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OurTNBC.com.au is a co-created resource for people affected by triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), designed to provide you with the information, support, and connection you need, whether you are newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or living with metastatic TNBC.
This site is tailored to meet you where you are, offering practical resources, personal stories, insights, and more—all in one easy-to-navigate space.
Click on one of the buttons below to customise the website to the stage relevant to you or to view content on all stages.
You can change stage at any point by clicking on the “Select Stage” button in the top right-hand corner of each page.
Learn about triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), what sets it apart from other types of breast cancer, and what you can expect during diagnosis and treatment.
Our TNBC overview provides a look at the disease, including staging, common treatments, and where to get more information to help you work out what is best for you.
Having the right questions can make all the difference when talking to your healthcare team. Our “Questions to Ask” section has been sourced by patients and oncologists to help you prepare for your appointments.
Whether you’re discussing treatment options, managing side effects, or planning for the future, these questions will help ensure you get the information you need.
Podcasts, webinars, and videos for every stage of your triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) experience.
At OurTNBC.com.au, we’ve curated a collection of expert talks that include podcasts, webinars, and videos to support you at every stage of your TNBC experience. These resources have been sourced from reputable organisations in Australia.
As you scroll through our resources, you’ll find a variety of content available. Each entry is tagged and categorised to help you quickly find the information most relevant to your current needs.
Explore the personal stories of TNBC patients and their carers, offering a heartfelt look into the real-life challenges and triumphs they face.
These provide insight into the emotional and physical journey of living with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), offering both comfort and a sense of community.
Whether you’re a patient or a carer, these stories show how others have navigated their diagnosis, treatment, and the road beyond, helping you feel connected to a community that truly understands what you’re going through.
Stay up-to-date with the latest in TNBC news, research, personal stories, wellbeing and more.
Cancer is supposed to end when the treatment ends. That’s what everyone thinks. Hair grows back, you ring a bell, you get a certificate, you...
When someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer, it’s natural to want to help. But knowing how to support someone going through cancer can...
Zoe was 28 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage 1 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in August 2024. Her connection to hereditary cancer...
In May 2022, life was good for Leanne. She was 38, ‘textbook healthy’: active, eating a good-ish diet, getting good-ish sleep, exercising regularly and hadn’t...
One night in August 2024, Jaime was pulling up her bed sheets when her hand brushed over a lump in her left breast. It felt...
Living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a profoundly physical journey, but it can also be an emotional and spiritual one. For many, the path...
Our mission is to empower the TNBC community by providing reliable, relevant, and accessible resources that address the unique challenges of living with TNBC.
We are committed to creating a space where patients can find the support they need.
We believe in the power of community and the importance of having the right information at your fingertips when you need it most.
So, we will continue to design this hub alongside you, the patients.
This resource has co-creation at its heart, so if you want to see something we haven’t covered or want to collaborate on something with us…
This site is tailored to meet you where you are, offering practical resources, personal stories, insights, and more—all in one easy-to-navigate space. By choosing the stage relevant to you, the information available on this site will be tailored to you.
These are explanations of terms that medical professionals and others may use when discussing your TNBC.
Advanced breast cancer
A commonly used term for secondary, metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer
Adjuvant therapy/treatment
Treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) given after surgery.
Alopecia
Hair loss
Areola
The area around the nipple
Axillary dissection/clearance
The removal of some or all of the lymph nodes from the armpit to see if the breast cancer has spread beyond the breast.
Benign
Not cancerous
Biopsy
The removal of cells or tissue from the body to see if they are cancer cells
BRCA1 and BRCA2
Women with a fault, or mutation, in one of these genes have a higher than normal chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer
Breast conserving surgery
Surgery to remove breast cancer and a small area of healthy tissue around the cancer. Also known as lumpectomy.
Chemotherapy
Treatment for cancer using drugs
Clinical trials
Studies involving patients to see if a new treatment is better than an existing one
Complementary medicines
Complementary medicines are products that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies). Complementary medicines include vitamin and mineral supplements, such as fish oil capsules or vitamin D tablets, and herbal medicines.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are practices that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies).Some examples of complementary therapies often used by women with breast cancer include massage, yoga, acupuncture and reflexology.
Double mastectomy
Removal of both breasts during breast cancer surgery
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
Non-invasive breast cancer confined to the ducts of the breast
Early breast cancer
Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes under the arm
Early menopause
Menopause occurring in women under 45 years of age. Early menopause is often a side effect of some common treatments for breast cancer.
Lymph nodes
Glands in the armpit and other parts of the body that filter and drain lymph fluid, trapping bacteria, cancer cells and any other particles that could be harmful to the body
Lymphoedema
A condition that sometimes develops when lymph nodes have been removed during breast cancer surgery and the lymph fluid no longer drains freely, causing swelling in the arm, hand or breast
Lumpectomy
Another name for breast conserving surgery
Mastectomy
The removal of the whole breast during breast cancer surgery
Metastatic breast cancer
Another term for secondary, advanced, or stage 4 breast cancer
Multidisciplinary Team
Often abbreviated to MDT. A team of health professionals who work together to manage a patient’s treatment and care
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatment given before breast cancer surgery (sometimes used to reduce the size of the tumour to make it easier for the surgeon to operate)
Oestrogen
A type of female hormone
Partial mastectomy
Another term for breast conserving surgery
PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
A scheme funded by the Australian Government to subsidise the cost of certain drugs for eligible consumers
Progesterone
A type of female hormone
Radiotherapy
Treatment for cancer using X-rays that target a particular area of the body
Secondary breast cancer
Breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other, more distant parts of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, liver and sometimes the brain. Also known as advanced, metastatic, or stage 4 breast cancer.
Sentinel node biopsy
identification and removal of the first lymph node to which the breast cancer may have spread for testing by a pathologist
Seroma
Fluid that collects in or around a scar after surgery
If you’re a patient, patient organisation, carer or healthcare professional, please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions for our site.
We will endeavour to answer as soon as possible.