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Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Hope, Treatment, and Recovery
After her diagnosis of hormone-negative breast cancer, health journalist Patricia Prijatel did what any reporter would start investigating the disease, how it occurs, how it's treated, and how to keep it from recurring. While she learned that important research on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was emerging, she found a noticeable lack of resources on the disease, which differs from hormone-positive breast cancer in important ways, including prognosis and treatment options. Triple-negative breast cancer disproportionately affects younger women and African-American women-and some forms of it can be more dangerous than other types of breast cancer. But there are many reasons to be hopeful, as Prijatel shows in this book.
Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer delivers research-based information on the biology of TNBC; the role of genetics, family history, and race; how to navigate treatment options; understanding a pathology report; and a plethora of strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence, including diet and lifestyle changes. In clear, approachable language, Prijatel provides a fact-filled guide based on a vast array of scientific studies. Woven throughout the book are stories of women who have faced TNBC. These are mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters who went through a variety of medical treatments and then got on with life--one competes in triathlons, two had babies after being treated with chemo, one got remarried in her 50s, and one just celebrated the 30th birthday of the son she was nursing when she was diagnosed.
Writing with honesty and humor, Prijatel delivers an inspiring message--that TNBC is a disease to take seriously, with proper and occasionally aggressive treatment, but it is not automatically a killer. Most women diagnosed with the disease survive and go on to live full lives. Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer is a roadmap for women who want to be empowered through their treatment and recovery.
Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer delivers research-based information on the biology of TNBC; the role of genetics, family history, and race; how to navigate treatment options; understanding a pathology report; and a plethora of strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence, including diet and lifestyle changes. In clear, approachable language, Prijatel provides a fact-filled guide based on a vast array of scientific studies. Woven throughout the book are stories of women who have faced TNBC. These are mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters who went through a variety of medical treatments and then got on with life--one competes in triathlons, two had babies after being treated with chemo, one got remarried in her 50s, and one just celebrated the 30th birthday of the son she was nursing when she was diagnosed.
Writing with honesty and humor, Prijatel delivers an inspiring message--that TNBC is a disease to take seriously, with proper and occasionally aggressive treatment, but it is not automatically a killer. Most women diagnosed with the disease survive and go on to live full lives. Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer is a roadmap for women who want to be empowered through their treatment and recovery.
223 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
47 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 10, 2015
In March of 1989, my mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My parents, determined to fight it out, took to reading all they could on the subject, spending an enormous amount of time at the University of California, Irvine medical library. Later that year, after my father began his Ph.D. program and could actually check out books, I remember them bringing home gigantic black volumes with long words and gross pictures. They became completely absorbed in studying this disease, the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and the consequences of postponing the treatments (since by then it was apparent that my mother was also pregnant). It was obviously a daunting task, being pre-internet and all. And I think the only reason why my parents didn’t let themselves get too intimidated by the research was partly because the situation was desperate and partly because they both had their Masters degrees. At any rate, I’m convinced that they would’ve welcomed an easier way to start their search than with the card files on obscure academic journal articles.
This is what came to mind when I read Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Hope, Treatment, and Recovery (Oxford University Press, 2014). The author, Patricia Prijatel, is a health journalist who, after being diagnosed with TNBC, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, undertook the same sort of research that my parents did years ago. Recognizing that many other patients could benefit from a concise book that guides the reader through the basics, she wrote Surviving TNBC.
In a warm tone, filled with empathy, Prijatel educates her readers on causes, treatments, risks, statistics, and other information while providing an extensive number of references for those who don’t mind delving further. You might ask why I think books like this needed. Sure, we have Wikipedia, but that doesn’t cover a whole lot. And it’s not like the average reader is going to want to go directly to the medical journals cited. Prijatel’s book does that for you. In other words, it has the potential to encourage those who never liked school to educate themselves about the disease.
Where I think the book’s chief disadvantage lies is the likelihood of it quickly becoming outdated, especially since TNBC is a “newer” disease about which more is constantly being discovered. It also is a bit technical at times, when I think an easy-read approach is warranted. In addition, I wish that it had a comprehensive bibliography at the end, rather than just the end notes after each chapter.
Is Surviving TNBC a tear jerker? Not really. While Prijatel does tell her personal story, she’s writing an informative book, not a biography. Readers looking for an emotional connection with another survivor might have to look elsewhere. Luckily though, Prijatel has a blog, Positives About Negative, that I suspect allows for more personal interaction. And from the looks of it she seems to be doing well, despite various setbacks – something in which her readers can most certainly take comfort.
Disclaimer: I received a uncorrected advance reading copy of this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program. I was not required to write a favorable review.
This is what came to mind when I read Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Hope, Treatment, and Recovery (Oxford University Press, 2014). The author, Patricia Prijatel, is a health journalist who, after being diagnosed with TNBC, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, undertook the same sort of research that my parents did years ago. Recognizing that many other patients could benefit from a concise book that guides the reader through the basics, she wrote Surviving TNBC.
