancer has doubled in the last 10 years. It's expected to double again in the next 5 years. This means the rate of discovery of new treatment options is picking up its pace. This is hopeful.

On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Chemotherapy Updates. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about advances in chemotherapy treatment: different types of drugs and regimens, how to reduce or eliminate unpleasant side effects, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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