Appointment sheet
Mesenchymal triple-negative breast cancer (M)
Prepared with OnCo (onco.cc/prep/tnbc-mesenchymal/). Orientation, not medical advice; your team knows your case.
My details
Name
Date of appointment
Hospital and clinician
Who is coming with me
What I know, what is unclear, changes to discuss
Saved in this browserWhat I know so far
What is unclear to me
Changes since last time
My questions
9 on the sheetNewly diagnosed
- 1.What is my exact diagnosis, stage, and grade, and which tests established them?
- 2.Which biomarkers have been tested on my tumour (for example Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition gene expression, Low claudin 3, 4 and 7 and E-cadherin expression, PDGFR alpha and c-KIT), and what were the results?
- 3.Which subtype is my cancer, and does that change the recommended treatment?
- 4.Is germline (inherited) genetic testing recommended for me or my family?
Stage II to III and metastatic
- 5.For my situation (stage ii to iii and metastatic), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 6.Am I a candidate for Pembrolizumab, and what side effects should I expect?
- 7.How do the results of KEYNOTE-522 apply to someone like me?
Any stage
- 8.Would a second opinion at a high-volume centre change anything, and can you help arrange it?
- 9.What supportive care (symptom control, nutrition, exercise, mental health, financial help) is available from the start?
The words I may hear
- Claudin-low breast cancer: Claudin-low breast cancers have lost the claudin proteins that hold epithelial cells together and have taken on the features of migrating, stem-like cells.
- Basal-like breast cancer: Basal-like is a breast cancer subtype defined by the genes its cells switch on, which resemble the basal cells lining the milk ducts.
Tests and results to bring
Biomarker results to ask for: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition gene expression (research), Low claudin 3, 4 and 7 and E-cadherin expression (claudin-low), PDGFR alpha and c-KIT (Burstein MES).
Bring copies of scan reports, pathology and blood results, and a list of every medicine and supplement.
The treatments I may be offered
- Stage II to III and metastatic: As for triple-negative disease; no mesenchymal-specific treatment is approved. PI3K/mTOR inhibitors and dasatinib were active in cell lines only. (KEYNOTE-522, Pembrolizumab)
From the standard of care recorded for this cancer; which apply depends on your stage and biomarkers. Ask which the team recommends and why.
Answers and next steps
Saved in this browserWhat I was told
Agreed next steps, dates and who to call