Positives About Negative

I had thought I was doing a decent job managing the stress of the pandemic, social unrest, my cancer advocacy and concerns, economic instability, the climate crisis, and everything that is 2020. I wasn’t.  Here’s how nature helped and how it might help you too.  Double rainbow on the ridge opposite my deck. A deep sigh …

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From a News Release from ChristianaCare’s Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research  While radiation is successfully used to treat breast cancer by killing cancer cells, inflammation caused as a side-effect of radiation can have a contrary effect by promoting the survival of triple-negative breast cancer cells, according to research published online in the International Journal of Radiation Biology by …

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From A News Release from Science Daily Brazilian researchers have developed a strategy that slows the growth of triple negative breast cancer cells by cutting them off from two major food sources. Triple-negative breast cancer, or TNBC, makes up approximately 15% to 20% of all breast cancers and is most common in African American women. …

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Improving metabolic factors may help improve survival in postmenopausal women with triple-negative breast cancer, according to research presented at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. These factors, which include weight gain, reduced activity and insulin resistance, can be an issue for women diagnosed with TNBC and may have serious repercussions for health overall.  Researchers compared …

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I just got a news release from the University of Connecticut about gene splicing and how that can lead to triple-negative breast cancer. It’s the beginning of what could be promising research for a targeted therapy for TNBC.BUT, in the middle of the release is this utterly outrageous sentence: Triple negatives are the worst breast …

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Acupressure improved some of the most common side effects of breast cancer treatment, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep, according to a study published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum. READ MORE HERE.

In an extensive survey of more than a million cases of breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2014, researchers have reaffirmed that triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is most likely to affect black and Hispanic women and women younger than 40. This is nothing new, but the large number of the group studied gives significant support …

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Thanks, Louise Penny, for reminding us of what’s warm,  welcoming and a bit silly. It’s usually winter in Three Pines, a village hidden in a forested Canadian valley somewhere between Quebec City and Montreal. The enchanting hamlet doesn’t actually exist, although it should, and many of us prefer to think it does. Author Louise Penny created this tiny …

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Breast cancer treatment can be miserable—doctors cut you up, fill you with toxins, and radiate you. It’s physically and mentally grueling, and it can exhaust patients for months, even years, after treatment ends. Surgery and radiation can leave permanent pain. Listening to music at home can help. READ MORE.

It’s maddening that come patients are being denied the hope they need when diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Mind you, TNBC is nothing to mess with, but my mantra through my 13 years living through and writing about the disease is, “Most women with TNBC survive and go on to live full lives.” I’ve …

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Hundreds of thousands of women’s lives have been saved by mammography and improvements in breast cancer treatment since 1989, according to a study published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. According to the report,,female breast cancer mortality rates in the United States increased by 0.4% per year from 1975 to 1990. Since 1990, …

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In a study of postmenopausal women, participants who lost weight had a lower risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer than those who maintained or gained weight. The research was published online in CANCER, a journal of the American Cancer Society. The findings suggest that weight loss may help lower postmenopausal women’s breast cancer risk. [NOTE: I was …

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The chemotherapy drug doxorubicin encapsulated in nanoparticles an be especially effective in treating triple-negative breast cancer, according to a study published in Precision Nanomedicine.    Researchers found that increased cell kill in triple-negative breast cancer cells was associated with the smallest size of nanoparticles and the slowest release of doxorubicin. “Nanomedicine is a very exciting …

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A new study in the International Journal of Cancer reviewed previous research on the link between meat consumption and breast cancer risk and concluded that processed meat increases your breast cancer risk significantly. This includes bacon, ham,  sausage, hot dogs, salami, and beef jerky. Researchers found that eating processed meat was associated with a 9% higher breast cancer risk. Interestingly, they …

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Here’s one way triple-negative cancer works, according to researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center: Tumor cells reprogram metabolic pathways to gain control over a type of immune cell that allows cancer growth. Here’s the technical explanation: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells that live in and around a cancerous tumor encourage a stem cell-like growth that’s …

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“Doctors still are underprepared for these difficult discussions. They tend to focus on the disease and not the patient.” Imagine you get the worst news possible: You have late stage cancer. Your doctor lays out the treatment options: chemo, radiation, surgery. You hear lots of numbers, some of them probably related to your prognosis, but …

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Women under the age of 50 who breastfed for at least 24 months over their lifetime had a lower risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer, in a recent large-scale study conducted through multiple breast cancer research organizations. For women with three or more full-term pregnancies, risk increases two-fold if they did not breastfeed or only …

