Triple Negative Breast Cancer
March 19, 2008 by writeasrain
Today on Good Morning America, Maalak Compton-Rock was on speaking about triple negative breast cancer and the foundation that was begun by a group of women who were all affected by their friend who was afflicted with the disease.
There is a lack of knowlege about this disease. It is a breast cancer that is resistant to the typical courses of treatment that is recommended for breast cancer. It is important to create an awareness so that those affected by this type of cancer don’t waste critical amounts of time treating their cancer ineffectually, thereby decreasing their chances of survival. Many have the disease but, are unaware; and, could be better informed so that treatment could be tailor made to improve their success. This is the first time that i have heard of triple negative breast cancer and even then, i wasn’t clear on what i heard.
In fact, i believe that Robin Roberts made a casual remark that this is the type of cancer that she is dealing with; but, she made the comment in such a casual way that i am not sure.
Robin is a woman that goes out of her way not to draw attention to herself; but, she has made concessions in some areas that are important to her, such as her battle against cancer and her work on the rebuilding on communities that were devastated by hurricane Katrina. The allowances she has made are only in her quest to help draw attention to the issues at hand…not to herself.
Malaak does many good and charitable works. She is the beautiful wife of Chris Rock and together they are proactive in their charity fundraising and community work. She is passionate about the work she does and is dedicated to giving back. If you go to Malaak’s website at : www.angelrockproject.com/ you will find many worthy non-profit organizations to help support. They not only give money, but time and attention as well; it is an inspiration to us all to do the same.
In regards to the triple negative breast cancer awareness…her website gives access to the website for the foundation that was created in honor of her friend Nancy Block-Zenna. It was Nancy’s desire that a cure be found so that others did not suffer as she herself suffered from this disease. From her mouth to God’s ears. The foundation can be found at: www.tnbcfoundation.org. Thank you Good Morning America, Robin Roberts and Malaak Compton-Rock and all of those doing research and healing in these areas; God bless you and your work. Update: see this interesting possibly related information http://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/women-are-dying-for-size-of-level-d-when-it-comes-to-breasts/
[...] a group of women who were all affected by their friend who was afflicted with the disease. … credit : [...]
Thanks for posting this and thanks so much to Robin Roberts for her candor about her own triple negative cancer and for the support of Malaak Compton-Block. By the way, I’ve shed quite a few tears listening to Robin share her own journey in her personal battle against breast cancer.
I was diagnosed with IDC, triple neg, 1 cm that did not spread to my nodes in Sept 07. I am 60 years old and chose to have a bilateral mastecomy so fortunately did not need to do radiation. Because of the triple negative aspect , it was strongly suggested that I do 4 rounds of Chemo 3 weeks apart which I began in Jan 08. Today is my last chemo tx. However, I will probably do my best to remain optimistic but am very nervous about the possiblity of any cells that may have escaped and that the chemo did not get because of the aggressiveness of triple negative.
My chemo cocktail is a good one and I’m at a teaching university that is very respected but a couple of the more cutting edge chemo drugs that are being used in clinical trials in an adjuvant setting for triple negative were rejected by my insurance as being “experimental”. The public needs to be made aware of the differences between this kind of bc and that which is ER+PR+Her2neu+ which has other options than chemo for treatment.
Thank you so much for bringing this particular type of breast cancer to the public. I am greatly apprecative to see it addressed.
Carol C.
Omaha, NE
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[...] admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptToday on Good Morning America, Maalak Compton-Rock was on speaking about triple negative breast cancer and the foundation that was begun by a group of women who were all affected by their friend who was afflicted with the disease. … [...]
My heart goes out to all women with cancer - especially those like Carol who are battling even stronger forces of this disease! I wanted to share a link to a video of an event that I am passionate about. I hope you enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdqIWsuH6MY
Thank you for sharing this video and info regarding this important event and for your compassionate words. I wish I lived closer so I could attend…I used to live in the NYC metro area but alas, I’m now out in Nebraska.
Good luck.
Carol
To all my sisters affected by triple negative breast cancer. I am 43 years old and was diagnosed 2 years ago with this type of breast cancer and it is scarey, especially when you look at the statistics. I want to send my prayers out to all of you. I was treated with chemo, bilateral mastectomy and radiation. So, I pray everyday for a breakthrough, but you know what, keep strong live and love life. Most of all when you wake up thank God. Love you all.
I want to thank Carol Chandler for her information about the latest cutting edge drugs (clinical trial phase 3 drugs-?) that are being given by some oncologists to treat triple negative breast cancer. i am glad that you wrote that the insurance companies are not covering these drug expenses because they are considered experimental at this time-i needed tro know this fact. when i first found out-several weeks ago-about these drugs that are sometimes available-depending upon which oncolgist and hospital you go to-i was very upset that my oncologist did not offer this option to me (i have since had a change of mind on this issue). the first oncologist i consulted-whom i did not use-did offer clinical trials-but i only saw her one time and never got the specifics about what she was offering. my oncologist chose the standard form of chemotherapy that is given for triple negative breast cancer as well as the positive receptor breast cancers–adrymicin and cytoxan-4 rounds, and then taxol-4 rounds-administered every 2 weeks until completion. were you treated with these clinical trial phase 3 drugs or the standard chemotherapy drugs? were you treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas
by any chance. is there a way that i can get in touch with you.
Thank you.
Barbara S. Diagnosed on July 27, 2007 with triple stage negative b.c.-stage 2B - BRCA 1 & 2 negative. unilateral mastectomy performed on Aug. 15, 2007. 3 breast lymph nodes positive. no axillary lymph nodes involved-all 17 that were removed tested negative. Chemotherapy compled on Dec. 20, 2007. 6 weeks of radiation treatments-30 in all-completed on
February 21, 2008.
Hi Barbara,
I finally went to the Director of the Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for a second opinion. My first oncologist was very dismissive and naive about triple negative - he was going to use the same old, same old chemos. My new oncologist was nationally renowned, came highly recommended and used to head up the breast cancer research dept at the Cancer Institute in Bethesda MD
I chose not to do adrymicin because of it’s cardiotoxicity - I have a family history of heart disease. My first onco thought I was crazy but the second was willing to consider much more cutting edge tx. All insurance companies are different - but mine has a reputation to be particularly provincial and tough on anything that isn’t mainstream. Hate to name namesl my insurance is through Coventry which used to be Mutual of Omaha.
Please feel free to write privately to me or join the online Triple Negative Foundation at http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/index.html
I’ve learned lots of information that I use to make decisions about from there and it’s the organizationn that Chris Rock’s wife Maalak was promoting on Good Morning America.
Carol
feel free to write to me privately as well.
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I am heartbroken…today….we lost a loved one to breast cancer. She was a very young woman, who fought with everything she had! We love you and miss you already Angie!!!
my wife has trip neg but cant take chemo AC. ALMOST DID HER IN. IM SCARED. SHE IS STAGE 1 BUT SHE IS NOT AGGRESSIVE WITH IT. DONT EVEN HAVE ONCOLOGIST.
TONY LUPIS
TBI—tbi110@yahoo.com
[...] celebrated. See also: http://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/robin-roberts-made-me-cry/, http://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/triple-negative-breast-cancer/, http://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/roller-coaster-ride/. Possibly related posts: [...]