TNBC Ribbon Wrapped Around Our Hearts...

 As you cross the great salt flats dessert into Utah, people stop on the side of the road and collect rocks and use them to right things. I thought of all of you.....here my "mark" I left behind. ~Lisa Lee 

Thank you Lisa Lee, love you!

Sisters Network Inc., National African American Breast Cancer Conference Tour 2013

Dr. Lisa Newman and Melissa Paskvan

On May 25, 2013, I had the pleasure of attending the National African American Breast Cancer Conference tour in Detroit, MI hosted by Sisters Network, Inc. Detroit Chapter and met Dr. Lisa Newman whom I always admired her research in TNBC. Dr. Lisa Newman is a highly respectable oncology doctor specializing in research of Triple Negative Breast Cancer in African Ancestry. I have been following for about 2 years now, Dr. Lisa's research and journey to Ghana, Africa trying to find the correlation of TNBC in African-american and africans of Ghana. I, myself try to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible on TNBC so I can better understand this dreadful disease. Thank you Sisters Network, Dr. Lisa Newman and Dr. Thomas M. Flake Jr. for organizing this very informative breast cancer conference, I have gained a wealth of insight from your presentation. Please see below a schedule of the 2013 conference tour. Also, below are some notes I took at the conference.

Sisters Network ladies, Dr. Thomas
Flake and Dr. Lisa Newman on the
far right

Notes from the Conference with Dr. Lisa Newman, University of Michigan on Triple Negative Breast Cancer:

• Breast cancer deaths decreasing
• Cannot predict progression or pattern (ex. lungs, liver, brain or bones)

Management of Breast Cancer
1) Removing tumor
2) Entire breast must treat
3) Node must be staged
    - Indicator of progression to other parts of body.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer:

• TNBC- 80% of Basil-like
• Medullary carcinoma - more favorable results
• Average breast cancer age 60, TNBC- 5-10 years younger
• TNBC and survival- Early Detection is CRITICAL! 
• Parp
• Cannot prevent TNBC at this time
• Multiple pregnancy increase TNBC
• Bilateral mastectomy does not improve survival!
• TNBC in African-American - Does it have a mutation like BRCA? 
• TNBC - 16% white, 26% african-american, 82% Ghana
• TNBC - expressed highly in Africa
• African-american has lower WBC, results in delay or decrease in chemotherapy which could have effect on survival.
• More likely to be invisible on mammogram

Markers - Stem Cell

• ALPH-1 expression - predictor of poor clinical outcome
• EZH2 protein - expressed in invasive carcinoma cells

BRCA referrals:

• Also look at extended family
• Younger than age 40 diagnosis 
• TNBC Dx - usually age 50-60
• Don't know all the mutations
• Negative test - Still unknown mutations detected

Taking care of you

• Fatty intake - low
• Stay active
• Better breast care monitoring
• Drink more water - get toxins out of the body

Notes from the Conference with Dr. Thomas M. Flake Jr. MD. F.A.C.S on Advanced Breast Cancer:

• Any tumor greater 5cm attach to skin or chest wall is considered advanced
• Stage 3 considered advanced
• Stage 3 - survival 4.9 years
• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy - 10-20% complete response
• Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) - 1/3 are cured
• Locally advanced - affix to chest wall- inoperable 
• Locally advanced- fighting an uphill battle
• Treatment - does not increase survival but improves quality 
• New breast cancer diagnosis- age 40-49 
• 90% of breast cancer patients are surviving... why? Mammography and breast self exam - EARLY DETECTION!
• Need to expand in mammography and self exams to save lives.

www.sistersnetworkinc.org

About

Sisters Network Inc. is the only National African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization.

Mission

Sisters Network Inc. is committed to increasing local and national attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community.

Fat Cells in Breasts... Is There A Link Between Social Stress And Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

"We found that exposure to the stress of social isolation leads to reprogramming of genes in fat cells in the mammary glands," said study author Suzanne Conzen, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. "These fat cells then secrete substances that cause nearby pre-cancerous epithelial cells to proliferate more rapidly, accelerating the development of breast cancer. This local effect of fat cells in the breast was completely unanticipated."

http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2013/20130618-fat-cells.html (Click link to full story)

TNBC...

Thank You Team Martina for Contributing Towards Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research...

Message from Martina Mcbride:

Today I was proud to be there when Team Martina presented a check for $40,550 to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. This money will go directly to research triple negative breast cancer research. Team Martina Member Taira Baughman, who was in my video for I'm Gonna Love You Through It, lost her battle with this very cancer two weeks ago. She was a very special person who left behind four young children and a devoted husband. I only met her a few times, but from what I could tell her life was all about her faith and helping others. We all felt her there with us today. 
So proud of this team and of the work they are doing.

"Pink Out" Awareness Lacrosse Game Raises Funds For The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation

My Triple Negative Breast Cancer sister and dear friend, Sara Kouten of the Hillsborough High School Booster Club helped with $175 in "shake a can" and the sell out of 300 Pinnies within 24 hours for the "Pink Out" awareness lacross game where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.  A big shout out to Sara Kouten and the Hillsborough High School community... I don't have an exact figure, but it looks like an upward to about $1000 will be donated to our cause.

Sara Kouten, TNBC sister

“We are extremely grateful to Coach Wilson, the HHS Lacrosse staff and all the players for their continuing commitment to this very worthy cause,” Sara Kouten, Pink Out leader for the Lacrosse Booster Club, and a triple negative breast cancer survivor, said. “We all have been affected by breast cancer and I am humbled by the selfless efforts of the Hillsborough community to battle this terrible disease."

http://hillsborough.patch.com/articles/hillsborough-lacrosse-players-promise-to-pink-out-for-wednesday-game (Click link to story)