Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!": Tracy Barrett Gieger Kreiser

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.

Showing posts with label Tracy Barrett Gieger Kreiser. Show all posts

Friday, February 3, 2012

Tracy Barrett Geiger Krieser, My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister's Memorial

"If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again."

I did fly back down again to Tracy's this past weekend for her memorial. It was a beautiful service with her photos and diploma's displayed. A stained glass pink ribbon hanging was gifted to Tracy and a beautiful broken wagon wheel memorial with picture of her and her horse on it was also displayed. Tracy's horse saddle was displayed along with her riding hat and boots, a beautiful tribute to her. Sam, who sang at her wedding also sang at her memorial, "Amazing Grace" with her acoustic guitar player... I have never heard anyone sing this song more beautiful as she did. Wendy stood up and spoke of their friendship and their sisterly bond and Tracy's love for life. Tracy's husband spoke of their dating, marriage, her step kids, traveling and their life together and he added some humor, I know Tracy would have been proud of him. Tracy's good friend, Sam put together a very nice slide show presentation of Tracy's cherished moments. The first 2 pews in the church were reserved for family to be seated with family and close friends, I was honored to be included. Tracy had military honors at her memorial with 5 Marines, one played "Taps" with an electric trumpet, two unfolded the American Flag and then refolded it and kneeled in front of her husband offering words of condolence and presented the flag to him... very touching. We all gathered back at Tracy's house for food and drinks. Tracy's chiropractor was there giving everyone neck crack adjustments, lightening up the mood in this gathering. It was a beautiful celebration of Tracy's life, and she will be missed by all that knew her. God Bless Tracy and her family.

.legacy.com/obituaries/jdnews/obituary.aspx?n=tracy-krieser&pid=155625462

(Click on link to Tracy's obituary)

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

In Memory Of My Very Best Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister, Tracy Barrett Geiger Krieser, Age 44

I can't promise that I'll be here for the rest of your life... but I can promise that I will love you for the rest of mine~

I found this quote in a magazine on the night Tracy passed as I was enroute on a airplane trying to get to her in North Carolina. This quote stood out to me because this is who Tracy was, knowing her time was limited but loved each of us Triple Negative Breast Cancer sisters. I tried, I really did, but I did not make it to Tracy in time and was completely shattered when I missed my connecting flight. I can tell you that she went quick and peacefully to go home to the Lord and to be with her momma. I was told that Tracy knew that I was coming and that she was holding out for me but was just too tired... I was heartbroken but was at peace knowing that she was no longer suffering nor in pain anymore. My tears that flowed was out of love for my girl, my beautiful Tracy.
Throughout our journey together as breast cancer sisters, Tracy and I quickly bonded and was drawn to her positive but realistic take on life and her sense of humor, we shared many late night laughters... God, that girl was so funny, she would get me laughing so hard. Tracy and I did shared a special sisterly kind of bond, she was my twin I would always tell her. Tracy was unique and had an incredible lust for life... to know her was to love her. Tracy's fight was for quality of life, she didn't want to be held down from sickness, weakness and fatigue... She traveled with her husband and friends till the very end. She trail ride, zip-lined and met up with many of her Triple Negative Breast Cancer sisters that she met in our support group, Tracy did live life.
At the top of my bucket-list was to meet my TNBC "Twisted Sisters" before one of us has a recurrence, never thought that my Tracy, the one that I have grown very close to, would be the first. I met up with Kitty & Tracy for a girl's weekend this past May in Louisville, Kentucky, we all were just so giddy to finally meet each other face to face, we had so much fun. I had stayed with Tracy twice at her home in North Carolina over the summer, just spending time together, helping her out with her horses and running to doctor appointments. I was just down there again at Tracy's just after Christmas through New Years, Tracy was tiring but it was all good to just be there by her side comforting her with affection. This past week, our phone calls grew shorter, it was exhausting her. I have missed a couple of Tracy's phone calls just a few days prior to her passing, and I was torn that she wasn't accepting incoming calls. I told Tracy early on to please check in with me daily even if it was just to say goodnight and she did. I also asked Tracy to not ever push me away or shut me out when things got bad, Tracy called me one last time Wednesday night before she passed, the conversation was short but it was good to hear her laughter and tell me she loved me one last time. From there, I myself didn't know much of what was going on and received very little information on Tracy's condition. I truly admired Tracy for her strength and bravery, taking on her cancer as she did, she did it her way and had no regrets. Tracy loved all of you TNBC ladies, she really did. We will treasure her memories and great conversations we had with her in our group. Tracy would want us to be strong and not remain sad very long for she was at peace with her own fate. Tracy had left footprints on our hearts and I'll never ever forget her infectious smile, she had a wonderful, beautiful smile. Tracy loved her horses... ride on Tracy, ride forever.

Love Lives on

Those we love remain with us

for love itself lives on,

And cherished memories never fade

Because a loved one's gone...

Those we love can never be

more than a thought apart,

For as long as there is memory,

They'll live on in the heart.

My Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister, Tracy from North Carolina went home to the Lord on January 20th...
My lady friends, please keep up with your monthly breast
self-exams and annual mammograms. TNBC is a nasty cancer that has no targeted therapy yet. Please consider a donation to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation (TNBC) in memory of Tracy. http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/donate.htm
Thank you and God Bless, Melissa

Thursday, June 16, 2011

My Visit Accompanying My TNBC Sister To Her Appointment With Dr. Lisa Carey in Chapel Hill, NC

Dr. Carey is who I look to for ALL my answers...

she's really one of the TNBC heroes we have." - Vickie Roy-Sneddon

I accompanied my TNBC sister, Tracy who had a recurrence
a year later and is now terminal. Looking to Dr. Lisa Carey
for answers, it was a little disheartening knowing she can't
cure her 2nd time around.

It was a pleasure meeting DR. Carey whom I

admire and respect...

This is my Tracy... fighting for her quality of life.

"Take the very breath You gave me.
Take the heart from my chest.

I'll gladly take her place if you'll let me,
Make this my last request.
Take me out of this world
God, please don't take the girl"
- Tim Mcgraw

Friday, June 3, 2011

Photos Of My Road Trip To Meet My TNBC Pink Sisters, May 24, 2011

Road trip I made to Louisville, KY to meet up with 2 of my Triple Negative Breast Cancer pink sister's Tracy Barrett Geiger and Kitty Francisco Griffin whom I met online through FaceBook in a TNBC support group. We all have been talking online for about 5 months and then started calling each other on phone for support, exchanging stories and more importantly, lots of good laughs! At the top of my bucket list, more than anything, I wanted to meet my pink sis's whom I formed a strong bond and a very special friendships with. We all went through treatments about the same time, and we're all about the same age. I love my Tracy and Kitty, they made my finding of my new "normal" so much easier being able to relate to fellow survivors whom been through similar experiences. Kitty on the left of me and Tracy on the right of me in all the photos.