I promise

"I promise, Suzy... Even if it takes the rest of my life." -Nancy G. Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

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.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Casting for Recovery Ohio Fish-Flying Retreat 2019

 IndianBear Winery

IndianBear Winery Vineyard

Ohio Grapes!

Arriving for a weekend retreat for
breast cancer survivors in learning how to Fly-Fish

Trying on my fishing gear for size

with my very special Casting for
Recovery host and Triple Negative
Breast Cancer sister
Melissa Richardson

My fly fishing attire

Our fishing waders and boots
assigned to us

https://castingforrecovery.org
"Enhancing the quality of life of women
with breast cancer"

Casting for Recovery bringing women
from all over Ohio to this
beautiful lodge and pond...Fly-fishing

Aloha!

My room for the weekend

Campfire under the moon

Beautiful moonlight night

Learning the art of tying fish knots

Hmmm

My fishing gear

We're all practicing in tying various fishing knots

 Clinche Knot demonstration 

My first Surgeon's Knot

This may be my Davy Knot

Reading about the different Fresh Water Fish

Just snap it back!

Is this how you hold it?

Must have fishing gear...
Froglegs, sunglasses and
a walking stick

...a whistle, a hat light
 and belt accessories

...a backpack

...waders, a hat and a neck buff

Our fashion models

Various flies used for fly-fishing

Realistic looking imitations in water

Demonstration of bright colored 
and different sizes and shapes of
fly-fishing selections

Various fly-fishing selections floating in water

Love our daily place settings... Woolly Bugger

Breast cancer conversations on the sun porch

Beautiful backdrop all around us

All geared up and waiting for our
fly-fishing partner guides

Yay, I got John as my fishing guide!

Melissa and John

My very first fly-fishing experience 

Still trying to figure out this casting...

Trying to catch that catfish...
 Actually, John caught me from falling as
I had a vertigo moment

Just couldn't quite make it happen...

Casting for Recovery, Ohio class of 2019

Me and my roomie, Beverly 

Learn more about Casting for Recovery fly fishing retreats for women with breast cancer, at no cost to the participants:

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure, Toledo 2019



In memory of Holly

Melissa and Betty, Holly's mom
keeps fighting for her daughter
and those affected by breast cancer

Pink sisters, Melissa and
Jeannette Martin

with the Bee supporting
Komen's mission

Muddona is stronger than cancer!

Melissa with University of Toledo
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
researchers, Dr. D. Tukaramrao
and Dr. A. Tiwari

Komen walkers Nadine, Dr. Tiwari, Melissa
and young supporters

Pink sisters, Tammy A. and Melissa

Walking in Celebration of Melissa Paskvan

Team Victory Center

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research at The University of Toledo 2019

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research taking
place here at the University of Toledo's
Wolfe Center

U of Toledo's Wolfe Center
College of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences

"DNA Molecule"

Saloni testing TNBC cells in
a sterile setting

Saloni performing an experiment on
triple negative breast cancer cells

Saloni looking at TNBC cells
under the microscope
in Dr. Tiwari's lab

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Detroit Pistons Breast Health Awareness 2019


On October  26, 2019, I went to my very first NBA professional game as the Detroit Pistons took on the Philadelphia 76's on their October 26, 2019 Breast Health Awareness night.  I was thrilled to get lower level seats right behind the basketball net. At halftime, the Pistons honored breast cancer survivors on the court.  It was a close game, but unfortunately the Pistons lost to the 76's, 111-117. Still, great game with a great friend for a great cause! 

Pinking out the arena as
breast cancer survivors take the floor

Detroit Pistons cheerleaders cheering on
the breast cancer survivors

Keep on keeping on survivors!

Hooper!

Shoot!

Angie and Melissa

View from our seats

Detroit Pistons player wearing pink tennis shoes

Final score 111 - 117, 76's win

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Komen Survivor Breakfast 2019

Annual Komen of Northwest Ohio Breakfast Toledo, Ohio on September 7, 2019

Amy Thorpe Willey - breast cancer survivor,
former high school classmate and
Board President of Komen of Northwest Ohio

Breast cancer sisters of the Victory Center
Lynette Layman and Melissa

Breast cancer sisters,
Tammy A. and Melissa

Melissa and Mary Westphal,
Executive President of Komen
Northwest Ohio

Thank you Komen for supporting Dr. Tiwari
and his TNBC research here in Toledo!

Chrys Peterson and Melissa

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Relay for Life Fest 2019

Relay for Life 25th Anniversary, Sylvania Ohio September 7, 2019

Cancer survivors 10+ years!

Team Victory Center

Survivors: Barb, Penny and Melissa

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Toledo Jeep Fest Parade 2019


August 2019, over 1200 jeeps rolled through downtown Toledo, Ohio for their annual Jeep Fest Weekend.

Me watching Jeep Parade

Love my Muddy Mud hen!

Miracles are Pink

Winged Warrior

Pink!

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Young Researchers in Triple Negative Breast Cancer 2019

It's always an honor to go to University of Toledo's Pharmaceutical Science research lab and see first hand what they are working on and the progression of their studies. On July 3, 2019, Dr. Angelique treated me lunch on campus the day before she was about to leave UT for Boston where she will continue her career in pharmaceutical research and wishes to continue her research in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  Saloni of UT will continue researching drug resistance in Triple Negative Breast Cancer in Dr. Amit Tiwari's lab.

Melissa and Dr. Angelique 
in her research office

Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells
under the microscope

Saloni viewing results of her study on
Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells

Untreated Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells
after being treated with an experimental drug,

destroying the cancer cells.  

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