In a warm tone, filled with empathy, Prijatel educates her readers on causes, treatments, risks, statistics, and other information while providing an extensive number of references for those who don’t mind delving further. You might ask why I think books like this needed. Sure, we have Wikipedia, but that doesn’t cover a whole lot. And it’s not like the average reader is going to want to go directly to the medical journals cited. Prijatel’s book does that for you. In other words, it has the potential to encourage those who never liked school to educate themselves about the disease.
Where I think the book’s chief disadvantage lies is the likelihood of it quickly becoming outdated, especially since TNBC is a “newer” disease about which more is constantly being discovered. It also is a bit technical at times, when I think an easy-read approach is warranted. In addition, I wish that it had a comprehensive bibliography at the end, rather than just the end notes after each chapter.
Is Surviving TNBC a tear jerker? Not really. While Prijatel does tell her personal story, she’s writing an informative book, not a biography. Readers looking for an emotional connection with another survivor might have to look elsewhere. Luckily though, Prijatel has a blog, Positives About Negative, that I suspect allows for more personal interaction. And from the looks of it she seems to be doing well, despite various setbacks – something in which her readers can most certainly take comfort.
Disclaimer: I received a uncorrected advance reading copy of this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program. I was not required to write a favorable review.
September 30, 2012
If you or someone you know has just been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, then this book has to be the best place to start.
The author is from the academia field, has a background in journalism, and went through triple-negative breast cancer herself. Given that at as the backdrop, she has produced a book based not only on her own life experience, but on thousands of hours (I'm guessing it's thousands, it's too thorough to be any less) of research. She does a great job of succinctly explaining the various details and medical terms that come with triple-negative breast cancer (that would otherwise fly over my head), along with providing citations with her research.
Normally authors will have a big citation section at the end of the book to prove how good of a student they are, but that is not this author's intent. Instead she puts her citations at the end of each chapter so that you can easily find the studies she references online. As someone who likes to poke around into citations, I really appreciated how easy her setup made this. If you are a person making a major decision based on some of this research, you will appreciate it as well.
The author is smart and meticulous, and comes across as a very warm and compassionate woman; and although you may not consider yourself lucky to have cancer, you will be lucky to read her book. It is rare when someone just writes a book for the benefit of others, but that is exactly what Patricia Prijatel has done here. You could spend hours (and you will anyways) googling, but if you start here, you will be cutting thorough a lot of the content online, and simply zeroing in on triple-negative breast cancer, while also benefiting from the unique combination that Patricia offers.
The only negative is that the book is definitely dry at times, but that is just part of playing in the medical genre. Patricia seems to realize this, and consistently attempts to spruce things up a bit by adding in her own experience (missteps included), and by appending a short story from a survivor at the end of each chapter.
I won this book online and prior to it knew very little about breast cancer, and had never even heard of triple-negative breast cancer. I still am certainly not an expert, but after reading this book I would feel a lot less frazzled if this came up with someone in my life.
Patricia mentions that when she was going through the ordeal that she always had her notebook and folders near. I assume that if you are tenacious like her, that you will always carry this book with you in addition to those items.
The author is from the academia field, has a background in journalism, and went through triple-negative breast cancer herself. Given that at as the backdrop, she has produced a book based not only on her own life experience, but on thousands of hours (I'm guessing it's thousands, it's too thorough to be any less) of research. She does a great job of succinctly explaining the various details and medical terms that come with triple-negative breast cancer (that would otherwise fly over my head), along with providing citations with her research.
Normally authors will have a big citation section at the end of the book to prove how good of a student they are, but that is not this author's intent. Instead she puts her citations at the end of each chapter so that you can easily find the studies she references online. As someone who likes to poke around into citations, I really appreciated how easy her setup made this. If you are a person making a major decision based on some of this research, you will appreciate it as well.
The author is smart and meticulous, and comes across as a very warm and compassionate woman; and although you may not consider yourself lucky to have cancer, you will be lucky to read her book. It is rare when someone just writes a book for the benefit of others, but that is exactly what Patricia Prijatel has done here. You could spend hours (and you will anyways) googling, but if you start here, you will be cutting thorough a lot of the content online, and simply zeroing in on triple-negative breast cancer, while also benefiting from the unique combination that Patricia offers.
The only negative is that the book is definitely dry at times, but that is just part of playing in the medical genre. Patricia seems to realize this, and consistently attempts to spruce things up a bit by adding in her own experience (missteps included), and by appending a short story from a survivor at the end of each chapter.
I won this book online and prior to it knew very little about breast cancer, and had never even heard of triple-negative breast cancer. I still am certainly not an expert, but after reading this book I would feel a lot less frazzled if this came up with someone in my life.
Patricia mentions that when she was going through the ordeal that she always had her notebook and folders near. I assume that if you are tenacious like her, that you will always carry this book with you in addition to those items.
January 27, 2013
Well-researched AND down-to-earth AND just what a breast cancer patient wants to have at hand as she undergoes treatment for this daunting breast cancer subtype. Also, don't miss her excellent blog, "Positives About Negative", my first stop for the latest research and encouragement!
