Jenna Fischer, known for her role in The Office, was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer in December 2023. However, after undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, the actress recently shared the news that she has overcome this challenging chapter in her life and is now cancer-free. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Fischer took to Instagram to share her experience. In a series of posts, she discussed her diagnosis and urged others to prioritise their health by scheduling annual mammograms.
“Triple-positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer, but it is also highly responsive to treatment. Luckily, my cancer was caught early, and it hadn’t spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body, however, because of the aggressive nature of triple-positive breast cancer, it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didn’t return,” Fischer said.
She also shared that her tumour was so small it couldn’t even be detected during a physical exam. “If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread… Consider this your kick in the butt to get it done.”
Acknowledging how a diagnosis changes life overnight, Fischer hopes that her story will offer support to women currently facing a cancer diagnosis.
What exactly is triple-positive breast cancer? Let’s explore its symptoms for early detection and how to manage the condition effectively.
What is triple-positive breast cancer?
Normal breast cells have receptors for two hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. When these hormone receptors bind to the oestrogen and progesterone hormones, it fuels the growth of cancer. Triple-positive breast cancer, however, occurs when the tumour cells utilise oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and an elevated number of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptors on their surface. According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, triple-positive breast cancer is a subtype of HER2-positive breast cancer, accounting for approximately 10 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses.
This type of breast cancer is more aggressive and spreads more rapidly to other parts of the body compared to other forms. Identifying whether breast cancer is triple positive can assist in planning prompt and targeted treatment options, which may include hormone therapy and drugs that specifically target the HER2 receptor.
Triple-positive breast cancer: Symptoms
The symptoms of triple-positive breast cancer are similar to those of other types of breast cancer. They include:
- Red, dry, flaking, or thickened breast or nipple skin
- Breast pain or nipple pain
- A lump or hard mass within the breast
- Bloody nipple discharge
- Nipple retraction
- Skin dimpling on the breast, resembling the texture of an orange peel
- Swelling of all or part of a breast
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone
Triple-positive breast cancer: Treatment
Targeted therapy
This therapy employs medications directed at specific proteins that may be present on cancer cells and promote their growth, such as HER2. Targeted therapy for HER2-positive cancer is designed to attach to the HER2 protein on cells, thereby inhibiting the cells from using that protein to grow. Options include Herceptin (trastuzumab), Margenza (margetuximab), and Perjeta (pertuzumab). These drugs are known as anti-HER2 therapies, HER2 inhibitors, or HER2-targeted therapies.
Chemotherapy
This method is utilised to shrink tumours before health professionals perform surgery to remove them (adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy).
Surgery
Treatment often begins with surgery, particularly in early-stage cancer. This is typically followed by chemotherapy and/or hormone and targeted therapy. The surgical approach may involve either a lumpectomy to remove a mass of tumour cells along with surrounding breast tissue or a mastectomy, which involves the removal of all breast tissue on one side.
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