Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Fight For Whitney Lowe, Remembering My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister, 26 yrs. Young...

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, June 10, 2012

Fight For Whitney Lowe, Remembering My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister, 26 yrs. Young...

Whitney Yoder Lowe

I sit here and try to make sense of why we're losing so many sisters to Triple Negative Breast Cancer, why Whitney? She was 26, just way too young to be dealing with breast cancer. On Friday, June 8, 2012, after a 19 month courageous battle with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, my friend, Whitney Lowe went to sleep to drift away into the arms of our loving God to be among our other TNBC pink angels. Whitney was surrounded by her loving family, telling them that she loved them and she'll see them all soon... shortly afterwards, she passed peacefully. Passing on the day of their local Relay for Life walk, that evening 16 of her family member gathered to walk in the event in memory of their beloved Whitney. As promised to Whitney, her mother, Sandy will continue to keep her legacy alive as she will advocate for the fight against Triple Negative Breast Cancer and spread awareness of the importance of early detection in young women... This was Whitney's wish.

I had just visited Whitney and her mother, Sandy just 2½ weeks prior knowing this would be my last visit with Whit but it was a very nice visit. I have witnessed the most loving and courageous connection between a mother and daughter, they were a "team" as they both would say... I admired that in them two. If there was fear of uncertainty, Whitney did not show it. Sandy remained strong for her daughter, in survival mode living life with Whitney for today. Whitney so wanted to live and hoped her latest chemo treatment would be her "miracle" but her cancer had spread and weakened her body. A couple of months prior, Whitney had taken her dream tropical vacation to Puerto Rico with her family, a family togetherness that leaves treasured memories of her love and happiness, this was her living life to the fullest.

Last August 2011, I was thrilled to meet Whitney and her mother, Sandy face to face during one of her chemo treatments at the Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. I had met them both through my online TNBC Support Group shortly after Whitney's diagnosis. Whitney was a beautiful, sweet and amazingly brave young lady who had so much life to fight for, but her clinical trials had eventually failed her... healing prayers were all that was left to offer.

May you rest peacefully, Whitney as we continue your fight for other young women faced with this dreaded disease... Whit, you'll always be in my heart, and you will be missed by all that you have touched, love you my sister.
Sandy, I pray God gives you the strength to bring you through this... you and Whit are an inspiration to women everywhere, I love you my dear sis.

Sandy, Whitney and me

Us Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sisters so need our targeted therapy and ultimately a cure for all of us.
We desperately need TNBC research moved into clinical trials, then moved into FDA approved treatment, we don't have time for the 5 year wait for this transition to happen.
http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/donate.htm
(Click on link to make a donation to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation for research)
Thank you.