I hated everything about my treatment. I was a little nervous when Dr. Nuhad Ibrahim first mentioned the clinical trial. I wanted a non-randomized, phase 2, double agent immunotherapy trial. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women, with approximately 2.1 million newly diagnosed cases in 2018, accounting for almost 1 in 4 cancer cases among women (Bray et al., 2018; Chen et al., 2016). immunotherapy clinical trial. You should know that triple negative grade 3 is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer with a higher recurrence rate than other breast cancers. I learned many patients with triple-negative breast cancer respond well to chemotherapy, but this trial would provide me with personalized options if my tumor didn’t. I announced after carefully listening to her “broad stroke approach,” I was deciding to go a different route. When I started my treatment, I joined a clinical trial being conducted by MD Anderson’s Breast Cancer Moon Shot™. I am happy to report my tumors are getting smaller and I am one of the four percent of breast cancer patients worldwide that respond to immunotherapy. And now, it’s going to help other women, too. I had a full mastectomy on my left breast … That cloudy train of thought would change, soon enough and just in time. Only seven months after diagnosis, there were no traces of cancer in my body. The trial was unique because I was able to start with traditional chemotherapy and move on to other treatments only if that didn’t work. Find information and resources for current and returning patients. e13120 Background: Prediction of clinical behavior of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is difficult to achieve. Get your battle plan ready. Triple-negative breast cancer survivor: Why I’m glad I stayed on an immunotherapy clinical trial. Your gift will help support our mission to end cancer and make a difference in the lives of our patients. She underwent radiation and chemo and then had a lumpectomy. After being diagnosed Stage I TNBC (with no lymph node involvement), my original course of treatment was a lumpectomy, four rounds of awful TC Chemo (taxotere & cyclophosphamide) and eventually a voluntary double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. If you have questions about MD Anderson’s appointment process, our My name is Karen Peterson, and I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in January 2015. Background: Inherited BRCA gene mutations (pathogenic variants) cause 10% of breast cancers.BRCA pathogenic variants predispose carriers to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); around 30% of patients with TNBC carry BRCA pathogenic variants. "Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer is a clear and comprehensive guide, a useful companion to anyone traveling the path of a hormone-negative breast cancer diagnosis. National Helpline: 844.ASK.SHARE(844.275.7427), Karen’s Story: Living With Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer. Then I became a casualty of war when my breast surgeon (who was the chief) bullied me into picking a very talented Park Avenue plastic surgeon (her friend), who performed a fantastic job, but abandoned me halfway through reconstruction (due to the fact that he did not participate with any health insurance plans). My oncologist was out on maternity leave, so I just brushed off any panic. Triple-negative breast cancer is a kind of breast cancer that does not have any of the receptors that are commonly found in breast cancer.. By Jacqueline Quynh November 8, 2019 at 12:37 pm. While walking to class on a breezy November evening, I felt a huge pain on the left side of my chest. After confirming that I had metastatic TNBC, my oncologist recommended standard of care chemo. Think of cancer … Of these 12, only one or two might develop triple-negative breast cancer. The B-Cell Lymphoma Moon Shot is revolutionizing the conventional medical research approach to rapidly translate findings into patient treatment options and develop personalized therapeutic strategies. About 10-20% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. The overall three-year survival rate was 44% and the five-year overall survival … In April I returned to my oncologist, who could tell that I changed, and somehow become very informed. On one hand, I was happy and blessed, engrossed in family, social events and a fulfilling job as a social worker serving my home community of Harlem, NY. By the end of 2016, I was just completing my reinvention, and had graduated with a certificate in coding, with the intention of getting a technology job. Bree Sandlin was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer when she was 37 years-old. Learn about clinical trials at MD Anderson and search our database for open studies. Ironically, I almost didn’t stay on the clinical trial. Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) Grants, Prevention & Personalized Risk Assessment, Office of Clinical Research Administration, Comparative Effectiveness Training (CERTaIN), Post Graduate Fellowship in Oncology Nursing, Professional Student Nurse Extern Programs, Triple-negative breast cancer survivor: Why I’m glad I stayed on an TNBC disproportionately strikes younger women, women of African, Latina or Caribbean descent, and those with BRCA1 mutations. After we talked about it, I felt comfortable and confident, so I decided to do it. information page may be the best place to start. A mammogram, an ultrasound, an MRI, a chest and abdomen CT scan, a bone scan and a few biopsies later, I received the diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer, stage three. The pain nearly took my breath away, but I soldiered on and went to class. Routine mammograms were a part of my health care routine due to my family’s history of cancer, which included the death of my maternal grandmother from metastatic breast and ovarian cancer … I had disdain for the chemotherapy infusion, which left me with a second degree burn along my right arm (which took almost a year to heal). Change the lives of cancer patients by giving your time and talent. Furthermore, it is characterized by a high rate of recurrences and worse … After a horrific 2015 (spent under treatments and in hospitals), I freed myself up in 2016 and spent time with chefs, apparel designers, fundraisers, yoga instructors, patient navigators, artist, PHD researchers and other survivors blogging about their relationship with cancer and how they were trying to make a difference in the lives of those who were affected by this ugly disease. Triple negative breast cancer wasn't even known in 1999. By July 2017, twelve weeks after being diagnosed with metastatic TNBC I was entered into a double agent immunotherapy clinical trial. The 2018 NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast … I was diagnosed May 9th, 2017 with Triple Negative Ductal Breast Cancer Stage 2B, Grade 3. Get familiar with the words: heterogeneous and subsets. After my oncologist returned, she recommended a blood test and pet scan. Unfortunately, my tumor progressed after two cycles of chemo. This time, instead of being led around by the doctors and told what to do, I