Support Through Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Nigerian actress Toks Olagundoye, 49, has revealed that her work community on “Fraiser” was incredibly supportive amid her triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis last year. The mom of one, who has since undergone six surgeries and chemotherapy to treat the disease, is hoping her story will spread awareness for early detection.
- “Triple-negative” means the cancer is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors: estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain common therapies.
- In addition to surgery and radiation, chemotherapy is a mainstay of treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. Different chemotherapy combinations may be used to treat this aggressive form of cancer. In some cases, immunotherapy — which harnesses the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells — will be used for triple-negative breast cancer.
- Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin previously wrote for SurvivorNet, that it’s “important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment,” which she said can be an “arduous chapter.”
- Supporting a friend or loved one with cancer can be hard. SurvivorNet suggests offering concrete ways to show the cancer warrior you care, allowing them to talk through their negative emotions with you, cooking them a healthy meal that they’ll enjoy, doing activities with them that will lift their spirits and working to better understand their diagnosis if you’re taking on more of a full-time caregiver role.
- People who work in the oncology field doctors and social workers have told SurvivorNet that they recommend working during cancer treatment if you can. Whether it be for financial reasons, a sense of normalcy, or simply because you like what you do, it’s important to make a work schedule that suits you during your cancer journey.
Now she’s sharing her story to embrace the importance of early detection and the power of support, which she received through her loved ones and coworkers.
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In anticipation of the September 19 launch date for the second season of “Fraiser,” told ELLE, “I’ve always had colonoscopies and mammograms early because there’s a lot of cancer in my family. It had been about three years since my last exam; I obviously didn’t get [a mammogram] while pregnant. I originally wasn’t going to get one because I was still breastfeeding.
“Thank goodness I did, because I had triple-negative breast cancer, a very aggressive form. I want to encourage people to get checked as early as possible, and not just for breast cancer, but for anything that they can get checked for.”
As for working through it all, the mom of one said, “Initially my double mastectomy was pushed to the end of [shooting] my Frasier job, and then my surgeon called and told me she was feeling anxious and that we needed to just do it as soon as possible. At that point, we had only filmed three episodes. I was like, ‘Well, they’re going to write me out of it. This is it, but my life is my life.’ I sat down with the showrunners and I told them. They asked what I needed.
“I went home and saw Kelsey [Grammer, the show’s star and an executive producer] calling. I was like, ‘Okay, now I’m getting fired.’ He was weeping and said, ‘I didn’t know that you had been going through this. I had no idea. I’m calling because I know how actors are, and I just want you to know this is your job. This is your part. We are your family, and whatever you need, we’re here for you, and you’re going to be so happy when this is all done. Everything’s going to be okay.'”
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Olagundoye continued, “I thought, ‘Who are these people I’m working with?’ They were amazing. They catered to every single need that I had. In the episode that I skipped, they wrote me into the [show’s sign-off] tag.
“And then we filmed it later because they said, ‘It’s not an episode without you.’ The people I’m with on Frasier are like family to me at this point.”
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Olagundoye also recounted her co-workers always “checking in” on her, something she appreciated.
As for why she chose to open up about her diagnosis, she explained further, ” That’s also why I like to be candid about it, because I don’t want people to be scared to talk about it. I would like for people to hear my experience and know, Hey, you could still hire people who are sick. They’re still going to show up and do a good job.”
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Now she’s advising others, “Talk to as many people as you can about it who know about it. Do not go online and start Googling. I did it exactly one time. My best friend said, ‘Anything you want to Google, tell me. I will do it for you, and I will tell you the information that I think is important.’
“I highly recommend the book Braving Chemo, written by a doctor who’d had breast cancer. There are so many things in there that surgeons and oncologists don’t tell you. I also learned about cold-capping [for hair loss] and L-glutamine for neuropathy, and I had a fantastic acupuncturist.”
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Understanding Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of the disease and makes up for approximately 20 percent of all breast cancers. The treatment approach varies from patient to patient and may include a combination of different treatments.
Early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatments may use a combination of chemotherapy drugs.
Expert Resources on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- ‘It’s A Game Changer’: FDA Approves Keytruda, Chemo Combo To Treat Aggressive Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Chemo Plus Immunotherapy for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatments To Consider
- More Than 80% of Women With Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Experienced a Prolonged Event-Free Survival With Keytruda Plus Chemotherapy Regimen
- New Study Identifies Genes Linked to Increased Risk for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Treating Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
For example, a CMF regimen is an abbreviation for combining chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil. AC stands for doxorubicin (Adriamycin) with cyclophosphamide, and ACT just indicates that a taxane drug is added to the regimen. Likewise, TC is an abbreviation for a regimen of Taxotere and cyclophosphamide.
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In 2021, the FDA approved the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab for the treatment of early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is already used to treat other cancers, including melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Doctors heralded the FDA’s approval of pembrolizumab as a potentially paradigm-shifting advancement in breast cancer treatment.