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This coming February will be Julie Desloge’s 10th cancerversary—she had triple-negative—and she’s leading up to the celebration by training for her first full Ironman race. (Shouldn’t that be Ironwoman?)  She will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles, all in less than 17 hours. Julie biking in the Hagg Lake Triathlon in …

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Me: Normal BMI, but with tummy fat. I’ve hadTNBC twice. I’m 11 yearspast the first diagnosis.two years pastthe second. Women whose fat accumulates around their stomachs and internal organs—called visceral fat—are more at risk of estrogen negative breast cancer, including triple-negative, according to research published in the Oncologist. The increased risk comes even if they …

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Two separate analyses demonstrate that women with access to mammograms and other breast cancer screenings are diagnosed at earlier, more treatable, and less costly stages. More women were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer after the Affordable Care Act took effect, according to a study published this month in the journal Cancer Epidemiology.  Equally important, there was …

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The first triple negative breast cancer immunotherapy trial to date has yielded some hopeful results for metastatic TNBC, according to results presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. The checkpoint-blocking drug Keytruda shrank pre-treated tumors by more than 30 percent in 5 percent and stabilized disease in 21 percent of women in …

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More than ten years after I had radiation on my breast, I developed a skin inflammation on the radiated site. It came on suddenly, a series of angry red veins branching across my chest where my left breast had been, with occasional darker, pooled spots, all in a rectangular shape matching the area where I …

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Oncology professionals are concerned about the ability of their patients to access cancer screening and treatment under the American Health Care Act proposed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, according to a survey conducted in March at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s  Annual Conference. A majority of those surveyed believed that anticipated changes to the Patient …

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My nephew had been struggling with a diseased foot for more than a year—it got infected and did not heal, likely a consequence of his type 1diabetes. He will have to have his leg amputated, a step that stunned the entire family. In discussing his concerns, my sister told me that he doesn’t want his …

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A NEWS RELEASE FROM UC BERKELEY University of California, Berkeley researchers have found a long-elusive Achilles’ heel within “triple-negative” breast tumors, a common type of breast cancer that is difficult to treat. The scientists then used a drug-like molecule to successfully target this vulnerability, killing cancer cells in the lab and shrinking tumors in mice. …

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In patients with breast cancer, a short overnight fast of less than 13 hours was associated with a 36 percent higher risk of breast cancer recurrence, according to research published online  in the Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology. Ideal, then, would be eating dinner no later than 7 p.m. and breakfast no earlier than 8 p.m. Not …

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A study just published in Breast Cancer Research caught my eye because it provided additional perspective on why some TNBC tumors are so much more aggressive than others. Earlier research has shown that there are different forms of TNBC, but the classification in this particular study seemed a little clearer and more straightforward. Plus, the …

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The Road, by Patricia Prijatel                 copyright 2016 When I was in college and choosing careers, I was torn between being an artist and a writer. I chose not to be an artist because, to my teenage self, the only way an artist could make a decent living …

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I watched the calendar a lot more carefully with my first cancer, counting the days until I reached the magic three-year mark for TNBC, then the five-year mark. This time, meh. I’ve been doing fine, healing well after six months, with a few mild complications, as is to be expected with major surgery like a …

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When the radiologist used the ominous “I’m very concerned” about my latest mammogram, my mind just stopped. He kept asking if I had questions. “No,” I said. No, I thought. Again? No, not again. My surgeon, whom I had not seen since he had given me my all-clear four years ago, made time for me …

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Managing stress early on has long-term benefits to women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, according to the online journal CANCER. Patients who learned relaxation techniques and new coping skills in a supportive group over 10 weeks were less depressed and had a better quality of life up to 15 years later. “Women with breast cancer who participated in …

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The good people at Living Beyond Breast Cancer have put numbers to what we all know: Women with TNBC worry a lot and we really, really want information. The study was presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Says LBBC CEO Jean A. Sachs: “ Women with triple-negative breast cancers are information seekers, as we can see from the …

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Women with early-stage hormone-negative breast cancer (negative for both estrogen and progesterone)  who reduced their dietary fat intake for five years following a diagnosis had a 56 percent reduction in death from all causes in comparison to those who did not modify their diets, according to 15 years of data as part of the Women’s …

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Most patients with triple-negative breast cancer should undergo genetic testing for mutations in known breast cancer genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, according to the largest analysis to date of genetic mutations in TNBC, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study found that almost 15 percent of triple-negative breast cancer patients had harmful mutations in …

