Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Toledo Rockets for the Cure 2019

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, May 9, 2019

Toledo Rockets for the Cure 2019

On February 2, 2019, I attended the University of Toledo, Rockets for the Cure women basketball game taking on University of Bowling Green Falcons. I was among a select few breast cancer survivors to be recognized on the basketball court prior to their game and was escorted arm in arm by a BG player, #3 to the center court. The basketball players and fans were all wearing something pink in support of breast cancer awareness and benefiting Susan G. Komen of Northwest Ohio where 75% money raised is used to support programs and survivors here in our local community.

The University of Toledo provided us survivors a private suite and I took my TNBC researcher, Dr. Tiwari as my guest to support this great cause. From my suite, we watched UT Rockets 76-56 win over BG falcons. Thank you University of Toledo, Komen of Northwest Ohio and our local community for your continued support of us survivors and going forward to find our cure!