Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Keep On Keeping On Whitney, My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister!

What is TNBC

WHAT IS TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER?

Just in recent years, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has sparked interest in the news where instead of calling the tumor as ER-negative, PR-negative, and HER2-negative; researchers began using the shorthand term, "Triple Negative," dubbed the "new type" of breast cancer. Being Triple Negative, you don't have a targeted therapy and your only treatment option is chemotherapy.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer is seen in about 15% of all breast cancers. TNBC is a very aggressive cancer that tends to strike younger women, pre-menopause, especially among African-American women and women who have BRCA1 mutations. The tumor tends to be fast growing and is less likely to show up on an annual mammogram. TNBC is more likely to metastasis early on; has a high rate of recurrence in the first 2-3 years from diagnosis and has a poorer prognosis than other types of breast cancer due to lack of specific, targeted treatment for TNBC.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Keep On Keeping On Whitney, My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister!

Sandy and daughter, Whitney Lowe

On Wednesday, I was thrilled to meet another Triple Negative Breast Cancer sister, Whitney, 25 and her mother, Sandy whom I met through our online TNBC support group. Whitney is currently undergoing a clinical trial, HOG 1110. Cisplatin and Parp inhibitor through Indiana's Hoosier Oncology, bringing leading cutting edge cancer treatments and research close to home to her at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland. I had a really nice visit with Whitney and Sandy, both lovely ladies. As I promised to Whitney that I would come back and visit again, she responds, "Thank you for driving all the way to Cleveland to watch me sleep. LOL Looking forward to seeing you again." It's all good Whitney, it was my pleasure... I've been there too, sleep through the chemo.