Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": "If I Gotta Be Bald I Might As Well Cash In On It, Right?"... Memory Of My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister, Shannon Baker Freeman

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.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

"If I Gotta Be Bald I Might As Well Cash In On It, Right?"... Memory Of My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister, Shannon Baker Freeman

Shannon Baker Freeman, Age 43.

This morning, July 30, 2012, we are saddened for we lost a dear Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister to this very aggressive disease. Shannon Baker Freeman fought for the last 1½ year as the cancer recurred to her lungs and liver before finding out it metastasized to her brain just a few days before her passing. Recalling my first memory of our online support group sister, Shannon who put up a post about her entering a March Baldness contest and needed our votes, "If I gotta be bald I might as well cash in on it, right?!? Please vote for me :)" All of us sisters rooted for Shannon and prevailed in Round 1 with 68% over 32% of votes. It was exciting for all of us as the contest and voting was a fun distraction from the toll of worriness that comes along with a breast diagnosis. Shannon advanced to Round 2 of "Bald Madness", came in close with 48% to 52% of votes but didn't make it to the 3rd. Round. I knew then that Shannon had the courage to stand up to her cancer, and kept fighting back harder. So tonight we have another pink angel guarding over us... Thank you Shannon for sharing your life, strength, support and kindly, your friendship with us all. It was a blessing to have gotten to know you and being united in Sisterhood. Love you my dear sister friend... rest peacefully knowing that we'll keep fighting for our targeted therapy to be found and one day, the cure.