Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Spring into Survivorship, Blooming in Pink 2015

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.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Spring into Survivorship, Blooming in Pink 2015

On April 11, 2015, I spent my Saturday with some very special friends attending the first ever, Lucas County Breast Health Coalition Breast Cancer Conference at Lordes College. Many different local organizations helped in the planning of this special event to bring several speakers to give workshops, Keynote speaker and breast cancer survivor, Molly MacDonald, vendors, catered lunch, give-a-ways and Sisterhood. Work shops included Nutrition, Yoga, Finding your Passion and Your Financial Future. Survivorship Conferences and programs likes this is very much needed and appreciated in our local community as we need continued support as we work through finding our new normal, long-term chemo side-effects and getting on the path of healthy living. This is the kind of positive enforcement we need coming out from a cancer diagnosis and being among other survivors who understands what we have gone through. Thank you Komen of Northwest Ohio for funding this special event. Many local vendors were there on hand with their tables set-up displaying information and their services that they offer to breast cancer survivors. I attended the workshops on Nutrition and Cancer presented by Promedica's Registered Dietician, Marcia Grandsko; and Finding your Passion in Life presented by Life Coach, Tamara Vellozzo... both offering great information as I move forward in improving a healthy life style for myself. Below are some notes I've taken to share with my readers:

Preventing cancer through nutrition:

1. Be lean as possible without being underweight.

- Find balance between diet and lifestyle

- Weight: 5 feet tall = 100lbs, every inch afterwards, increase 5lbs

2. Physically active 30 minutes daily.

- Start with walking, work up a sweat

3. Cut back on sugary drinks and products.

- Limit sugary food, sugar feeds every cells

- Starch, milk and carbs turns to glucose

- Insulin is a growth hormone, Insulin feeds cancer

- Eat a sweet with protein to slow down production of insulin

- To get HDL up for cholesterol, Exercise MOVE!

4. Eat More variety of vegetables and fruits daily.

- Cancer survivors must consume 7-9 servings.

5. Limit consumption of red meat and lunch meat.

- Take away one thing a week

6. Limit alcoholic drinks.

- One a day

7. Limit consumption of salty foods.

8. Don't use supplements.

- No regulations!

- Find nutrition in foods first.

- Vitamins, no mega doses like 600mg or 1000mg

9. Breast Feed.

10. Follow recommendations!

Finding your Passion in Life

     - Live Joyfully. Have purpose and passion.
     - Move from surviving to thriving.
     - Create in mind, transform into physical.
     - Joy, happiness and health: Change what you do want.
     - Action engages intention

The Passion Test Formula

1. Intention
     - Switch to ways that is more positive.
     - Speak in loving and kindness
2. Attention
   - What you put attention on grows stronger in your life.
     - Step back towards your passion, makes you feel good
3. No Tension
     - Self care is important.
     - Self love and self care start in thoughts.
     - Surround yourself with people that supports me...
     ...and if they don't, Release! Release! Release!