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High levels of the microRNA miR-21 in the environment around a tumor, but not in the cancer cells, are associated with worse outcomes for patients with triple-negative breast cancer,   according to a study in The American Journal of Pathology. miRNAs are short RNAs that modulate gene expression. In previous research, miR-21 was associated with poorer …

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The q25.3 region of chromosome 17 may be another genetic marker that defines subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer and, therefore, could lead to the golden grail: targeted treatment, especially for those forms of TNBC linked to the BRCA1 mutation.  In research published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, 17q25.3 was detected in 86 percent of …

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A team at the University of Kansas School of Medicine has identified a potential target for treating triple-negative breast cancer: atypical protein kinase C signaling. In a recent paper, published in the journal Cell Death and Differentiation, Soumen Paul, Ph.D and his colleagues conclude that this finding holds “tremendous” promise for treating breast cancer.The researchers analyzed tissue samples of breast …

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Genomic sequencing might successfully identify women who would benefit most from breast cancer screening option such as mammography. And knowing their risk for breast cancer at birth may help women take measures to modify their non-genetic risk factors, such as diet and lifestyle, and lower their risk. All this from a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers …

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Remember when your doctor told you that you had breast cancer? Oh, yes, you sigh. And remember when your doctor told you it was an especially aggressive form called triple-negative, or estrogen negative? Oh, yes, you shudder. I suspect your reaction was like mine—confusion and terror. Well, I was there eight years ago and now, …

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The localization wire was one of the most outrageous aspects of my breast cancer surgery.  The thin wire is inserted into the breast through a needle to help mark the location of a tumor on the day of surgery.  In my case, the wire then was covered with a Dixie cup—yes, a Dixie cup—to protect …

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Joan Lunden is being treated for triple-negative breast cancer, according to People magazine.  It’s the same type of cancer Robin Roberts has battled.  And, of course, me and many of those who read this blog. She has started chemotherapy and has agreed to go public with her treatments, which I hope takes some fear out …

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Photo from the University of Wisconsin Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York are trying the ultimate approach in personalized therapy, targeting medullary thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, and triple negative breast cancer. They inject the common fruit fly with a genetic copy of a patient’s tumor and test “thousands of drugs to see if any …

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NOTE:  I am posting this because basal-like TNBC is similar to ovarian cancer on the molecular level and some experts say that treatment for ovarian cancer might be effective for this form of TNBC.  SEATTLE — An oral tablet form of a PARP inhibitor, olaparib, given in combination with chemotherapy, was safe in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients, …

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Triple-negative breast cancer cells show a significant expression of the proteins CCL5 and IL6, according to research published in the September 2, 2014 online edition of Nature Communications. Specifically, TNBC cells secrete IL6 (a cytokine protein interleukin-6)  that triggers cells located within lymph nodes and the lungs to secrete CCL5 (a chemokine protein) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). …

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Wearing a bra does not cause cancer.  This myth has been debunked before, but a new study reinforced that fact. The research, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research,  found no association between bra wearing and increased breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. “There have been some concerns that one of …

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Watermelons may be, duh, mostly water, but they are also high in dietary fiber, thiamin and folate.  Fiber and folate are both especially good cancer-fighters.   And when you juice it with the rind, you add the antioxidant citrulline plus vitamin C and B-6 to strengthen your immune system.You’ll need a juicer if you include the …

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Here’s a chance to support this blog and get a copy of my book with a personal note to you or to another recipient.   Just donate $25 to the blog and you’ll get the book free. All you have to do it hit the Donate button on the right and make your donation.  I’ll send …

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Today’s treat: cantaloupe juice.   High in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients, especially vitamins A and C and potassium.   We juice it rind and all, but cut out the seeds.  Some folks suggest juicing the seeds and adding pineapple juice for a nut drink and I might try that next time. The anti-inflammatory issue is especially important, given …

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Some triple-negative breast cancer tumors may benefit from JAK inhibitors, a class of anti-inflammatory drugs currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, according to research in Cell Reports.    These tumors rely on an antiviral pathway related to inflammation, widely recognized for roles in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Biologically, they have mutations of …

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From a news release from Pennsylvania State University A virus not known to cause disease kills triple-negative breast cancer cells and killed tumors grown from these cells in mice, according to Penn State College of Medicineresearchers. Understanding how the virus kills cancer may lead to new treatments for TNBC. Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) infects …

