"Beautiful and Bald Barbie" Doll To Be Manufactured By Mattel

http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulandBaldBarbie

Bald Barbie doll to help girls deal with hair loss due to cancer or other disease.
"...Mattel company spokesman Alan Hilowitz told HealthPop that the company will produce a friend of Barbie that will have wigs, hats, scarves and other accessories to give children "a traditional fashion play experience." The kids will have the option to remove the wigs and head coverings..."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57407196-10391704/mattel-to-manufacture-bald-barbie-doll/ 
(Click on link for full story)

Prevalence Of BRCA1 Mutations Among 403 Women With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Implications For Genetic Screening Selection Criteria: A Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group Study.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22434525
(Click to link)

Study Findings:Testosterone And Triple Negative Breast Cancer-Mayo Clinic

 “Importantly, while all normal breast tissue had androgen receptors, it was lost in the majority of patients with TNBC. Our data shows us that there is a definitive group of patients who may be sensitive to treatment directed against the androgen receptor." 

http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2012/03/22/mayo-clinic-tgen-study-role-testosterone-may-play-in-triple-negative-breast-cancer/
(click on link for full story)

Baskets Of Care, Support For Your Fight Against Breast Cancer

A non-profit organization, Baskets of Care, Inc. provides individuals with breast cancer essential contact information, educational materials, and comfort-care products, as well as hands-on support throughout their battles.




http://www.basketsofcare.org

"Basket of Care"

A "basket of care" is a comfort bag gifted free of charge to individuals with breast cancer at the time of their diagnosis. Packed by volunteers, the bags are distributed by the Breast Cancer Support Team (comprised of a surgeon, breast health navigator, and breast cancer survivor) throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The bags provide individuals with breast cancer essential contact information, educational material, and comfort-care products.

This bag will help answer the immediate questions patients ask about their diagnosis, pending surgery and follow up care.

Please VOTE For Me For 2012 Honorary Bat Girl For The Cleveland Indians

VOTE NOW TILL APRIL 5th! Friends and family Please take the time to vote for me to be Honorary Bat Girl for the Cleveland Indians on Mother's Day 2012 as I "go to bat against breast cancer" and bat it out of Jacob's Field and bring awareness to Triple Negative Breast Cancer for all my sisters that been affected by it. Remember, self-breast exams saves lives! Thank you and live life, Melissa ♥ 

http://mlb.mlb.com/honorarybatgirl/2012/gallery.jsp?transactionId=242773760

Please vote daily and multiple times if you like.

My story of going to "bat against breast cancer":
Melissa Paskvan

On 8/1/ 2009, My husband and son had just left that day for vacation, when I found my lump by chance when I felt something along my bra band line under my breast. My heart just sunk, and I was in disbelief that my worst fear was now happening to me. I reacted fast and two days later I got in for a mammogram followed by an ultrasound. My 2cm. lump did not show up on the mammogram images and it was thought to be just a cyst but I insisted on a needle biopsy right then and there. Another 2 days go by, and I received the call from my doctor. I'm 41 and I have cancer... I was numb. 2 long weeks later, I met with my surgeon who told me that I have a rare and aggressive form of cancer that doesn't respond to hormone therapy,Triple Negative Breast Cancer, a very aggressive type of cancer thats been striking younger women. I knew I was in for a fight and had to be strong and stay focused. I opted for a lumpectomy, followed by an intense cocktail chemotherapy every other week for 3½ months and then 33 radiation treatments. As I am getting back on my feet again, my new normal is living for the moment, be happy, enjoy life, my family and friends and to reach out, give reassurance and educate breast cancer patients particularly in the area of TNBC. Self-breast exams saves lives! I'm going to bat for those that are still battling!.. I'm gonna bat breast cancer out of Jacob's Field!

MBCC 2012: Emerging Therapies For Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Excerpt from  CancerNetwork's interview with Dr. Joyce O'Shaughnessy:

CANCERNETWORK: Dr. O’Shaughnessy, what are the current treatment options for women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer? Let’s start with metastatic disease.

