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I was diagnosed with Stage III Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) in April 2014. TNBC currently has no targeted therapies. Targeted cancer therapies are drugs or other substances that interfere with specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth and survival. Traditional chemotherapy drugs, by contrast act, against all actively dividing cells.
I received some of the most toxic chemotherapy drugs before receiving a mastectomy. Although I had a great reaction to the chemotherapy drugs, my tumor still had some active cancer remaining inside. I then underwent 33 radiation treatments. A month after radiation I was scheduled for adjuvant (after surgery) chemotherapy because of the small amount of cancer that was still found in the tumor that was removed. Before I was able to receive this therapy, I was scheduled for a pet scan because I complained of some minor rib pain. The PET scan revealed some suspicious glowing, which lead to an MRI, ultrasound and biopsy, which confirmed several lesions in my liver. My rib that hurt looked just fine. Go figure. As it turned out, the cancer spread to my liver. The lesions were so small that had I had a PET scan a week or two earlier, they would have likely been undetected. I am now undergoing treatment in a study through the University of Washington for Stage IV TNBC patients. The scientists (one of which is Dr. Tony Blau) involved in the study are gaining knowledge about each individual patient in attempt to identify a specific targeted therapy for TNBC. Hopefully they will identify the specific mutant gene(s) that caused my TNBC and will be able to knock it out of the ball park so it won't return after it is no doubt killed in my liver from chemotherapy.
My goal is to raise awareness of TNBC and to support my Oncologist, Dr. Sibel Blau and her husband Dr. Tony Blau, in their efforts to treat patients suffering this disease. I intend on providing the money at a fundraising event for South Sound CARE Foundation on April 11, 2015, where I will be speaking about my diagnosis as a Stage Four TNBC patient.
As of February 28, 2015, I have donated $2,000 to the South Sound CARE Foundation, www.southsoundcarefoundation..org and another $500 to Legacy of Love, www.legacyoflovewa.org where money is used directly at my Oncologist's office to provide scrapbooking and camera classes and such to help cancer patients preserve memories.
We can't help everyone but I am hoping by raising $6,000 to donate, we can at least help some. The proceeds from one cup of coffee would go far in directly benefit patient undergoing treatment for TNBC.
Ttoday, February 28, 2015, I received chemo trial round 3 of 6 before starting a new regime depending on what my gene report identifies.
I intend on donating any of the remaining proceeds and future proceeds at the fundraiser on April 11, 2015. I found out that each patient who is entered into the ITOMIC trial that I am currently in costs $125,000. Last year the Fundraiser made $125,000. That meant, only one additional person was able to join the trial with the remaining money they had. Well guess what, I was the LAST patient to enter this trial until they have more funding. So as far as I am concerned, the donations made at lasts years event are why I am in the trial today. It is my turn to give back. That at being said, If you have already donated, THANK YOU! If you have not, please consider donating. If you are unable to donate, please share!
I WILL BEAT THIS!
I received some of the most toxic chemotherapy drugs before receiving a mastectomy. Although I had a great reaction to the chemotherapy drugs, my tumor still had some active cancer remaining inside. I then underwent 33 radiation treatments. A month after radiation I was scheduled for adjuvant (after surgery) chemotherapy because of the small amount of cancer that was still found in the tumor that was removed. Before I was able to receive this therapy, I was scheduled for a pet scan because I complained of some minor rib pain. The PET scan revealed some suspicious glowing, which lead to an MRI, ultrasound and biopsy, which confirmed several lesions in my liver. My rib that hurt looked just fine. Go figure. As it turned out, the cancer spread to my liver. The lesions were so small that had I had a PET scan a week or two earlier, they would have likely been undetected. I am now undergoing treatment in a study through the University of Washington for Stage IV TNBC patients. The scientists (one of which is Dr. Tony Blau) involved in the study are gaining knowledge about each individual patient in attempt to identify a specific targeted therapy for TNBC. Hopefully they will identify the specific mutant gene(s) that caused my TNBC and will be able to knock it out of the ball park so it won't return after it is no doubt killed in my liver from chemotherapy.
My goal is to raise awareness of TNBC and to support my Oncologist, Dr. Sibel Blau and her husband Dr. Tony Blau, in their efforts to treat patients suffering this disease. I intend on providing the money at a fundraising event for South Sound CARE Foundation on April 11, 2015, where I will be speaking about my diagnosis as a Stage Four TNBC patient.
As of February 28, 2015, I have donated $2,000 to the South Sound CARE Foundation, www.southsoundcarefoundation..org and another $500 to Legacy of Love, www.legacyoflovewa.org where money is used directly at my Oncologist's office to provide scrapbooking and camera classes and such to help cancer patients preserve memories.
We can't help everyone but I am hoping by raising $6,000 to donate, we can at least help some. The proceeds from one cup of coffee would go far in directly benefit patient undergoing treatment for TNBC.
Ttoday, February 28, 2015, I received chemo trial round 3 of 6 before starting a new regime depending on what my gene report identifies.
I intend on donating any of the remaining proceeds and future proceeds at the fundraiser on April 11, 2015. I found out that each patient who is entered into the ITOMIC trial that I am currently in costs $125,000. Last year the Fundraiser made $125,000. That meant, only one additional person was able to join the trial with the remaining money they had. Well guess what, I was the LAST patient to enter this trial until they have more funding. So as far as I am concerned, the donations made at lasts years event are why I am in the trial today. It is my turn to give back. That at being said, If you have already donated, THANK YOU! If you have not, please consider donating. If you are unable to donate, please share!
I WILL BEAT THIS!