October 6, 2021
An interesting read, but I knew that most of the anecdotes would be from women older than me. I found that during chemotherapy I was always the youngest by around 20-30 years. It was good to know that the dietary changes I have made are the same as those in this book, and that the majority of women within it are still alive and well today. That's what I needed to hear. Very valuable book if you are feeling really frightened like I was and still am.
September 3, 2022
This was a good, non-scary book about TNBC. It was written my a journalist who had and beat the disease. Lots of medical information but easy to understand and follow. I was diagnosed with TNBC about 2 months ago and I knew nothing about it or breast cancer in general. After quick peaks at some books out there, I didn’t want to know. But you have to know what you’re up against and this was a good source of information without it being doom and gloom. We will make it!!
July 14, 2021
Packed with useful & valuable info! Love the tips on diet & exercise the author shared, down to the menus for each meal. Great guide & resource!
This book is not for triple -ve breast cancer patients only. A lot of the statistics shared are across positive & negative receptors.
A positive outlook to breast cancer in general. I would recommend this book to all going through breast cancer.
This book is not for triple -ve breast cancer patients only. A lot of the statistics shared are across positive & negative receptors.
A positive outlook to breast cancer in general. I would recommend this book to all going through breast cancer.
August 27, 2020
Good educational book on TNBC
Thank you for all of the information. I believe that I will be better prepared for my fight! I pray that a prevention is found!
Thank you for all of the information. I believe that I will be better prepared for my fight! I pray that a prevention is found!
September 4, 2023
Perfect starting point to your research when being diagnosed with TNBC. While more information is now known about the disease, the book is still relevant and provides hope.
June 23, 2025
2 stars given as I wouldn’t consider it as helpful for stage 4 but more so relevant for earlier stages that can go into remission.
January 22, 2013
A good beginning reference for anyone recently diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). An accurate description of the disease and medical research, with footnotes and references. This allows the reader to research topics of personal interest in more detail.
However, in terms of making treatment decisions and surviving TNBC, I found this book lacking. I guess this is where the footnotes become so important -- Prijatel provides a roadmap for TNBC, but leaves the reader with the responsibility to research topics in more detail. A reasonable approach to an information-rich topic.
The concluding recommendations for surviving TNBC are largely based on the author's personal experience, and I found this part of the book most lacking. She writes much about life style changes (meditation, diet, etc.), but only gives a mention of breast reconstruction, lymphedema, metastatic disease, etc. A comprehensive book, focused on a quality of life after treatment, should address such topics more completely.
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Cancer Book is another recommended reference about breast cancer, its treatment, and life afterward.
However, in terms of making treatment decisions and surviving TNBC, I found this book lacking. I guess this is where the footnotes become so important -- Prijatel provides a roadmap for TNBC, but leaves the reader with the responsibility to research topics in more detail. A reasonable approach to an information-rich topic.
The concluding recommendations for surviving TNBC are largely based on the author's personal experience, and I found this part of the book most lacking. She writes much about life style changes (meditation, diet, etc.), but only gives a mention of breast reconstruction, lymphedema, metastatic disease, etc. A comprehensive book, focused on a quality of life after treatment, should address such topics more completely.
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Cancer Book is another recommended reference about breast cancer, its treatment, and life afterward.
September 4, 2016
As a TNBC patient, I must say that there really is a severe lack of information on this disease. Affecting about 20% of all breast cancer patients, and usually hitting the young (under 40s), my oncologist himself admitted that he didn't know much about TNBC and how to cure it. My friend bought me this book and it has been inspirational and informative; far more informative than my oncologist.
Highly recommend for anyone going through TNBC, it has been a source of comfort for me and a wonderful starter guide to coping with the changes I will need to face after chemo.
Highly recommend for anyone going through TNBC, it has been a source of comfort for me and a wonderful starter guide to coping with the changes I will need to face after chemo.
January 9, 2013
Because I know the author, I found myself much more emotionally impacted by this book than any of the others on breast cancer I've read. (And they proliferate, so I've read quite a few.) In fact, near the end Prijatel cracked a breast cancer joke about herself and I was shaken, thinking, "Well that is NOT funny!" But it WAS funny, really. In a sick way. I guess survivors have earned the right to joke while the rest of us unaffected just walk around hoping it never happens to us.
July 30, 2013
It's been a month since My mom-in-law has been diagnosed with TNBC and this is a great read. It is helping me understand her cancer. As I read each chapter it helps me explain it to her and my family about her treatment. Great book!
October 28, 2014
Outstanding reference for information on triple negative breast cancer, particularly since specific resources are spare. Well-researched, easy to read, and a great reference tool for before, during and after treatment. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2013
A concise compendium of everything you need to know to battle this disease. I'm very grateful for it. I'd love to see it updated soon.
February 14, 2013
Terrific for anyone that just got a breast cancer diagnosis, especially if you are triple negative.
January 25, 2013
Highly technical but written in an understandable style. Recommend as a reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about hormone negative breast cancer.
January 1, 2020
Realy good information and a run down of explanation of all the jargon Drs use.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews