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.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

SCAR Project: Cincinnati Exhibit Oct. 1, 2011

Me and David Jay

This past Saturday, Oct 1st, after modeling for a breast cancer awareness brunch and style show, I headed south for a 207 mile road trip to Cincinnati for The SCAR Project photographic exhibit of young breast cancer survivors raw"baring it all." I started following The SCAR Project awareness campaign about 6 months ago after coming across it's post on FaceBook and followed their survivor's stories. Being proud of these ladies, I was excited to read that the exhibit was showing somewhat close to home. This is a life-size portraits exhibit of beauty, courage and self-acceptance of young breast cancer survivors who had lost their breast(s) to mastectomy surgery. Being a breast cancer survivor myself, I found it a little hard to look at these portraits knowing what they had gone through to survive this disease. I can only imagine their emotional pain they went through, for I had only opted for a lumpectomy. To these brave young ladies, it was empowering for them to show the public they had breast cancer, they survived it, this is what cancer did to them, it changed their look but, they're still the same beautiful person baring it all with pride.
I had the pleasure of personally meeting fashion photographer, David Jay of The SCAR Project and two of his breast cancer survivor models, Vanessa and Marcy. David Jay showed so much compassion towards his survivor models as he shared their journey stories. I enjoyed chatting with Marcy and Vanessa, two amazing young women that is inspiring the world with their traveling exhibit. Vanessa signed my program book, "Live Sincerely" - Vanessa, definitely her words to live by!