Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Going to California... Visiting my Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sisters

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, January 26, 2014

Going to California... Visiting my Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sisters

This past October 2013, I had the most fabulous time with a weekend of adventure in California hosted by my Triple Negative Breast Cancer sisters from our online support group. We had planned a girl's weekend get-together full of fun and relaxation. Feeling the excitement as I was in the sky for 6 hours flying over mountains as this is my first trip to Cali. I arrived in San Jose on a Thursday where I was picked up at the airport by TNBC sister, Kathleen (Katie) whom was my roommate 8 months prior at Seattle's Young Survival Coalition Conference for breast cancer survivors. Katie showed me around her hometown in Saratoga and have introduced me to her family before we headed to San Francisco to meet up with 2 more TNBC sister's Maria and Lisa Lee whom were meeting us for lunch for some Dim Sum at Yank Sing restaurant. I had also previously met Maria at the Seattle conference too. I've tried a lot of different kinds of Asian foods and enjoyed fine wine over good conversations and a lot of laughter. Katie gave me a tour of San Francisco as we headed towards the Golden Gate Bridge. I just took it all in and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Katie and I headed to the mountains for our weekend at the cabin.

On Friday, another TNBC sister that I had also previously met in Seattle, Lisa B. drove in and spent the day with Katie and I in the mountains for wine tasting at Saluti Winery where we tasted several kinds of wine. We drove through the mountains enjoying the spectacular view of endless vineyards and forestry and made a stop at Apple Hill for some shopping.
On Saturday, Maria and Lisa Lee met up with us again at the cabin for eats and beer tasting night. After a fantastic weekend with my ladies, there was one quick stop in Sunnyvale that I absolutely had to make before I get on that plane to head back to Ohio. I had to see TNBC sister, Stephanie whom was one of the first TNBC survivors that I had met online 3 years ago as I just finished treatment and she was starting hers. Though it was a very short visit with Steph, it completed my trip and was really nice to meet her face to face. Thank you ladies for a much needed "group therapy" weekend, I really enjoyed myself and appreciate your hospitality. Much love xoxo Melissa

My view from the sky...

I'm getting closer...

Saratoga

San Francisco, here I come!

TNBC sister, Maria and Melissa...
Mmm, what's this?
shanghai dumpling... very juicy!

Let's try this...

Stuffed crab claw - Om-nom, nom... Like this too!


Lunch date with the ladies for dim sum at Yank Sing, San Francisco TNBC sisters, Lisa L. and Katie standing, Maria and Melissa sitting. *...and I said I don't drink wine!*