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A news release from the Cancer News Room:Physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis has been linked with prolonged survival and improved quality of life, but most participants in a large breast cancer study did not meet national physical activity guidelines after they were diagnosed. African-American women were less likely to meet the guidelines than white …

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Restricting calories may improve outcomes for women with triple-negative breast cancer, according to a study published May 26th in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.  Research showed that TNBC was less likely to metastasize in mice that were fed a restricted diet. When mouse models of triple negative cancer were fed 30 percent less than what …

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Blocking two genes that contribute to breast cancer tumor formation may reduce the risk of triple negative breast cancer, according to a study now online at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The genes are MLF2 and RPL39, which work together to block nitric oxide signaling and affect blood vessel recruitment in tumors.  …

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Targeting a specific enzyme—O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT)— can kill triple-negative breast cancer cells but spare non-tumor cells, according to a study in the online edition of Molecular Cell. Researchers discovered that reducing levels of OGT or blocking OGT activity selectively killed cancer cells but spared non-cancer breast cells. This reduces critical metabolites involved in energy production …

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Researchers have identified chemical signals that triple-negative breast cancer cells use to recruit two types of normal cells needed for the cancer’s spread. The study, which was done on mice, appears in the online early May edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research focused on a chemical signal called hypoxia-inducible …

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Understanding your diagnosis is key to understanding your treatment.   To decide the right path for you, use the questions below as the start of your discussion.  Always ask how a treatment affects you specifically—if your doctor sounds like he is offering a cookie-cutter approach, it is time for a second opinion.  No two women are …

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A drug used to treat leukemia patients shows promise in fighting triple-negative breast cancer, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.The drug imatinib mesylate targets a protein  found in roughly half of the TNBC tumor samples tested and stops the growth process.“The next step is to organize a phase one clinical trial, where we would …

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Using magnetically controlled nanoparticles to force tumor cells to self-destruct could be a future part of cancer treatment—replacing chemotherapy—according to research from Lund University in Sweden. The technique is much more targeted and less harmful than trying to kill cancer cells with toxic techniques such as chemotherapy, which damages other cells and radiation, which affects …

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Eating fruits and vegetables reduced the risk of estrogen-negative breast cancer, even though it had no effect on other kinds of breast cancer, according to a study that analyzed research from 20 previous studies and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Vegetables were slightly better than fruits.Because researchers were looking at studies …

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Scientists from Houston Methodist and Weill Cornell Medical College have found that a gene previously unassociated with breast cancer plays a pivotal role in the growth and progression of triple negative breast cancer. Their research, published in the April 3 Nature (online today), suggests that targeting the gene may be a new approach to treat the disease. …

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The receptor-interacting protein kinase 2 (RIP2),  known to be involved in  inflammatory processes, also has roles in triple-negative breast cancer metastasis, according to a study in the journal Breast Cancer Research. The research analyzed data from six breast cancer databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas and determined that RIP2 was significantly overexpressed in TNBC and …

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Patterns in magnetic resonance images may predict if a patient has triple-negative breast cancer, slower-moving cancers or non-cancerous lesions with 95 percent accuracy, according to research published online in the journal Radiology. The technique could enable doctors to use an MRI scan to diagnose more aggressive cancers earlier and fast track these patients for therapy.   “Literally, what we’re trying to do is …

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I’d like a little favor from those of you more than a year past treatment:  How did you feel in that first year, once treatment was over?  I have a question about this from a reader—how do other women feel?— and have discovered this has not been that well studied.  There are a lot of …

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The osteoporosis drug raloxifene, primarily prescribed for post-menopausal women, may also be able to treat triple-negative breast cancer,  according to research published in Cell Death and Disease. In lab tests, researchers found that the drug, marketed under the brand name Evista, killed human TNBC cells as well as liver cancer cells.   Raloxifene binds with a protein called the aryl …

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One sure thing about winter:  Spring is coming next.

