Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Please VOTE For Me For 2012 Honorary Bat Girl For The Cleveland Indians

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.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

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!