Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 10–15% of all breast cancers. The 5-year relative survival rate for TNBC, combining all stages of the disease, is 77%.
TNBC cells do not have estrogen or progesterone receptors and do not make any or much of the HER2 protein. The cells test negative on all three of these tests, giving TNBC its name.
TNBC is an aggressive type of breast cancer that is
Keep reading to learn more about TNBC, including who it affects and the outcome for people with this condition.
Overall, breast cancer is quite common. Estimates suggest that in 2023, there will be around

TNBC accounts for about
The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program shows that TNBC affects
Various risk factors raise the likelihood of developing TNBC.
These
- Race: Black and Latinx people are more likely to receive a TNBC diagnosis than white people.
- Age: TNBC is more likely to present in people below the age of 40 years.
- Genetic mutations: The BRCA1 gene mutation puts someone at higher risk of TNBC.
Research shows that Black women’s risk of TNBC is
Another factor is that in the United States, obesity disproportionately affects Black people. Recent research suggests that
Obesity increases the risk of developing TNBC. A 2016 study found that premenopausal women with a BMI of 30 or above had an
Additionally, the BRCA1 gene helps suppress the growth of tumors. In women with a mutation in the BRAC1 gene, breast cancer is more common, as is TNBC specifically.
According to the
Chemotherapy is
TNBC often responds well to chemotherapy in the beginning, but even with treatment, it can still return. TNBC is more likely to recur than other forms of breast cancer.
A 2019 study found that 40% of people with stage 1 to stage 3 TNBC will experience a recurrence of their cancer even after standard treatments.
The outlook for people with TNBC is better for white people than Black people. African American women are
Research also suggests that people of different races with TNBC receive different standards of care and treatment.
A
The SEER database provides data on the survival of people who received a TNBC diagnosis between 2012 and 2018.
The overall 5-year relative survival rate for TNBC, combining all stages of the disease, is
The SEER statistics also show the following 5-year relative survival rates:
- 91% for people with localized TNBC that has not spread beyond the breast.
- 66% for people with regional TNBC that has spread to nearby lymph nodes and other structures.
- 12% for those with distance TNBC that has spread to distant organs in the body.
These are the most recent data available, but it is important to note that people who receive a diagnosis now may have a better outlook due to advances in knowledge and treatment.