LAS VEGAS -- A new type of breast cancer discovered about two to three years ago has been known to strike women in their 30s, according to one Valley physician.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer, or TNBC, is a subtype of breast cancer that can only be detected through a biopsy once a problem is confirmed on a mammogram.

"The triple negative means that their cancer cells do not have three common markers -- estrogen and progesterone receptors, which are hormone receptors, and the third negative is they do not have her2 receptors, which is a special protein," said oncologist Dr. Paul Michael, from the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Southern Nevada.

Because of this quirk, Michael said TNBC is aggressive and can be dangerous. Fifteen to 20-percent of the most common type of breast cancers will turn out to be TNBC.

"It strikes younger women," Michael said. "We hardly see it in the ages over 60."

Michael added that one of his youngest patients diagnosed with TNBC was 35.

TNBC also seems to target minorities, including African-American women and Hispanic women, and some women who are of a lower socioeconomic status.

"We think that there may be certain environmental factors that may play a role in why those women are at a select higher chance of getting this type of breast cancer," he said.

Debbie Belport, 52, was diagnosed with TNBC in April 2005. As a white female who's married and makes a decent living at a local casino, she doesn't necessarily fit the stereotype for this cancer.

"I went in for a regular, routine checkup and they were doing an ultrasound on my breast because the mammogram showed some problems," she said. "I had no idea (what TNBC was). I knew nothing at all at that point."

After a consultation with Michael, Belport opted for a mastectomy in May 2005, which was followed by chemotherapy. She said she is now cancer free.

According to Michael, Belport is very lucky because at this point the treatment options for TNBC patients are very limited.

"Certain chemotherapy drugs don't seem to be very effective," he said.

While those treatments may not work, Michael said physicians are finding out that other types of drugs that are normally used for women with metastasic breast cancer -- cancer that travels all over the body -- may be more effective.

But with every other form of cancer, Michael said the best form of treatment is early detection.

For more information about this rare form of cancer, visit the TNBC Foundation Web site.