was going to have a say in how my treatment plan should be built. August 07, 2018 Triple-negative breast cancer survivor: 'MD Anderson is my life' BY Uniqua Smith, Ph.D. Over the last two decades, I’ve learned a lot about MD Anderson as a caregiver, … 7 Takeaways From a Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivor Though 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, nothing about the experience feels normal. He said side effects were a possibility with any treatment, and he encouraged me to give the clinical trial a little more time. But I talked over my fears with Dr. Ibrahim anyway. Log in to our secure, personalized website to manage your care (formerly myMDAnderson). Think of it this way: If we took a random sample of 100 women, about 12 would be expected to develop breast cancer. While waiting for my biopsy to confirm that I had metastatic TNBC, I switched gears. Until I was diagnosed with stage I triple-negative breast cancer in December 2016, I didn’t know much about immunotherapy. who I had developed a relationship with. After analyzing my tumor, my doctors thought I would be a good candidate for an immunotherapy clinical trial, also part of the Moon Shot, that was only available here in Houston. It turned out to be just a virus. Not too much to ask for, right? October 25, 2018. It was triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which makes up about 10% to 20% of breast cancers and is known to be particularly aggressive and fast growing. ‘Triple Negative’ Breast Cancer Survivor Shares Words Of Warning. My sister is a 14 plus year survivor of triple negative breast cancer. I developed a cough and shortness of breath fairly soon after starting immunotherapy, and went to MD Anderson’s Emergency Center. I am so glad I took Dr. Ibrahim’s advice. By the end of 2016, I was just completing my reinvention, and had graduated with a certificate in coding, with the intention of getting a technology job. Cancer is a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and spread out of control. My sister had to help me decipher exactly what it is (and even then it was a very basic understanding). I used to be one of those silly doctor snobs, who had to have the best-touted on the Top 100 list (some magazine puts it together every year). While walking to class on a breezy November evening, I felt a huge pain on the left side of my chest. There is not a lot of information specifically for triple negative, so I read everything I can find. If you have any doubts about the treatment being recommended by the doctor, I urge you to get second or third opinions, especially from a cancer … You’ll also get a FREE podcast loaded with tips, information & advice on ovarian cancer. I had 11 rounds of Carbo-Taxol Chemo, 3 rounds of Adrimicyn- cytoxin (sp?) The results indicated that my cancer had come back, and I begrudgingly took a biopsy of my spine in March of 2017. I am so glad I took Dr. Ibrahim’s advice. Choose from 12 allied health programs at School of Health Professions. After doing research on what to expect trying to get into a clinical trial I came across an article that featured a TNBC blogger. ) I understood after poring over all my materials that: I had a plan of action that would be specific to my needs. Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I never thought that one day it would save my own life. But triple-negative breast cancer accounts for only about 10 to 20 percent of all breast cancer cases. My breast cancer treatment results: even better than expected. Words like Phase 1, randomized, placebo, research team and exclusion criteria were thrown around. ... “I was in the shower after a workout in March of 2018… Triple-negative breast cancer survivor finds hope with clinical trial. … Triple-negative breast cancer … But as an executive assistant in MD Anderson’s Radiation Oncology department for more than 25 years, I’d heard the term used before by our doctors. On the other hand, I was a divorced single mom (once married to a hall-of-fame bound prime time radio disc jockey) who was trying to raise a son diagnosed with Autism. Blood Donor Center locations are being held by appointment only. While every individual and every cancer are unique, we can all agree that breast cancer has a lasting impact on patients, survivors… Very familiar. If you are ready to make an appointment, select a button on the right. Testing negative for all three means the cancer is triple-negative. After only three doses, an ultrasound showed my tumor had shrunk by 76%. Before I was diagnosed, I had no clue that TNBC even existed. I stood my ground and turned my back on what I believed was a dead end. My name is Karen Peterson, and I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in January 2015. The 2018 NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast … She tried her best to persuade me that it would be long time and a long shot to get into a clinical trial. I am a triple negative breast cancer survivor. It worked for me. I hated my port (I fought against having it installed), which became clogged and infected and left me with a pulmonary embolism. Frequently Asked Questions about Planned Giving, Coming This Summer: Online Uterine Cancer Community, Information About Metastatic Breast Cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer Videos and Past Webinars, Metastatic Breast Cancer Educational Programs, Additional Metastatic Breast Cancer Resources, Online Metastatic Breast Cancer Community, Karen's Story: Living With Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer. Get a binder and put all of your important information in it. Ilyasha is now … I had a lot of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Instead of searching for doctors, I searched for the latest clinical research on TNBC and then contacted the doctors who were participating in the research. After getting having my tumor tested at Foundation One Medicine, I had and intermediate TMB (tumor mutational burden). Overcoming obstacles was an integral part of my DNA, which in turn would prepare me for the toughest fight of my life, staying alive after a TNBC diagnosis. Day after day I looked, and finally I contacted a teaching university that had a trial that my particular mutation might match for. Your gift will help make a tremendous difference. I explained what my plan of action was, what doctors I had been consulting and she immediately broke down the pitfalls and information that was useful when trying to get into a clinical trial. If I had had that first, there was only a 50/50 chance it would’ve kill the cancer … I came out of the meeting with a renewed respect for Chiara, and a timeframe on which I could base my action plan. For doctors and researchers, there is intense interest in finding new medications that can better treat this type of breast cancer. I explained what my plan of action was, what doctors I had been consulting and she immediately broke down the pitfalls and information that was useful when trying to get into a clinical trial. I had a keen understanding of heartache. © 2021 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. 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