DR. O’SHAUGHNESSY: Metastatic cancer that is triple-negative is difficult to treat because our therapies are generally short-lived in their benefit, if they benefit patients at all. There is a subset of triple-negative metastatic patients who really don’t have responsive disease to any of our standard therapies. Our therapies are basically three, in my opinion, at the Level 1 evidence—where we have enough data from large phase III trials where we can say we know what the level of efficacy is—and that is 1) paclitaxel(Drug information on paclitaxel)-bevacizumab, 2) gemcitabine(Drug information on gemcitabine)-carboplatin, and 3) ixabepilone-capecitabine. These are the 3 options I think we have enough focused data on triple-negative breast cancer evidence to give them Level 1 evidence. There are a number of other agents we use such as the new drug eribulin which has a survival advantage in late-line metastatic breast cancer. That is certainly a reasonable option. And we certainly can use single-agent taxane as well, but those are the treatments that I think are most established for triple-negative breast cancer.

http://www.cancernetwork.com/conference-reports/mbcc2012/content/article/10165/2045206
(Clink to link to full interview)

Sh*t Girls Say To Girls With Breast Cancer (Video)

Why we need to debunk the myths of breast cancer?  Writer, actress and breast cancer survivor, Jenny Saldana describes the things she heard during diagnosis and treatment in her video. 
(not intended to be offensive)

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivor, Pat Prijatel Book To Be Published In Fall 2012

Writer, Pat PriJatel who created, Positives About Negative, a well respected blog among us TNBC pink sisters is now the author of her book, Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Hope, Treatment, Recovery due to be published in the Fall of 2012, both motivated by her own diagnosis with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. 
http://hormonenegative.blogspot.com 
(Click link to Blog)

Order at amazon.com

As a journalist and a TNBC survivor herself, Prijatel wrote this book to educate others on understanding Triple Negative Breast Cancer because during her research after her diagnosis in 2005, she found no such book existed nor did any medical books touch on this sub-type of breast cancer. Through her own journey, experiences of other women and her research, Prijatel explains Triple Negative Breast Cancer from a patient's perspective in her upcoming book.
http://noboobsaboutit.org/2012/02/21/why-i-wrote-a-book-about-triple-negative-breast-cancer(Click to Link)

Surviving Breast Cancer: Outlook can be positive even after triple-negative diagnosis - Article published 10/7/12
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=419264 (click link to story)

Purple passion...

Purple Passion Flower: On one of my visits to Tracy's in NC,
Tracy was on her tractor mowing her property when afterwards she
came in the house with this flower vine that she pulled up and
thought it was pretty and thought I would like it and gave it to me.
 So thoughtful and so beautiful.

To Melissa my cousin. 

My Reflection to you. Understanding death does not always make sense. It leaves us human and uncertain of the next journey. Not only for those that have to leave us and move forward, but for ourselves feeling lonely without them. I know that in our hearts we have been given the gift of their love and it lives on. What a beautiful gift. I believe we will be blessed and see them again. Love you Melissa. 

               ~ Gail L. Terry Burd

What We Know About Triple Negative Breast Cancer As Of February 2012 Told By Leading TNBC Experts

Research Study To Start April 2012 At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: ARQ197 In Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer

 Purpose

"This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials test the effectiveness of an investigational drug to learn whether the drug works in treating a specific cancer. "Investigational" means that the drug is still being studied and that research doctors are trying to find out more about it such as the safest dose to use, the side effects it may cause, and if the drug is effective for treating different types of cancer. It also means that the FDA has not yet approved ARQ 197 for use in patients, including patients with your type of cancer.

ARQ 197 is a drug that has been shown to slow down tumor cell growth and motility signals, which affects movement. This drug has been used in other research studies and information from those studies suggests that ARQ 197 may help to treat your cancer.

The purpose of this research study is to find out what effects ARQ 197 has on you and your cancer."

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01542996?term=Arq197&rank=13
(Click link to full story)

Sisterhood...

The Pink Ribbon Sisterhood

Some women are faced with an insurmountable fight ...
A battle with a deadly unseen enemy that will connect them
With a strength they never knew they had ...
It's the most difficult thing
Many of us will ever face.