A nuclear protein called Twist may provide an effective approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer, according to a recent study published in Cancer Cell.  Twist is an accelerant of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in human cells, which is significant because TNBC has an activated EMT program. EMT provides tumor cells with stem cell-like characteristics, making them resistant to …

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Significant increases in body mass index are associated with an increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer, according to research published in the journal Cancer, produced by the American Cancer Society.  In the study, women who went up ten points or more—from, for example, a BMI of 22 to one of 32—between the ages of 18 …

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Young women who smoke and have been smoking a pack a day for a decade or more have a significantly increased risk of developing hormone-positive  breast cancer, but smoking is not related to a woman’s risk of triple-negative breast cancer, according to a new analysis published online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The …

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As many of you have observed from personal experience, doctors disagree on the definition of an adequate surgical margin in a lumpectomy. To reduce confusion, worry and unnecessary second surgeries yet maintain excellent outcomes, the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) has  created a “definitive guideline.”  Roughly 25 percent of breast cancer patients return to the …

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Targeting androgen and vitamin D receptors could be an effective treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, according to a new study  published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.   Researchers studied more than 15,000 normal breast cells and discovered eleven previously undefined cell subtypes, which they then categorized into four new hormonal groups characterized by vitamin …

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If you have a family history or any other risk factors, such as the BRCA mutation,  yearly mammograms are still recommended.  And, always do good self exams. Adoption of new guidelines recommending screening mammography every two years for women ages 50 to 74 would result in breast cancer screening that is equally effective, while saving …

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A virus similar to the one that helped eradicate smallpox might be effective against triple-negative breast cancer, according to research published in the February 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal.  Researchers successfully infected and killed TNBC cells using a vaccinia virus. In addition, they used the virus to cause infected cancer cells produce a cell surface protein …

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I take 10 mg of melatonin every night and have done so since my diagnosis almost eight years ago.  I do it because of previous research on cancer in general.  It also helps me sleep.  This research encourages me to continue.     Melatonin may help slow the growth of triple-negative negative breast cancer tumors, according to   research …

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Contrary to existing understanding, long-term follow-up of patients with two types of breast tissue abnormalities suggests that both types of abnormalities have the same potential to progress to breast cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Findings from this study could improve clinical management of patients with …

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Cancer tumors contain a variety of traits that affect their response to treatment and their risk of metastasis.  A team of researchers has used this fact to suggest a model that can predicts how a tumor might evolve.  Their research, published in Cell Reports, emphasizes the importance of mapping the genetic traits of specific tumors. …

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AbbVie, a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott, announced the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of its investigational compound, veliparib (ABT-888) when added to carboplatin, a chemotherapy, in women with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer.  The three-arm trial will compare the addition of veliparib plus …

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A team of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have identified critical complex mechanisms involved in the metastasis of triple negative breast cancers (TNBC). The discovery of this critical interaction of mechanisms could be used to develop new life saving treatments to kill metastatic tumors in TNBC. “In previous …

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Postmenopausal women whose behaviors were consistent with the Nutrition and Physical Activity Cancer Prevention Guidelines put forth by the American Cancer Society (ACS) had lower risk for cancer incidence, and cancer-related and cancer-unrelated death, according to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. “Postmenopausal women who have greater adherence to …

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Last year was a lively one for research on triple-negative breast cancer.  Below is my list of the year’s top studies—all pointing toward understanding what makes TNBC tick, which will ultimately lead to treatment and a reduction in the risk of recurrence.  Remember, though, that the road from research to clinical practice can be long …

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A news release from GlobalData, December 11, 2013 The total number of breast cancer cases in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, urban China and Brazil is expected to increase by 44 percent over the next decade, from 0.90 million in 2012 to 1.29 million by 2022, forecasts research and consulting firm …

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Adding the chemotherapy drug carboplatin to standard treatment improved outcomes for women with triple-negative breast cancer in two studies presented today at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.  Both measured pathological complete response (pCR), which is recognized as a positive marker for overall survival.  The second study also showed improved outcomes using bevacizumab (Avastin). I-SPY …

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Research presented today at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium focused on the genetic makeup of triple-negative breast cancer, which may be the best route to targeted treatment. SOX4 and P13K What drives tumor development?  That is especially intriguing in a disease as heterogeneous as triple-negative breast cancer.  Some answers, from an analysis of …

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They reduce the risk of bone metastases following breast cancer in post-menopausal women by 34 percent. And they reduce the risk of death in that same group by 17 percent, regardless of receptor status, node involvement or previous chemotherapy.   They’re common bisphosphonates, drugs used to build our bones, such as Zometa and Reclast. This could …

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The good news on BRCA screening is that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to ban gene patenting opens the field up to more competition. And more competition means lower prices.  Already, costs have been reduced from 20 percent to more than 40 percent from before the decision last June, according to several industry reps I …

