I promise

"I promise, Suzy... Even if it takes the rest of my life." -Nancy G. Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

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, March 20, 2014

Terry Lewis 4 Year Fight with Triple Negative Breast Cancer

"I am a survivor, its in my blood, so I know I will survive for many, many years to come!" - Terry Lewis, 2010
 
Terry Lewis
I have just learned that a TNBC sister from my online support group has passed recently on December 20, 2013 at the age of 53. Terry battled Triple Negative Breast Cancer for 4 years with her original diagnosis in December 2009 with a 12.5cm lump, Stage 3C with 25 positive lymph nodes.
Terry originally finished treatment in September 2010, had left mastectomy, 6 months of chemo, 35 radiation treatments and was receiving Avastin and Zometa. Clean scans in November 2011 but 6 months post treatment, March 2011, Terry learned that her cancer has returned to her remaining breast and skin and started chemo again, Taxotere and Xeloda that turned out to be ineffective.  A new treatment of Gemzar and Carboplatin with a clinical trial on Iniparib was started in July 2011. March 2012,  Terry's cancer has spread more in the right beast and had undergone mastectomy. November 2012, Terry started the BEACON Study with a randomized study drug, Nektar-102.
The last I've read this pass October 2013, Terry was to start hyperthermia treatment that uses heat to kill cancer cells. 
Good-bye my sister, you fought a long and courageous battle.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpostonline/obituary.aspx?pid=168662163 
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