The battle is not easy ... but it is a fight we know we will win.
To be triumphant we must do everything we can to search for a cure ...
Medically, spiritually and with lifestyle changes.
We must also expand our horizons
And share the knowledge of our quest with those around us
Helping others on their journey too.

But even more than that, we must stand
As a shining example of how to survive

We are not alone. We're part of a great sisterhood
Supporting each other in the ultimate fight for life.
So for ourselves, our daughters, our sisters and our friends
We all wear a pink ribbon!

- Suzy Toronto

Laid To Rest... Tonya Erdman-Huggins, Our Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
 I do not give to you as the world gives.
 Do not let your hearts be troubled and
do not be afraid.

February 25, 2012- Triple Negative Breast Cancer has claimed the life of another beautiful pink sister, Tonya Erdman-Huggins, 41, sister of our "Breast Cancer Sisters" TNBC group of 134 members at various stages of their Journey. Tonya was diagnosed at the age of 39 in 2010 with TNBC, stage 4 with mets to lymph nodes and lungs. Chemo kept cancer at bay for several months until mets to chest and brain in 2011.  Again, Tonya did more chemo. On January 29, 2012, Tonya learned that she had 2 new tumors and mets now to her liver and was told no more chemo.  Tonya fought this beast so hard till the very end, we all love you Tonya Huggins.  Our unique group of women in our support group we're brought together to love and support each other through our struggles with TNBC. God Bless all of you, tnbc sisters.

Video tribute of loving Tonya through it

Tonya+Sheri=BFF's 4ever from brandi jobe on Vimeo.

 Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary.

"Tonya, there are over 100 of us triple negative breast cancer sisters in your group praying for you. The support and love for you is immeasurable. We have come together with the warmest hug and comforting spirit to put you at ease. We've made pink wings of feathers as we think of you. We love you very much. We are always thinking of you and we are always with you. You are our sister" - Brenda Rehnke Beguin

"Man, Tonya really has set the bar high...
We can only dream of being loved so much by a group
of 134 people. I am sure she is smiling at us all right now..."
-Vicky Mewbourn Hancock

"Our enemy was common, Sweet Tonya... but if not for the cancer we both fought I would have never met you and what a blessing you were to me. Your sharp wit, and tremendous heart endeared you to all of your Pink Sisters and tonight we mourn you together. There are 134 of us (your Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sisters) praying diligently for your family and all who loved you. You touched us all individually and as a group and we will continue to fight Sweet Tonya... for our daughters, for your daughters... for a cure... just as you would for us. We love you, Beautiful ♥" - Natalie Huhn Winchell

"You showed me how to be courageous and
brave as we both fight cancer.
 I will keep fighting. I will pray for a cure.
 I miss you." - Brenda Rehnke Beguin

"My WONDERFUL "Breast Cancer Sisters" group is sending 134 pink roses, and one white rose to Tonya's funeral on the 28th.  134 women coming together with one common goal, organizing payments, chipping in, doing leg-work - all for the love of a sister who's earned her wings.  I'm so proud to be part of this group. - Vickie Roy-Sneddon

"The beautiful roses and "one" white that our
support group provided for the loss of our dear
friend Tonya Erdman Huggins at her service today."

"... Thank you triple negative breast cancer sisters for the gorgeous roses in honor of Tonya..." - Message from Tonya's family


 "You have no idea how much this means to our family. Tonya talked about this group all the time to me and how much each of you inspired her to keep fighting. What a wonderful way to honor her. Thank you so much." - Andrea Dunn McDonald

"Tonya, you're among our beautiful angels now,
please give my Tracy a hug and a kiss and tell her
 I love her and miss her so much. You're gonna love Tracy,
she has a great sense of humor and a heart of gold.
Rest comfortably now and live Life on your new journey
with no more pain nor sadness. Watch over all us and give us
 your guidance. See you on the side when it's God's will."
Love you baby ♥ - Melissa Paskvan

"Tonya, so grateful that we connected through the tnbc support group, you've been an inspiration to all of us throughout your fight. You're finally free from all the pain and suffering. I love you and thank you for your friendship." - Melissa Stukenborg Paskvan


http://amarillo.com/obituaries/2012-02-27/tonya-vanesse-erdman-huggins (Link to obituary)