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Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes may become an additional factor in determining which types of triple-negative breast cancer respond best to chemotherapy.  Seventy-five percent of tumors with the highest levels of lymphocytes—researchers call this lymphocyte predominate breast cancer (LPBC)—had a pathological complete response to doxorubicin and taxane plus carboplatin when compared to non-LPBC tumors. The results came from the …

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Lisa Carey, M.D., of the University of North Carolina, provided an update on the management of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium today.  It was a clear overview of previous research, demonstrating that TNBC is a family of diseases, with varying subtypes that react differently to treatment.  Some of …

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The goal is to pinpoint treatment to specific genetic traits One of the most significant recent breakthroughs in the war on cancer is the rise of precision medicine, the process of identifying the tiniest molecular and genomic details within a cancer, then using those details to fine-tune treatment.  An explosion in knowledge about the genetic …

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MADISON, Wis. – A University of Wisconsin-Madison research team reports today that the brain can produce and release estrogen—a discovery that may lead to a better understanding of hormonal changes observed from before birth throughout the entire aging process. The new research shows that the hypothalamus can directly control reproductive function in rhesus monkeys and …

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Young women who eat excess amounts of saturated fats during their teenage years increase their risk of basal-like breast cancer, according to a study published in Breast Cancer Research. Many basal-like tumors are also triple-negative.In research conducted on mice, scientists at Michigan State University found that a diet high in saturated animal fat caused excess cell growth that altered the normal …

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Lab research points to an over expression of the protein Engrailed 1 in basal-like tumors, which may be why these tumors are more likely to metastasize.  Scientists have developed a chain of amino acids to fight the protein, which is not present in non-basal tumors.  The treatment will have to be tested through clinical trials. …

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The diabetes drug Metformin can effectively reduce breast cancer risk that is associated with insulin resistance and was directly correlated with Ki67 status, according to research in the British Journal of Cancer.  TNBC has shown links to insulin resistance in previous studies, and many TNBC tumors are positive for Ki67, so this could be additional …

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At least 77 genetic variations are linked to breast cancer risk in women from families with the BRCA mutation. Testing negative for BRCA2 still means these women may have four times the risk of breast cancer than the general population. PHILADELPHIA — Women who are members of families with BRCA2 mutations but who test negative …

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Ganetespib, a selective inhibitor may be a potent drug for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), based on the results of small preclinical studies. Specifically, ganetespib effectively regulated several key proteins involved in tumor growth and metastasis, according to results published on-line in the Journal of Molecular Medicine and in Clinical Cancer Research: The results demonstrate …

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I am very careful about what I put on this page.  If I think a research report is weak and could cause unnecessary worrying without adding to our knowledge in any meaningful way, I do not share it.    The internet, however, is a wild and wooly place, without gatekeepers and perspective.  So I often …

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Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) ratios can effectively assess a woman’s risk of lymphedema after breast cancer surgery that includes lymph node removal, according to a study published in the journal Lymphology.  BIAs operate on low frequency electronic current, which cannot travel through cell membranes, therefore providing a direct measure of lymph fluid outside the cells. “To lessen breast cancer …

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Lapatinib, which has been approved for use on Her2-positive tumors,  is also effective against triple-negative breast cancer in lab tests on mice, according to research published in Breast Cancer Research November 12, 2013.  Lapatinib  targets EGFR and  and  p65, which are present in both HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer cells.  Specifically, it is effective against the NF-κB pathway that scientists believe …

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I’ll be heading to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) again this year, specifically to keep my eye on triple-negative breast cancer research.  I will once more do a recap of TNBC research, and I hope I have lots of information and positive news, as I did in 2012.   I am looking forward …

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As many as two-thirds of those who get adjuvant chemotherapy (after surgery) for triple-negative breast cancer probably do not need it, according to researchers writing in Breast Cancer Research, published online October 31, 2013.  Yet, chemo remains the most effective way to keep the disease from metastasizing, so it becomes a pricey (in our pocketbooks …

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From a New Release from Western University in Ontario, Canada They represent less than 15 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer. But for Dr. Shawn Li, continuing a search for solutions in this rarely diagnosed area of breast cancer has become his main mission. Thanks to a $200,000 (over two years) Innovation Grant from …

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• Read more about TNBC in my book, Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. • Please consider a donation to Positives About Negative to keep this site going.  This work is entirely supported by readers.  Just click on the Donate button in the right of the page.  Thank you!

