Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": July 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, July 28, 2015

Lunch with my Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister

Melissa and TNBC sister, Angie Martin

So happy to see one of my TNBC sisters, Angela Martin from New York, who I originally met online in our TNBC support group. Since then, Angela and I have met up at Young Survival Conferences the last 3 years in a row. It was so nice to catch up with what's going on in each others lives over lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe in Detroit, Michigan on July 22, 2015. Less than 8 months till the next YSC conference where we hopefully will meet up again with several of our other pink sisters too.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Volunteering at LPGA Marathon Classic 2015.

Last weekend I volunteered to work at The LPGA Marathon Classic 2015 at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio. I was one of the many volunteers for The Victory Center (TVC), a cancer wellness center for NorthWest Ohio with proceeds going to TVC from sales of food and beverages at the concession stands that we manned all week long. I worked the concession stand at Tee #1 that kept us pretty busy with keeping golf fans hydrated as they watched their favorite woman golfer in the 90 degree heat on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Cash tips were accepted at the concession stands by the patrons which also benefitted The Victory Center. After they closed down our concession tent towards the end of round three of the golf tourament, I was able to sneek in a few photo opportunities with some well-known LPGA players and get a few autographs too. I had a great time volunteering for The Victory Center where I've been a part of their breast cancer support group for more than 5 years and they have been so helpful to me with the many of services they provide for my physical and emotional well-being. Thank you TVC for giving me a chance once again to give back to your center.