I promise

"I promise, Suzy... Even if it takes the rest of my life." -Nancy G. Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

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, October 30, 2014

Coming Soon... Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day 3.3.2015!

What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day?
3-3-15 is the third Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day — a national day of awareness and grassroots fundraising events to help eradicate triple negative breast cancers and assist those impacted by the disease. It's a serious day, but the tone is positive as we celebrate all those who join our efforts in tackling the next frontier in breast cancer.
While significant progress has been made in breast cancer research, there is shockingly little known about triple negative cancers, even though they impact up to 1 in 5 women diagnosed with breast cancer. TNBC does not have any of the known treatment receptors — meaning that many of the advances in breast cancer treatment don't work for women diagnosed with TNBC.
How do I get involved?
We are asking you — our community and supporters — to plan or join fundraisers and awareness events in each state across the country to take place on — or leading up to 3.3.15. Events of all sizes and types are welcome! You don't need to be a professional fundraiser. The most successful events tie into something that you love: from walking to yoga or lattes to cupcakes. Do what you love and your friends, family and community will follow! The most successful events tend to be the simplest.

Click link to register your event:
http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/tnbcday2015/hostanevent.htm 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Full-Circle Friendship Rooted in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

http://www.tnbcmitzvahgirls.com
Amazing story published on how the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation started in honor of the passing of their close friend, Nancy Block-Zenna to TNBC in 2007.  Eight years later and as their Bat Mitzhah service project, Nancy's daughter, Jolie and her childhood friends who were all about 5 years old at the time, have come together now at age 12, to form "TNBC Mitzvah Girls" with raising funds for the TNBC Foundation by selling products through their website. Also, a walk is planned to benefit  the foundation.

Please click on link below to read this inspiring article.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-brothers/fullcircle-friendship-roo_b_6050798.html


The Mitzvah Girls are featured in (201) Family magazine this month. Read more about the girls fighting triple negative breast cancer: 
http://www.pressreader.com/usa/201-family


 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Sharing Stories at Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fall Philadelphia Conference 2014

LBBC hosted another great breast cancer conference on September 27, 2014, focusing on Metastatic, Triple Negative and HER2+ breast cancers.  This one day event brought over 400 people together, mostly survivors to learn the latest research and treatments in their specific type of breast cancer.  The TNBC Foundation has partnered up to bring 3 TNBC tracks to the audience.  I attended a track on Triple Negative Breast Cancer that was given by oncologist, Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli, who spoke of treatment, current TNBC clinical trials and the direction of future research... I will post some notes and slides in another post of what I learned from the session.  I also attended a session about blogging about breast cancer because I am a blogger and have been sharing my journey for 5 years now and was looking for tips on being a more successful blogger at reaching a larger audience of TNBC survivors and supporters. The third session that I attended... well actually I was a speaker and moderator at the "Learning From Each Other", a TNBC panel discussion that was attended by 85 people. It was a wonderful experience to do some public speaking and offer some insight along with a panel of some amazing TNBC survivors. I really enjoyed my day meeting up with some TNBC sisters I have already met and a few other TNBC survivors that I newly met. The exhibitors included my two favorite, the TNBC Foundation and Triple Step Towards the Cure. 
I was thrilled to finally meet the ladies of the TNBC Foundation, Co-founder and CEO, Haley Dinerman, Arlene Brothers and Amy and to have dinner with them, Roxanne Martinez and Annie Goodman at a nice mexican restaurant.  I also was happy to meet Allison Nilsen of CancerCare who facilitated the TNBC session. I had a lot of fun rooming with Roxanne at the Leow's Hotel and hanging out at the Hard Rock Cafe across the street with some fabulous ladies for dinner.  Philadelphia is a really pretty city where I spent a few hours sight-seeing, mostly in Old City seeing some historical sites and hanging with Traci Gordon in the park.

I was a moderator at this TNBC Session with
TNBC Survivors Ricki Fairley, Annie Goodman,
Noni Sutherland and Roxanne Marinez

"Learning From Each Other", Triple Negative Breast
Cancer panel discussion with Melissa Paskvan,
Ricki Fairley, Annie Goodman, Noni Sutherland and
Roxanne Martinez

Feeling the excitement for TNBCDay 2015!

TNBC Sisters, Roxanne Martinez, Melissa 
and Annie Goodman


Me with the ladies of the Ladies of the Triple
Negative BreastCancer Foundation and Allison 

of CancerCare. Amy, Melissa, Arlene, Allison 
and Co-founder of TNBF, Haley Dinerman

TNBC Sisters, Roxanne Martinez and
Melissa with the ladies of TNBC Foundation
and CancerCare

All of us TNBC Survivors!

TNBC Sisters, all of us!

http://triplesteptowardthecure.org

Lori Flowers, Co-founder and CEO of Triple 
StepTowards the Cure and Melissa

Melissa and Nicole McLean, breast cancer
survivor and blogger of
http://fabulous-boobies.blogspot.com

TNBC Sisters Melissa and Roxanne Martinez

"Keep telling our stories of survival!"

Melissa and Jean Sachs, CEO of  Living Beyond
Breast Cancer

MBC survivor, TerLisa and Melissa

Melissa, Roxanne Martinez and
Shanese Johnson

Hanging out at the Hard Rock Cafe
TerLisa, Shirley, Bennette, Roxanne, Melissa

TNBC Sisters, Melissa and Roxanne
wearing our TNBCDay shirts

TNBC Survivor and supporter, Bennette,
Shirley and Melissa

TNBC supporter Shirley and Melissa

TNBC Sisters, Melissa and Bennette

The Liberty Bell

Ben Franklin's grave


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Learning From Each Other - A Panel Discussion

Melissa and the TNBC Panelists
"Hear from a panel of your peers - people diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer - who have insights to share and who want to hear from you.  Panel topics may include: living well after a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer, common fears and strategies for managing uncertainty and practical tips for moving forward."

Listen (podcast) to me and my TNBC sisters, Ricki Fairley, Annie Goodman, Noni Sutherland and Roxanne Martinez speak at this panel discussion at the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference on September 27, 2014 in Phillidelphia, PA.

(Click link to podcast)
http://www.lbbc.org/Event-Archive/2014-09-27-TNBC-Panel/(language)/eng-US

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Bowling Green State University "Dig For a Cure" 2014.

My cousin's kids honoring me and other survivors at the BGSU Volleyball game raising awareness for breast cancer. 








Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Triple Negative Breast Cancer And African American Women

REGISTER NOW (Click link)


Workshop Date and Time

Friday, October 31, 2014, 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Eastern Time
Registrants can listen in live over the phone or online as a webcast.
This program was made possible by the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Thank You Joan Lunden...

for sharing my story of my TNBC fight on your web site. I wish you the very best in your health! xxx

http://www.joanlunden.com/breast-cancer-stories/12
(Click link to story)

150 Best Breast Cancer Blogs...

My blog, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, I Won't Back Down! has been included on Listly of 150 best breast cancer blogs on the web. Thank you to my readers!

Listly by Marie Ennis-O'Connor
http://list.ly/list/MsP-150-best-breast-cancer-blogs#item_852950? 
(Click link)

Thursday, October 2, 2014

My SISTERHOOD Gives Me Strength...

"The Pink ladies that I've bonded with on this path I've been traveling on, they all inspire me as we were brought together because of our TNBC fight."












My story on Komen's site:
http://ww5.komen.org/Breast-Cancer-Stories/Gives-Me-Strength--Melissa-Paskvan.html

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