The kinase inhibitor ENMD-2076 may effectively target the p53 family of tumor suppressors, which have been connected to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), according to results of a phase II clinical study. Data demonstrate that ENMD-2076 exhibited “robust anticancer activity” against both p53 and p73 mutations, said chief researcher  Jennifer R. Diamond. M.D., of the University of Colorado.  Research is being …

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Stop worrying about tomorrow.  Celebrate today.

NEW YORK – October 17, 2013 —  A survey commissioned by The BC5 Project, a group focused on broadening awareness of breast cancer treatment options, suggests that famous personalities may be impacting important medical decisions. The findings also point out that some women are opting for treatments without full knowledge of all the therapies available to …

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PLAINSBORO, N.J. – Yoga’s health benefits may go beyond stress reduction – a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that for overweight women, restorative yoga may offer a way to actually trim subcutaneous fat. The benefits of restorative yoga – a form of the practice that emphasizes relaxation over flowing movements …

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Adolescent and young adult women with triple-negative breast cancer are nearly three times as likely to die of the disease than those with other forms of breast cancer, according to research published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.  Overall, these women faced a 44 percent higher risk of death from breast cancer of all types …

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Scientific data suggest that a woman reduces her risk of breast cancer by breastfeeding, having multiple children and giving birth at a younger age. A study led by the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and recently published online by Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, indicates that women of Mexican descent may not fit …

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PHILADELPHIA — An optical imaging technique that measures metabolic activity in cancer cells can accurately differentiate breast cancer subtypes, and it can detect responses to treatment as early as two days after therapy administration, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. “The process of targeted …

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I am thankful for all the beauty in my lifePhoto by PatWhite Oaks Lake, New Hampshire

Triple-negative breast cancer tumors are especially dependent on cystine, one of the 20 amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins that all cells need, and could be effectively treated with a drug already approved by the FDA, according to a study published online October 3, 2013 in the journal Cancer Cell.Lead researcher Luika Timmerman, PhD, …

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Forty-one percent of breast cancer tumors changed receptor status following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (before surgery) in a recent studypresented at the 2013 Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco (Abstract 48).  For example, this means that an estrogen-receptor-negative tumor might have changed to an estrogen-receptor-positive tumor, or vice versa.  Specifically: • 20 percent changed from hormone receptor …

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Exposing young women and girls under the age of 20 to ionizing radiation can substantially raise the risk of their developing estrogen-negative breast cancer later in life, according to research published in the journal Stem CellsAugust 2013. “Our results are in agreement with epidemiology studies showing that radiation-induced human breast cancers are more likely to …

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Women with the BRCA 1 or 2 mutations may benefit from the use of tamoxifen, even if they are estrogen negative, but the evidence so far is not convincing.  According to research in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, use of tamoxifen reduced the risk of cancer in the opposite breast by more than half among both …

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Cure magazine recently ran a comprehensive article on TNBC.  It was well-researched and balanced.  I love the introductory survivor story, plus the many quotes from docs who emphasize that the disease is survivable.  The writers used the statistic that 30 percent of TNBC cases are fatal.  That does mean that 70 percent aren’t.  Still, to clarify, …

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Reporters:  Precision is essential in health writing   Patients: Read carefully and learn to spot misinformation and dangerous generalizations I have been a journalist for 46 years, 30 of that teaching at some level. My son is a journalist, as are most of my close friends. Yet one of my biggest frustrations since my cancer …

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There has been a good amount of evidence that cisplatin and carboplatin are effective for TNBC patients, especially those with BRCA mutations.  A recent German study used a pretty potent cocktail to specifically test the the effect of carboplatin on pathologically complete response, which is tied to a better prognosis for TNBC patients.   And it …

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Old paths are such comforts.  Losing them feels like losing the coziness of an old friendship. Today we took a new path through the woods and got a bit lost.  The familiar markers were gone and their comfort and clarity gone with them. That’s often the way with forging a trail—you get easily disoriented.  But …

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The OGF-OGFr axis, a novel biological pathway, can be modulated in human triple-negative breast cancer cells to inhibit proliferation, according to research in the June 2013 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine. Exposure of human breast cancer cell lines to OGF in lab tests repressed growth within 24 hours. (That’s fast, folks.) Treatment with low dosages of the …

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Triple-negative breast cancers may be vulnerable to drugs that attack the proteasome, a cellular structure that acts as the cell’s waste disposal, breaking down damaged or unneeded proteins, according to a new paper in Cancer Cell. In lab tests, researchers selectively “turned off” genes throughout the genomes of triple-negative tumor cells. When turned off, the cells die. These …

