Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": March 2020

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.

Monday, March 23, 2020

Cancer vs. Covid19

Compassionate article on Cancer vs. Covid19 written by Dr. Breelyn Wilky, a Sarcoma Medical Oncologist:
https://breelynwilkymd.com/2020/03/22/cancer-vs-coronavirus

Saturday, March 14, 2020

The Catherine S. Eberly Center for Women forum on Triple Negative Breast Cancer 2020

Speaking on my TNBC diagnosis

On February 25, 2020, I was asked to speak as a Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor and as an advocate at a forum at The University of Toledo's The Catherine S. Eberly Center for Women. This forum was in honor of Black History Month, bringing awareness to Triple Negative Breast Cancer that disproportionately affect African American women.

Mary Westphal – Executive Director, Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio

Dr. Marlene Welch – plastic surgeon serving breast cancer survivors

Dr. Alexzander Asea – Professor, Dept. of Medicine (precision medicine researcher)

Melissa Paskvan – TNBC survivor and advocate

Dr. Kim Jenkins – Assoc. Prof., Anesthesiology and Assoc. Dean for Diversity and Inclusion

Sunday, March 8, 2020

University of Toledo Football 2019

Thank you Dr. Tiwari for the special invite to watch UT football and discuss cancer research with your collaborators in your department's suite for the evening.

with University of Toledo researchers and
Mary Westphal, CEO of Komen of NW, Ohio

University of Toledo,
Department of Pharmacology and
Experimental Therapeutics suite

Our sweet suite!

University of Toledo Football

Mary Westphal, CEO of Komen NW Ohio
Dr. Amit Tiwari,
Triple Negative Breast Cancer researcher
and Melissa, Patient Advocate Mentor

Friday, March 6, 2020

University of Toledo Research Lab Visit February 20, 2020

Dr. Tiwari's Lab

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research
at Dr. Amit Tiwari's lab

Storing Triple Negative Breast
Cancer cells for future studies

TNBC Researcher, Saloni marking
vials of Triple Negative Breast
Cancer cells

Counting Triple Negative Breast
Cancer cells under the microscope

Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells
on the rocking Shaker

Saloni removes Triple Negative
Breast Cancer cells from
the rocking shaker

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Rockets for the Cure February 22, 2020

Thank you Toledo Rockets for raising $15972
for cancer research and
over $157000 in the past ten years!

Melissa with Rocksy and Rocky

UT Rockets warm-ups "Power of One"

Pre-game breast cancer survivors recognition

Breast cancer survivors on center court
with UT lady Rockets

Silly selfie with lady Rockets

Team introductions

My sweet suite!

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sisters
Melissa and Joyce B.

Suite view

playing against Western Michigan Broncos

Go Rockets!

Overhead view

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day, March 3, 2020

Support Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness today with a donation towards TNBC research: www.tnbcday.org

www.tnbcday.org

Monday, March 2, 2020

Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference Philadelphia 2019

Welcome back to Philadelphia!

One of my favorite stops

TNBC sisters at Hard Rock Cafe
Jeanna, Lisa and Melissa

Triple Negative Breast Cancer sisters
Jeanna, Melissa and Lisa

TNBC sisters Jeanna Holler, Melissa Paskvan
and Lisa Knauer

No one fights alone!

with Melissa Berry, fashion and beauty publicist
and founder of https://cancerfashionista.com

Melissa Berry's fashion quote's design
my quote, "Hope for more Tomorrows"

Reception dance party

I fought Triple Negative Breast Cancer!

POW!

The Friday night after party...
Supporting Sisters Network

Go Ricki!

Ricki giving statistics on breast cancer
in African American women

Sisters Network, Stop the Silence
of not discussing cancer...

When she speaks, everyone listens...

https://www.sistersnetworkinc.org

Liking the bling in this World Series ring

This Super Bowl Championship
ring is nice too

Choice of breast cancer treatment is
based on tumor factors, patient factors
and factors related to the therapy

Breast Cancer is different in Young Women

Patient Advocacy in Research:
Shaping the research agenda,
oversight of the research process
and starting new research initiatives

...and in the presence of hope,
anythings is possible

Jean Sachs, CEO of Living Beyond Breast Cancer,
Dr. Julie Gralow, Breast Medical Oncology
and Dr. Daniel Silver, Medical Oncologist and
Cancer Researcher

Sadly, Jill Cohen passed from MBC
I was present at a summit,
where Jill pushed Komen for more
funding in metastatic breast
cancer research.
I believe Jill's voice changed at how
Komen is funding more
research for MBC

Triple Negative Breast Cancer sisters
Melissa and Ricki Fairley

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sisters
Patti Petretta and Melissa

Hayley Dinerman, CEO of
Triple Negative Breast
Cancer Foundation

...More common in African American, Hispanic,
younger women and BRCA1 mutation carriers

Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes:
Basal is the so called "triple negative"
ER neg, PR neg, Her2 neg

Approved Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for TNBC:
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)

Atezolizumab, an Immunotherapy in TNBC
whose tumors express PD-L1 on
the tumor immune cells

Oncologist, Dr. Steven J. Isakoff presenting a
medical update on Triple Negative
Breast Cancer Research

PARP Inhibitors May Enhance Immune Activation

2 Breast Cancer Vaccines in Clinical Trials
in Early Stage and Metastatic Triple
Negative Breast Cancer

TNBC survivors in attendance for medial update
on Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple Negative Breast Cancer remains
a medical unmet need...

Find my photo in the
#KissThis4MBC project

Raising research funding and awareness for
metastatic breast cancer
#KissThis4MBC Project

TNBC sisters, Melissa and Patti
#KissThis4MBC supporters

TNBC discussion in session

TNBC survivor, Melissa Berry speaks on
Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer

...Sharing her TNBC journey

TNBC sister and my roommate
Lisa Knauer shares her TNBC journey

TNBC Foundation Telephone Helpline
1-877-880-TNBC (8622)

LBBC's Digital Media Specialist,
Josh Fernandez and Melissa

with the lovely ladies of Triple Negative
Breast Cancer Foundation
Arlene, Hayley and Amy
https://tnbcfoundation.org

with Josh Levin, President of
https://lymphedivas.com
well known for their compression
arm sleeves to control Lymphedema
swelling. Most of my breast cancer
sisters buy from him.

Jacci Thompson-Dodd, excellent
speaker on Fueling Resiliency

TripleNegative Breast Cancer sisters
Joanne Hayashi and Melissa

TNBC sisters
Jeanna, Patti, Lisa and Melissa

Cathedral Basilica of Saints
Peter and Paul

City Hall

Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!"

I promise