Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 2012

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.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 2012

I am walking in honor of... women everywhere.

Ok ladies, I need to be honest with you, I feel bad because I know I should be setting an example... I've been having some serious lower back pain issues for the last 2 weeks, been trying to ignore it. It hurts to sit, like my spine is compressing down. Went for a walk today, I was pretty stiff and uncomfortable. Pain is worse when I'm sleeping, like lying on my side. I only find relief when I'm lying flat on my back. I'm pretty sure it's not muscle. I had this same back pain this past November for a couple of weeks, Yes, I blew it off back then too. I'm not one to be an alarmist but now I'm starting to get that gut feeling... I don't know, I guess it's getting to me because my husband and friends are starting to give me a hard time about it. I'm sorry, I've just been resting a lot when I'm not at work hoping it was just a strain. Your thoughts?

Talked to my nurse... based on my symptoms, doc wants me to have a spinal MRI in the next couple of days. Said it could be 1 of 2, an injury or the "C".

I wasn't consciously stressed until after I talked to my nurse who is also a TNBC survivor of 5 yrs. and told me it "could be" cancer.

Pain over 2 weeks this time in back and I think a week or 2 back in November, same area... slight bone achiness in legs and forearms off and on too since last fall.

I did it, it's done and I'm going to be further in debt... Closed MRI with contrast sucked, it was hot in there as I'm having hot flashes and was hard to breathe in there after awhile. I probably won't know anything until Monday, Life is GOOD!

Had a really restless night with anxiety...

So I had a little bit of a scare, I've been having some major lower back pain for the last 3 weeks and had an MRI of my spine w/contrast because of my breast cancer history. NO CANCER!... but I do have cysts in my spine. Referred to an Orthopedic to see what they can do for me. Back is still hurting and at times making it difficult to walk, sit, cross legs, drive, bend over, sleep on side and stand. I get relief by lying flat on my back... This is what brings me back to why I still walk for these breast cancer events, I'll always have that reminder but I do not fear the 15% chance that Triple Negative Breast Cancer could recur... I'm not that statistic!

Thank you ladies for being here for me... To tell you the truth, I was kinda on the fence about this... First time I've been a little worried since dx, not a good feeling.

My lumbar spine MRI impressions:
1. No abnormal post-contrast enhancing lesions.
2. 4mm perineural cyst at L2-3 in the left neural foramen.
3. Small Tarlov cysts at the S2 segment of the sacrum.
I just don't know after everything I've been reading that these small cysts would be causing so much pain...

I walked for my TNBC sisters that are still
fighting, those that are celebrating and
remembering those that were taken
from us because of this disease.