Change from triple negative to ER+

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1

I just wanted to tell you about my experience, because many people are in my same situation, triple negative with very little chemo options left.
Summary of my history, diagnosed in 2005, age 38, T1, G3, triple negative, 1 positive lymph node. Chemo: 4 cycles Epirubicin+ Cyclophosfamide, 4 cycles taxol (every 3 weeks), 28+5 sessions of radio.
Relapse in 2006, T2, G3, Triple negative. Chemo: 4 cycles of weekly taxol+carboplatin, 4 cycles of Xeloda.

The histology to determine that the cancer was triple negative was done in two different hospitals (one in my city in Italy and one where I am now in Spain) for both cancers.

Diagnosed with lymph node and lung metastasis in February 2008, chemos: inhibitors of PI3K (phase 1 trial)-stabilised the metastasis for 5 months.
Liposomal Doxorubicin + Cyclophosfamide (did not work)
Eribulin, phase 3 clinical trial, (did not work)
Avastin+Taxotere- (worked for a few months)

Then my oncologist decided to get a biopsy from the lung, hoping that the cancer had changed to Herb2+ (this happens in 20% of triple negative patients) to try Herceptin.
Instead today I got the results and it came out to have changed to ER+, and this was a complete surprise for everybody. Now we are trying Tamoxifen (I am personally too burned out to feel positive, but I keep my fingers crossed)
I just wanted to suggest to anybody in my situation to get a biopsy done, it might be worth it.

xxx
Sabrina

2

That is extraordinary Sabrina. Are they saying that your cancer has changed its profile or that the original pathology was wrong?
Whatever the case - very best of luck with the Tamoxifen.

3

Hi Molly, actually it has changed the profile, because the original histology was done in two different hospitals for both the primary cancer and the relapse. What happens is that the cancer is heterogenous and the metastasis originate just from a few cell, that could be different from the others, that are the majority and determine the diagnosis.
it is well known that 20% of triple negative have metastasis that are Herb2 positive, so it is worth doing a biopsy of the metastasis!

4

I didn’t know that could happen - but of course it makes absolute sense when you think about it.
Fingers crossed for the Tamoxifen - that should slow the b*gger down in its tracks.

5

I was diagnosed triple neg but was told that my tumour had probably started out hormone positive. I’d been on hrt for nearly 10yrs(since the age of 35) prior to the bc dx,and my consultant said that it was highly probable that the hrt had caused the bc!