For patients with stage 2 or 3 TNBC, adding the immune-boosting medication pembrolizumab to combination chemotherapy before surgery increases chances of living free of breast cancer, explains oncologist Dr. Sylvia Adams, director of the Breast Cancer Center at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
She was one of several researchers involved with the pembrolizumab trials. “It changes the standard of care and should be discussed with all patients diagnosed with stage 2-3 TNBC,” she adds. “Yes, it’s a game-changer, though there is much more to be learned.”
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Is Your Cancer Really Triple-Negative?
Dr. Heather McArthur, Clinical Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Simmons Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has spoken with SurvivorNet on this relevant topic.
You might be told you have triple-negative breast cancer, that means that your cancer is not being fueled by any of the three main types of receptors: estrogen, progesterone nor the HER2 protein. But now you could be categorized as HER2 low instead of HER2 negative.
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Breast cancer cells with higher-than-normal levels of HER2 are called HER2-positive, those with low levels of HER2 are (or were) called HER2 negative. Recently, however, researchers have looked to further expand this definition to include patients that have a minimal amount of HER2 expression but do not meet the classic definition for HER2-positive tumors. This group has been called HER2 “low” and is very important as it represents almost 50% of all patients with breast cancer.
This excitement stems from the fact that HER2-low breast cancers are targetable with a recently new FDA-approved Enhertu (Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki). It appears that Enhertu is extremely effective for appropriate patients and can greatly improve their quality of life and help them live longer.
Therefore, it is exceedingly important to discuss with your physician about your HER2 status.
WATCH: Immunotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Finding Support Through Cancer
Feeling support from a friends or a coworkers who has become like family, can help you express your feelings and maintain a positive attitude during a cancer battle.
Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin previously wrote for SurvivorNet, that it’s “important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment,” which she said can be an “arduous chapter.”
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That being said, it’s very important to know your limits on what you can handle during treatment.
“Going through treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” she wrote. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
It is important cancer warriors in the midst of their fight to have a strong support system. So how can you support a loved on in your life who is fighting cancer? SurvivorNet suggests multiple ways you can do so.
Dr. Shelly Tworoger, a researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center told SurvivorNet that “there’s a number of common things cancer patients can experience, such as anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation and sometimes even PTSD.” So helping to ease those feelings is a great way to support your loved one.
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You can help complete household chores or running errands during the day, which your loved one may not have the time or energy to do. Or, you can simply lend an ear so patients can talk through their feelings, which can help them cope with what they are experiencing during this difficult time.
Meanwhile, there are some practical tips to help you interact with your loved one in a meaningful way. Our experts suggest to avoid asking how you can help. Instead, be proactive and offer tangible things you can do for them to make their lives easier. That could include bringing them food, cooking them dinner or playing a board game with them, anything that will bring them joy.
READ MORE: Family Love and Support Makes a World of Difference During Cancer Treatment
You may also be interested in sending them gifts to help them through their cancer journey. Our gift guide for cancer patients offers several suggestions for meaningful items you can give your loved one, such as bubble bath supplies for a night of self care or a nice, warm blanket for comfort during a chemo session.
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Working Through Cancer
SurvivorNet experts say working during cancer treatment can help your prognosis. People who work in the oncology field doctors and social workers have told SurvivorNet that they absolutely recommend working during cancer treatment, if you can, because work can really establish a sense of normalcy in a person’s life.
Not only does it provide a needed source of income, but it also reminds you that you have a life apart from cancer as a valued employee, a great boss, or a trusted co-worker.
A work life also encourages regular contact with others. Sometimes cancer can make you feel isolated and lonely, and being around people can be a great comfort.
It’s important to talk with your doctor before taking the big step of going back to work, whether it’s in an office, a warehouse, or a TV show set. Some people can continue to work during cancer treatment and those who need to take some time away.
The reality is it depends on the person, their individual cancer, and the treatment.
Advice for Going Back to Work
Some cancer warriors choose to work to stay busy, maintain a sense of usefulness, or keep camaraderie among coworkers and friends.
On the other hand, some cancer patients work during treatment because they feel they can’t afford not to.
WATCH: Working during cancer treatment.
Whether it be for financial reasons, a sense of normalcy, or simply because you like what you do, it’s important to try to make a work schedule that suits you during your cancer journey if you want to continue working.
It’s also important for you to know there are people out there to help you navigate the process of not working if that’s your preferred option.
Laurie Ostacher, a social worker at Sutter Bay Medical Foundation, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview how she helps people figure out their working situation after a cancer diagnosis.
“Some women choose to continue working [through cancer] because working is a significant part of their identity, they enjoy the job, and there’s flexibility built in,” she explained.
“I help folks think about whether it makes sense to work … If you don’t want to but are worried, you’re not going to be able to make ends meet, then I’ll sit down and help them figure out, you know, with your disability insurance, would this be possible?”
No matter what, it’s important to do what’s right for you and seek out valuable resources like Ostacher if you need help deciding on the right course of action when it comes to working during a cancer battle.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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