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 Awareness Day Declared in Toledo 2016

Pink sisters, Melissa and Jyll

Receiving Proclamation from Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson
Declaring Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day
in the City of Toledo
Jyll, Mayor Paula HicksoHudson and Melissa

Proclamation declaring TNBC Awareness Day

Honored to accept this Proclamation from
The Mayor of Toledo, Paula Hicks-Hudson

All of us survivors, mostly TNBC

All of us survivors, mostly TNBC

TNBC Day in attendance

Dr. Mohamed presentation on TNBC
"Characterized by more aggressive
clinicopathologic features..."

Dr. Mohamed talks of the 7 Triple Negative
Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes

Dr. Mohamed talks of latest TNBC targeted therapy
trials, Avastin and EGFR inhibitors such as Erlotinib

Dr. Thompson discuss the issues survivors face during and
after treatment

Dr. Thompson talks on Finding your New Normal
"Give yourself time to adjust"

"Obesity is related to survival in
postmenopausal TNBC patients"

"Exercise and dietary counseling led to loss of body
 fat and improved quality of life in survivors of TNBC"

"Chemotherapy punishes the vagina"

TNBC sisters, Christine Mabrey and Melissa
Sadly, Chris passed on July 5, 2016

TNBC sisters, Audrey and Melissa

TNBC sisters, Melissa and Maureen

TNBC sisters, Melissa and Dianna

TNBC sisters, Melissa and Sandy

Pink sisters, Jeanette and Melissa

Great turnout for TNBC Awareness Day

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day is March 3, 2016

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day is the only global event dedicated to raising both awareness and funds exclusively for triple negative breast cancer.

Thursday is Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Awareness Day, and I'll be holding my annual online fundraising campaign for TNBC Foundation where 100% donation goes directly to TNBC research. Please consider a donation today to support my cause that I am very passionate about. 

Thank you, Melissa Paskvan
http://tnbcday2016.kintera.org/hope4moretomorrows
"Alone we can do so little, Together we can do so much more." - Helen Keller

Toledo, Ohio Event - A Different Shade of Pink 

http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/tnbcday

Toledo Walleye Pink in the Rink 2016

Victory gals sisters, Jyll, Rita, Melissa J.,
 Becky, Diane and Melissa
4 of us are TNBC survivors!

Annual Breast Cancer Awareness night on February 27, 2016 at Toledo Walleye Hockey with my pink sisters.  This years event was paint the rink pink with messages of hope and support in our local breast cancer community.

Victory Gals in the house!
Laurie, Dianna, Rita, Melissa P., Jyll, Melissa J., Carol,
Beth, Lori, Becky and Diane

Rita, Jyll, Becky, Wally the Walleye, Melissa J., Melissa P.
and Diane. 4 of us are TNBC survivors.

Paint the ice PINK!

Team Holly, TNBC sister 4-Ever in our hearts

Toledo Walleyes!

Miss you Holly

My pink fans!

Powerful in Pearls Fashion Show 2016

I volunteered for Powerful in Pearls luncheon and fashion show benefiting The Victory Center on February 19, 2016.  I helped checking in guests coats earning tips supporting The Victory Center's mission in providing free support services to cancer patients in Northwest Ohio area.

https://issuu.com/sylvaniaadvantage/docs/first_march_issue__march_1__2016/36

Featured in Sylvania Advantage Newspaper

Me working coat check...

Great turnout!

Pink Sister, Jyll telling her story

Toledo Rockets for the Cure 2016

$11,016.00 raised for cancer research as University of Toledo Rockets took on Ohio at it's 8th annual Rockets for the Cure on February 13, 2016.

UT vs Ohio

Pink sisters, Jyll and Melissa

Miss Teen Ohio, Shelby and Melissa

Lady Rockets

The Goose Story...

We are a sisterhood that share an unique bond... we stick together and support each other through the rough times.  The Goose Story has been told at a couple of breast cancer awareness events that I've attended... is very touching to me and wanted to share with my readers.

Study identifies first potential targeted drug for triple-negative breast cancer and uncovers drug-resistance mechanism - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Boston, MA

“We found that a class of agents known as BET bromodomain inhibitors
significantly impeded the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells
in laboratory as well as animal-model tests,” says the study’s senior
author, Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD,
of Dana-Farber. “On the basis of these results, such inhibitors will be
tested in patients with triple-negative breast cancer [TNBC] in a phase
2 study and they are also included in ongoing phase 1 trials."...

Click on link below to full story:
Study identifies first potential targeted drug for triple-negative breast cancer and uncovers drug-resistance mechanism - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Boston, MA

Victory Gals After Hours Support 2016

New traditions with our local breast cancer support group... after group social hour. Friends, food, sometimes drinks and not talking about cancer!

