Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Overcoming Challenges in Diagnosis Treatment and Management

Dr Nour Abahadra of Memorial Sloan Kettering discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and management of metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Patient guest, Shay Elkins, shares her experience, from discovering a rapidly growing tumor to navigating her diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the importance of personalized support and resources available online.

Dr Noor Abuhadra discusses the various first-line treatment options for metastatic TNBC, highlighting the importance of PDL1 expression for immunotherapy and germline testing for targeted therapies like PARP inhibitors. Patient Shay Elkins shares her treatment journey, from her initial chemo and immunotherapy to surgical intervention, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative approach with her healthcare team and the supportive role of nursing staff.

Shay Elkins, a patient with triple negative breast cancer, shares her experience of relapse six months post-treatment, eventually leading her to seek a second opinion for her recurring symptoms. Dr. Noor Abuhadra discusses second-line treatment options for metastatic triple negative breast cancer, emphasizing newer therapies like antibody drug conjugates and PARP inhibitors, and highlights the evolving landscape that offers hope for patients.

Shay Elkins, a patient with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, discussed her experience with second-line treatment. Dr. Noor provided insights into the positive outcomes from the ASCENT study.

Dr. Noor Abuhadra discusses managing adverse events in patients receiving TRODELVY (sacituzumab govitecan), a later-line systemic therapy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Shay Elkins, a patient, shares her experience with significant side effects including diarrhea, low white blood cell counts, and hair loss, while Dr. Abuhadra emphasizes the need for proactive management of these issues to maximize treatment time and maintain quality of life.

Dr. Noor Abuhadra and patient Shay Elkins discuss overcoming barriers to cancer treatment access and reimbursement. Shay shares her relatively smooth experience with insurance coverage, while Dr. Abuhadra emphasizes that healthcare teams will fight for patient coverage, especially when treatments are backed by research and FDA approval. Dr. Abuhadra also mentions having a financial clearance department to handle denials and secure approvals, as well as training staff to fill out prior authorization forms. Shay underlines the importance of self-advocacy and leveraging online communities for both emotional support and practical advice.