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| Dr. Lisa Newman and Melissa Paskvan |
On May 25, 2013, I had the pleasure of attending the National African American Breast Cancer Conference tour in Detroit, MI hosted by Sisters Network, Inc. Detroit Chapter and met Dr. Lisa Newman whom I always admired her research in TNBC. Dr. Lisa Newman is a highly respectable oncology doctor specializing in research of Triple Negative Breast Cancer in African Ancestry. I have been following for about 2 years now, Dr. Lisa's research and journey to Ghana, Africa trying to find the correlation of TNBC in African-american and africans of Ghana. I, myself try to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible on TNBC so I can better understand this dreadful disease. Thank you Sisters Network, Dr. Lisa Newman and Dr. Thomas M. Flake Jr. for organizing this very informative breast cancer conference, I have gained a wealth of insight from your presentation. Please see below a schedule of the 2013 conference tour. Also, below are some notes I took at the conference.
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| Sisters Network ladies, Dr. Thomas Flake and Dr. Lisa Newman on the far right |
Notes from the Conference with Dr. Lisa Newman, University of Michigan on Triple Negative Breast Cancer:
- Breast cancer deaths decreasing
- Cannot predict progression or pattern (ex. lungs, liver, brain or bones)
1) Removing tumor
2) Entire breast must treat
3) Node must be staged
- Indicator of progression to other parts of body.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer:
- TNBC- 80% of Basil-like
- Medullary carcinoma - more favorable results
- Average breast cancer age 60, TNBC- 5-10 years younger
- TNBC and survival- Early Detection is CRITICAL!
- Parp
- Cannot prevent TNBC at this time
- Multiple pregnancy increase TNBC
- Bilateral mastectomy does not improve survival!
- TNBC in African-American - Does it have a mutation like BRCA?
- TNBC - 16% white, 26% african-american, 82% Ghana
- TNBC - expressed highly in Africa
- African-american has lower WBC, results in delay or decrease in chemotherapy which could have effect on survival.
- More likely to be invisible on mammogram
Markers - Stem Cell
- ALPH-1 expression - predictor of poor clinical outcome
- EZH2 protein - expressed in invasive carcinoma cells
BRCA referrals:
- Also look at extended family
- Younger than age 40 diagnosis
- TNBC Dx - usually age 50-60
- Don't know all the mutations
- Negative test - Still unknown mutations detected
Taking care of you
- Fatty intake - low
- Stay active
- Better breast care monitoring
- Drink more water - get toxins out of the body
Notes from the Conference with Dr. Thomas M. Flake Jr. MD. F.A.C.S on Advanced Breast Cancer:
- Any tumor greater 5cm attach to skin or chest wall is considered advanced
- Stage 3 considered advanced
- Stage 3 - survival 4.9 years
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy - 10-20% complete response
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) - 1/3 are cured
- Locally advanced - affix to chest wall- inoperable
- Locally advanced- fighting an uphill battle
- Treatment - does not increase survival but improves quality
- New breast cancer diagnosis- age 40-49
- 90% of breast cancer patients are surviving... why? Mammography and breast self exam - EARLY DETECTION!
- Need to expand in mammography and self exams to save lives.
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| www.sistersnetworkinc.org |
About
Sisters Network Inc. is the only National African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization.