Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Loss of our CatWoman, Karen Estey to Triple Negative Breast Cancer

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.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Loss of our CatWoman, Karen Estey to Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Karen Estey, Age 52. Departed December 29, 2013

Columbia, NC. Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Dx 2003 ER+ breast cancer.
Dx December 2010 TNBC, double Mx, 2 positve nodes, T/C x5. BRCA negative
October 2012 Stage 4 recurrence to chest nodes and liver. Cabo/Gemzar x6
Dec. 2012- Lesion at L6 and lung nodule
April 2013- Progression of liver tumors. Starting Xeloda
August 2013- More and larger liver mets. Start drug trial Xtandi, 160 mg/daily
September 2013- Bone mets to spine T-3 to T12 and pelvis. Back and nerve pain
October 2013- Progression in liver, about 20%, 3 large tumors. Stopped chemo. Palliative care

"As a person with Stage 4 MBC - I say Rejoice!!!! No one trumps anyone else here. We all need to hear good news and want to celebrate it. It takes nothing away from anyone else. You are important to us and I for one am over the moon for you! Enjoy the feeling of being NED. Keep looking forward."

- Karen Estey

This was the kind of woman Karen was, always putting others before her despite her own health declining. Our CatWoman, Karen had always brought love and light to our group with her subtle humor and her passions for others. The party's over, rest peacefully Karen