Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": My Visit for TNBCDay 2014 Informational Session with Dr. Lisa Newman

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 27, 2014

My Visit for TNBCDay 2014 Informational Session with Dr. Lisa Newman

On March 3, 2014, the day where TNBC Awareness is nationally recognized with many grassroots events planned in support of bringing awareness to Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Any money raised during these events and online events will be donated to the TNBC Foundation in it's efforts in funding research to help find our targeted therapy for TNBC. I started a fun day off by attending an informational session with my pink sister, Jyll up in Dearborn, MI with Dr. Lisa Newman, a very well respected oncologist from the University of Michigan Medical Hospital, who has done extensive research on TNBC in African-American women. I also had the pleasure of meeting up with my TNBC sister, Maureen from my online support group. I was very excited to meet Maureen and she was so sweet to talk to.

“Triple Negative Breast Cancer is one pattern of the disease, but it is one that we have to have a heightened sense of awareness,” - Dr. Newman said.

My notes from the session:

- Basal-Like and TNBC tumors have a 80% overlap
- Carboplatin drug treatment is more effective in TNBC tumors
- Latest research: Androgen receptor (marker)
- 30% of TNBC patients will have an recurrence

TNBC Mets
Brain - 30%
Liver - 40%
Lung - 20%
Bone - 10%

Who does TNBC affect?
White-American - 16%
African-American - 26%
Ghana-African - 82%

TNBC Frequency
Young women
African-American
Hereditary
Palpable breast lump
Chemo therapy
Mets to Brain
Less likely to recur after 5 years.

Obesity linked to risk of TNBC: Stay fit, eat well balanced diet