Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Remembering TNBC Sister Cheryl Wilkerson...

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, April 17, 2014

Remembering TNBC Sister Cheryl Wilkerson...

"Thank you to all my Sisters who fight right along beside each other no matter what their own circumstances....what a Blessing you all are! Much Love! Cheryl"

"My original Dx TNBC Stage IIB was 10-27-11, clear margins and no lymph node involvement but had recurrence 8-20-12 and progression in June, 2013 while on Taxol Avastin. I have mets in both lung and a spot on my spine.... Stage IV."

"I was originally on Cytoxan/Taxotere x 6, had 35 radiation but mets in less than a year. I then did Avastin/Taxol, then Erubulin. In September I had a lung biopsy, but started Xeloda while they wait to put me into a clinical trial. Then boom... Saturday night hit with a lot of dizziness, and symptoms. This all now confirmed with an MRI Yesterday showing brain mets." Underwent gamma knife to remove 6 cancerous tumors. - October 2013
Started Cytoxan and Methotrexate in pill form. Radiation treatments on tumor on chest that was affecting her pulmonary function and tumor on her spinal cord. - December 2013

Cheryl Wilkerson, age 56, lost her battle to TNBC on February 27, 2014. We'll always remember your courageous fight, TNBC sister.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thesouthern/obituary.aspx?n=cheryl-wilkerson&pid=169901394&