Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day, March 3, 2020

Support Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness today with a donation towards TNBC research:   www.tnbcday.org

 www.tnbcday.org

Toledo Walleye Pink in the Rink 2018

Since it was Breast Cancer Awareness night at the Toledo Walleye hockey game on March 2, 2018, I once again made a sign to promote TNBC Day and show it off at the arena.  I've had a lot of hockey fans reading my sign so if anything, I hope they learned that there is more than one type of breast cancer.

15-20% of Breast Cancer is Triple Negative

Women with Triple Negative Breast
Cancer tests negative for the three
receptors -ER, PR and the HER2 protein
meaning the growth of breast cancer
cells are not driven by Estrogen,
Progesterone or HER2 protein ,
and therefore doesn't respond to
hormonal treatments or
anti-HER2 targeted therapy

Triple Negative Breast Cancer occur more
often in younger women under the age of 40,
those of African and Latina descent
and those with the BRCA-1 gene mutation.

TNBC sister, Deb K. and her family riding
the FanBoni!

Triple Negative Breast Cancer,
an aggressive form of the disease
has a higher rate of recurrence,
and more difficult to treat than
other types of breast cancer

Toledo's Pink in the Rink!

PINK ice!

Fans of each other!

Currently there is no targeted
therapy for TNBC. Still, ongoing
research remains focused on to 
better understand how Triple 
Negative Breast Cancer develops 
and how to treat it more 
effectively.

TNBC sisters Deb K. and Melissa with
May Westphal, Executive Director of
Susan G. Komen of Northwest Ohio

Toledo Walleye vs South Carolina Stingrays
I see a hockey rink, and I want it
painted pink...

Spike the Walleye sneaking up on 
Catrick's promoting TNBC 
Awareness Day

...with the Victory gals!

UT Shines Light on Difficult to Diagnose, Aggressive Type of Breast Cancer

By Christine Long : March 3rd, 2016 In honor of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center will host an event called “A Different Shade of Pink” Thursday, March 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on The University of Toledo Health Science Campus. “The nature of this disease cries out for more attention and research,” said Dr. Iman Mohamed, UT professor and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology. “We hope to educate and empower.” An estimated 15 percent of all diagnosed breast cancers are triple negative breast cancer tumors. This type lacks the three receptors commonly targeted in chemotherapy — estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The disease is often hard to diagnose because it is common in younger women and not always detected in mammograms. “The receptors known to fuel breast cancer simply aren’t present,” Mohamed said. “Compared to other types of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancers are usually more aggressive and not responsive to targeted therapeutic drugs. Patients have a higher risk of recurrence and a shorter survival rate.” Topics for the “A Different Shade of Pink” program include medical updates related to treatment options and clinical trials, as well as emotional, intimacy and survivorship issues. Paskvan UTMC patient Melissa Paskvan of Toledo was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2009 and has been in remission for six years. “I found a lump by accident while scratching an itch at the age of 41,” Paskvan said. “My heart sunk. I knew it was cancer, but I had no idea it would be this rare form. “I went through a lumpectomy, nearly four months of chemotherapy, and 33 rounds of radiation,” she said. “At 48 years old, I am a survivor. I am happy and relieved to have made it past the three-year mark. I only hope my story offers hope to newly diagnosed patients.” To learn more about Paskvan’s story and how she raises money for triple negative breast cancer research, read her blog at mlsspaskvan.blogspot.com. http://utnews.utoledo.edu/index.php/03_03_2016/ut-shines-light-on-difficult-to-diagnose-aggressive-type-of-breast-cancerhttp://utnews.utoledo.edu/index.php/03_03_2016/ut-shines-light-on-difficult-to-diagnose-aggressive-type-of-breast-cancer

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day 2016

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sisters Unite for TNBC Day 3.3.2014

I have officially launched my online "Hope for more Tomorrows" fundraising campaign for TNBC Day!
http://tnbcday2014.kintera.org/tnbcsistersunite_melissa
Click link to make a donation in support of TNBC research.

My name is Melissa Paskvan and am a 4yr. TNBC survivor and also representing our online TNBC support groups as we unite together to raise funds for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation for continued research in hope of finding our targeted therapy. Our support group, we are never just one alone... The fears, the tears, the stress, the anxiety, the worry, and the pain are shared among all of us women in our group. We are an unique Sisterhood that are bonded by our uncommon disease, and we fight together until all us sisters are safe.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day, 3.3.14, is the only national event solely devoted to raising both awareness of TNBC and funds that provide critical support for those affected by the disease. 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 1in 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.  TNBC tends to be more aggressive, more likely to recur, and more difficult to treat because there is no targeted treatment.  TNBC disproportionately strikes younger women, women of African, Latina or Caribbean descent, and those with BRCA1 mutations.

From now through May 3, 2014, we will be accepting online donations of any amount in honor of a Triple Negative Survivor, Hero, Fighter and in memory of those TNBC sisters who have departed who will never be forgotten and remain forever in our hearts. All online donations are automatically and directly goes to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation safely upon submission.

Thank you kindly and I wish you all good health.

Sincerely, Melissa

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

http://www.tnbcfoundation.org for more information

My TNBCDay Event Raised $605 for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation...

Thank you very much to all of my supporters who helped spread TNBC awareness during the Inaugural Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day 3.3.13. My donors put up $605 of the $200,000 raised nationwide during this awareness and fundraising event. Our goal is to fund for research in finding our targeted therapy. We so needed our targeted therapy yesterday, We have lost way too many sisters in our TNBC support group this past year. Fallen young women leaving behind their husbands, small children, their careers, their dreams and their future. I blogged a lot in previous posts about our first TNBCDay leading up till 3.3.13 as part of my event to drawn attention to the young beautiful faces of TNBC. We so need to get the word out there that this disease is more often striking younger women in their 20's, 30's and 40's, and it is aggressive. Early detection starts with breast self exams... know your body, know what is normal for you... If you suspect a lump or a change in your breast, please follow up with your doctor, time is critical when it comes to dealing with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

TNBC awareness nationwide 

I went to Toledo Walleye's Hockey "Pink in the Rink" Breast Cancer Awareness game, with it also being TNBCDay, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to show my TNBC awareness to such a big crowd of breast cancer supporters. At the game I wrote up a pink sign for TNBCDay and had some fun with it... that sign got around the whole stadium. I was impressed to see that Susan G. Komen and Promedcia Breast Cancer Center both had TNBC litature displayed at the game in support of TNBCDay.

Donations for my event will continue to be accepted through the month of March 2013 by clicking my link: 
http://tnbcfoundation.kintera.org/3nday/melissa

Remembrance of our TNBC Sisters on Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day 3.3.13

Remembrance Board at C4YW 2013

e

Melissa Paskvan posting tributes of our TNBC angel sisters

TNBC sister, Angela Munoz remembering our sisters

Brenda Rehnke Beguin remembers our TNBC sisters

My TNBC angel sisters, gone too soon

"Hope For More Tomorrows"

I'm a 3½ yr. TNBC Survivor and my fight is not over until all my sisters are safe... we need our targeted therapy yesterday!
-Melissa Paskvan 

http://tnbcfoundation.kintera.org/3nday/melissa

(Donations Welcomed)

Triple Step Towards the Cure 3.3.13...

That's me highlighted!

Awareness in Toledo, TNBCDay 3.3.13 was Known at "Pink in the Rink"...

"Hope for More Tomorrows"
Spread TNBC awareness, Tell the world!
Donations welcomed
http://tnbcfoundation.kintera.org/3nday/melissa