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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)

Triple-negative breast cancer can feel especially frightening because it's talked about as 'hard to treat.' Please know there are real and growing options, and you and your family don't have to face them alone.

ℹ️ General information to help you and your loved ones talk with your care team, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.

The quick guide

What it means: The cancer cells don't have estrogen or progesterone receptors, and HER2 is not high, so hormone therapy and classic HER2 drugs don't work.

How it's found: It's found by the same ER, PR and HER2 tests on your biopsy. Genetic (BRCA) testing is recommended for everyone with TNBC.

How common it is: About 10 to 15% of breast cancers. It's more common in younger women, Black women and people with an inherited BRCA1 change.

How treatment works

🌱 Early-stage

  • For most tumors larger than about 2 cm or with node spread: chemo plus the immunotherapy Keytruda before surgery, then Keytruda after surgery.
  • If cancer remains at surgery, capecitabine (or Lynparza for BRCA carriers) may be added.
  • Smaller tumors may go to surgery first, followed by chemo.

🔁 Advanced or metastatic

  • If PD-L1 is positive, immunotherapy with chemo is a common first treatment.
  • ADCs such as Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan), or Enhertu if HER2-low.
  • PARP inhibitors (Lynparza or talazoparib) for inherited BRCA changes, and platinum chemo.

Approvals depend on stage and prior treatment. Your care team will decide what fits you.

Drug guides

Biomarker tests that matter

Side effects you may notice

❓ Questions you and your loved ones can ask

Back to Breast cancer overview. Other types: Hormone receptor-positive (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer (and HER2-low), Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, stage 0), Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write

Not medical advice. This page is general information to help you talk with your care team. It can't replace advice from your doctor or nurse. If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during treatment, or any symptom that worries you, call your care team now. In an emergency, call 911.

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