Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": April 2018

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.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Motor City Dragon Boat Paddling Practice 2017

On July 17, 2017, TNBC sister Terry whom I met at a breast cancer conference in Philadelphia and lives in the Detroit area, had invited me to come paddle with them at their Motor City Dragon Boat practice at the Ford Yacht Club in Groses Ile, Michigan. The Motor City Dragon Boat Team consisting of may breast cancer survivors and co-survivors compete at various dragon boat race festivals raising funds donated to Breast Cancer Charitable Organizations that help survivors.
I was grateful for this experience and I had a lot of fun with these group of survivors and even was asked to join them at their upcoming race in Chicago... I had to decline the race invitation for I felt I was not coordinated enough with the paddle plus it was just too physical for me to keep up.
Thank you again Csilla for this wonderful fun experience on the waters and I hope to meet up with your team again for another adventure.

Motor City Dragon Boat Team

That's me, all the way to the back where
Csilla coached me on paddling

Us breast cancer survivors...
TNBC sisters Terry and Melissa on the right end

Team Motor City Dragons with me standing
between Terry and Csilla

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Northwest Ohio 2018 Honorary Survivor

**Meet this year's 2018 honorary survivor!**

At the age of 41, Melissa Paskvan was diagnosed August 6, 2009 with Triple Negative Breast Cancer after finding a lump during a self exam. She reacted fast and 2 days later got in for a mammogram followed by an ultrasound. Having dense breasts, her 2cm lump did not show up on her mammogram. Melissa insisted on a needle biopsy right then and there. 2 days afterwards, she received the dreadful phone call from her doctor...

8½ years cancer free now, Melissa is very active in the breast cancer community advocating to further breast cancer research. Please join Melissa in the fight to end breast cancer with your support and participation at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on May 19th, 2018.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. - Helen Keller

Toledo, Making Strides American Cancer Society Walk May 19, 2018

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Register for 2018 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Northwest Ohio

Help us fight to end breast cancer!

Nice day for a photo shoot for an upcoming commercial...
Register for May 19, 2018 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk starting at Hensville Park, Downtown Toledo. Lots of great entertainment and activities are planned for this event.
www.makingstrideswalk.org/nwohio