Melissa P., Lori, Areena, Chris, Beth, Tatum (back turned)
Melissa J. and Carol

Survivor Highlight Story by UT Center for Health and Successful Living 2015

Dr. Gaber and Melissa Paskvan

Survivor Highlight:
The Story of Melissa Paskvan
In August of 2009, while mindlessly scratching an itch on her left side, Melissa found an abnormal lump in her left breast. Upon feeling the lump, her thoughts were immediately drawn to the frightening possibility of breast cancer. Two days later, Melissa was able to get into the Breast Care Center at Toledo Hospital for a mammogram. It came back negative.
That same day, Melissa automatically received an ultrasound of her breast. The ultrasound detected a cyst but the doctor was not concerned about a malignancy. Although the two screening tests had not detected any cancer, Melissa was not comfortable with or confident in the “all clear” diagnosis. Doubts continued to weigh heavily on her mind and heart. She continued to advocate for herself and requested that her doctors do an immediate biopsy that same day. Because she did not want to alarm her husband and family members, Melissa did not tell them about finding the lump and the need for these medical tests. Before she informed her loved ones, she wanted to wait to receive a definitive diagnosis that would put everyone’s mind at ease.
Two days after the biopsy, Melissa received the phone call that she had been dreading. Her primary care physician on the phone informed her the results of the biopsy were positive. Melissa had breast cancer. At age 41, she was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Action needed to be taken immediately. The challenging journey with breast cancer began.
Melissa quickly underwent the surgical knife and had a lumpectomy; then chemotherapy; then radiation. After the active treatment was over, Melissa started to develop short- term memory loss, experienced extreme fatigue, lost both of her jobs, was in a car accident and crushed her foot. She also suffered from residual pain from the surgical removal of lymph nodes. At this point in the journey, Melissa had completed active treatment but felt a strong sense of fear and uncertainty regarding if or when the cancer would return. She also suffered from a significant decline in her health and quality of life. She did not know where to turn for help.

It was at this time in her life when Melissa discovered the Center for Health and Successful Living on the main campus of the University of Toledo. She attended an event or two and starting making friends with staff members and with a few of the other survivors who were present. The number and strength of the friendships continued to grow as did her attendance at events and services sponsored by the Center.
Melissa states the Center is a place where she can go to get away, relax, get support, and surround herself with supporters and cancer survivors who understand what she is going through. Since late 2013, Melissa has attended art classes, book clubs, the Pink Sneaker walking club, and the grief support group. In addition she attends many of the weekly leadership meetings and has helped with the outreach breast health services that the Center provides at the Toledo PRIDE Festival. She recently assisted with President Gaber’s visit to the Center. President Sharon Gaber is UT’s new and first female president. Because of the Center and its programming and services, Melissa reports that she has started to find a “new normal” and has discovered a new motivation to live a healthy lifestyle. She is exercising more, eating healthier, and more health conscious.
Last month during Melissa’s annual mammogram, a benign calcification was detected. Considering her past experiences with screening mammograms, this result was unsettling to Melissa. Therefore, her doctor recommended she get a breast MRI since her last one was in 2012. However, Melissa could not afford the cost of the breast MRI. When Drs. Jordan and Thompson (Directors of the Center) heard about this dilemma, they contacted Melissa and informed her that a foundation entitled Lambie’s Legacy Foundation had given the Center a grant to help women in these types of situations. Therefore, with the help of Lambie’s Legacy funds, the Center was able to help Melissa pay for this MRI.
The MRI came back negative and everyone is celebrating this wonderful result. Thanks to the Lambie’s Legacy Foundation for helping the Paskvan family afford this important medical test. Melissa is now able to get back to her life of helping other survivors and being the best mother, wife, and friend that she can be!

https://www.facebook.com/CenterForHealthSuccessfulLiving/photos/a.363004157143250.1073741831.362980630478936/752877111489284/?type=1&theat

Local Breast Cancer Support Group Holiday Celebration of Life and Hope 2015-2016

Our annual holiday celebration at the Victory Center with my breast cancer survivor sisters.  We live for today and hope for good health, promising treatments, a cure and have hope for more tomorrows together. These are my peeps that have helped me through some troubling times and always give me a reason to laugh! Love you all xoxo

Side note: 6 of us pictured are Triple Negative.

Left to Right: Diane, Laurie, Kim, Joyce, Beth, Karen, Lori,
Melissa J., Carol, Tatum, Jyll, Areena, Diana, Joyce B.,
Devorah and Melissa P.

Left to Right: Diane, Laurie, Kim, Joyce, Beth, Karen, Lori,
Melissa J., Carol, Tatum, Jyll, Areena, Diana, Joyce B.,
Devorah and Melissa P.

Saying Goodbye to Brandy....

Today, December 12th, 2015, I said goodbye to a special pink sister, Brandy Gilliland whom passed on Dec. 3rd at age 40 from a recurrence of her breast cancer after being in remission for 6 years.  Brandy touched my life, as she was the first pink sister I had met while we were both going through chemo and had met at our oncologist's office.  I have seen and spoke with Brandy at different breast cancer events and had also spoken to her dad whom I've seen accompanying her at doctor appointments.  I went to Brandy's Celebration of Life memorial to say good-bye to Brandy and give her dad my condolences and a hug. Rest peacefully sweet sister.