Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": September 2017

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.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

NW Ohio Komen Race for the Cure 2017

Proud supporter of Komen, NW Ohio -Melissa

12,000 people participated in the 24th Annual Komen Race for the Cure in Downtown Toledo on September 24, 2017. Thank You Northwest Ohio for your support and donations that help uninsured/underinsured women in breast health services and for breast cancer research. As an 8 year breast cancer survivor myself and my bond with many other breast cancer survivors across our nation, I truly do appreciate everyones support in helping reducing the lives lost to breast cancer.
Close to 94% of patients living with metastatic breast cancer were previously treated for an earlier stage of breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen has announced $31 million in 2017 research grant funding focusing on metastatic breast cancer including:

Advance in understanding on how and why breast cancer spreads, and how to treat or prevent metastasis
New treatments of targeted therapies and drug developments for aggressive types of breast cancer, including TNBC
Why drug resistance occurs in breast cancer patients and how to overcome it
Disparities in breast cancer outcomes
Funding young investigators in breast cancer research

https://komennwohio.org/komen-announces-31-million-in-research-grants-focusing-on-metastatic-cancers

Thank you Northwest Ohio Komen participants and spectators
for your continued support of us breast cancer survivors!

All of us survivors in pink!

Triple Negative Breast Cancer sisters, Melissa and Genny

Our supporters!

In Celebration of Melissa Paskvan
Survivor Champion 8 years!

Pink sisters Melissa and Joyce
with our froggie fan!

Triple Negative Breast Cancer sisters,
Melissa P. and Melissa J. with cancer researcher,
Dr. Amit Tiwari

Pink Ribbon survivors!

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Komen Breakfast 2017

The Annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Breakfast held in September 2017 with my pink sisters!

The Victory Gals are in the house!
Rita, Carol, Areena, Diane, Beth, Melissa J. Kim, Melissa
& Lynnette

Melissa P., Deb, Rita, Melissa J. and Carol
First 4 of us on the left are TNBC survivors

Pink sisters, Lynnette and Melissa

Melissa and Chrys Peterson

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Northwest Ohio Medical Mutual's Hattitude Breast Cancer Awareness Brunch 2017

Lovely and uplifting breast cancer awareness brunch presented by Medical Mutual of Ohio at the Inverness Club in Toledo on Sept. 16, 2017. Also, it was a great opportunity for me to get Young Survival Coalition's information out there for support of young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Thank you Debra. A. Green for this annual awareness event in bringing women together and reminding us on the importance of early detection in breast cancer.

Educating about unique needs in young
women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Melissa representing Young Survival Coalition as
a State Leader

Peggy, Dianna, Sharon, Deb and Melissa
The last 4 of us on the right end are
triple negative breast cancer survivors

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Over the Edge for The Victory Center 2017

I, myself didn't really go over
the edge... but, I did make a
donation in support of Devorah
and The Victory Center

An once in a lifetime way to raise funds for
The Victory Center, whomever registered and raised over $1000 in donations had the opportunity to rappel down from The Edison Building in downtown Toledo, OH.
An amazing over $150,000 was raised from
this event benefiting the services that The Victory Center provides to cancer patients.
On September 8, 2017, Myself and a few other supporters of The Victory Center gathered at downtown to cheer on our breast cancer support group facilitator Devorah, as she went "Over the Edge" of the Edison Building in honor of all of us cancer survivors and to those that we cherish in memory. Devorah had personally raised over $2500 for this fundraiser. So grateful for people like Devorah for making an impact in the lives of cancer patients and survivors.

Devorah, in her own words: "I have decided to add a spiritual component to this event. I will read the names of loved ones whose lives have been touched by cancer as I descend the 16 stories. You are welcome to give me several names to add to this list. The purpose of doing this is to validate the lives of these individuals, and to honor them for going through their cancer journey and fighting to live one day at a time."