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Scientists at  the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have identified genes that are potential targets for therapeutic drugs against triple-negative breast cancer. These findings were reported in the July 2013 issue of PNAS. In the research, they discovered that an enzyme, UBASH3B, was overexpressed in one third of TNBC patients. Deleting this gene expression inhibits TNBC growth and …

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A News Release from Medivation Medivation, Inc.and Astellas Pharma Inc. today announced enrollment of the first patient in a global Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating enzalutamide as a single agent for the treatment of advanced, androgen receptor (AR)-positive, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Medivation is conducting this study under its agreement with Astellas. “The initiation of …

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A news release from Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (edited by Pat to eliminate fearful language]: MONTREAL, June 26, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – An international research team of Canadian and Australian scientists have found that an enzyme in triple-negative breast cancer makes patients less responsive to chemotherapy.  Triple negative breast cancer accounts for 15% of …

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Are you looking for the TNBC clinical trial that most suits your needs and for which you are eligible?  A researcher at Harvard, Maytal Bivas-Benita, is currently designing a portal that patients can use in their search for trials, but she would like your help. What challenges are you encountering on your search?  Maytal would …

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Worry less, appreciate more.

I hesitated over my morning prayer today: Thank you for this beautiful day; help me to use it well.   I looked out the window at the unending Iowa rain  and thought, “How can I say this is beautiful?” This is dreary and a little scary. I am not thankful for it. Not. At. All. …

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A protein called Numb (seriously) may  promote the death of cancer cells by binding to and stabilizing the tumor suppressor protein p53, which is implicated in many cases of triple-negative breast cancer, according to research published in the May 23rd issue of Molecular Cell.   When Numb is reduced by the Set8 enzyme , it will no longer protect p53.   …

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Progesterone metabolites, often considered waste products by endocrinologists, may be potent hormones that can fight against hormone-negative breast cancer, according to a new study published in Breast Cancer Research. A research team at Western Ontario University team discovered that the progesterone metabolites 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5αP) and 3α-dihydroprogesterone (3αHP), respectively, exhibit pro-cancer and anti-cancer effects on receptor-negative human breast cells. “We’ve …

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I’ve been traveling and have had little time to post about—or even process—Angelina Jolie’s opinion piece, “My Medical Choice,” in the NY Times.  I am not sure I have anything to add to the discussion, but I have had so many people ask me about it that I felt I should respond.  I am doing …

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I just bought a pair of shoes in a color that reminds me of rocks in a mountain stream.  The manufacturer calls it “pewter,” but I think it looks more gold. It shimmers and takes on the hue of whatever I wear.  As I tried them on in the store, I loved them immediately.  They …

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I’ve been fiddling with the paint brushes and am about 75 percent finished with this. I am not sure when—and if—it will be at 100 percent, but at least I no longer feel like throwing it away. Creating is good for my soul, even when the result isn’t what I expect.  As with many things, …

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Mary says Robin Roberts is “more concerned about her ‘star ness’ than her health.”  When Kathy and Michele object, calling Mary “rude,” Mary responds.  “If she wasn’t a celebrity, you wouldn’t care, admit it. She wouldn’t care about me. So, I just treat them as regular folk. Can’t be PC all the time. I work …

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All spiritual traditions have some form of meditative repetition.  Catholics have the rosary, others have prayer beads.  Eastern religions have mantras. The labyrinth is one of the oldest of these forms.  As you follow a labyrinth, you focus only on the action at hand—where you walk, how you turn, making your way step by step …

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From a News Release from the Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineResearchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a gene that, when repressed in tumor cells, puts a halt to cell growth and a range of processes needed for tumors to enlarge and spread to distant sites. The researchers hope that this so-called “master regulator” gene may …

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I sent this to the NewYork Times Magazine today, in response to Peggy Orenstein’s “Our Feel-Good War on Breast Cancer,” published last Sunday, April 28. 2013). Women with triple-negative breast cancer throughout the country groaned when they saw Peggy Orenstein’s blithe mischaracterization of this type of breast cancer.  She uses the typical shorthand terms “aggressive” and …

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We’re getting closer.  For several years, researchers have said that triple-negative breast cancer is not one disease, but many, with numerous studies focusing on the genetic similarities that create subsets of TNBC.  And drug combinations work better that single agents, according to a new article in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News  (April 26, 2013). According to …

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Researchers in Australia have successfully tested a drug combination to fight late-stage triple-negative breast cancer in mice—with a 100 percent success rate.  The treatment trial—at Queensland Institute of Medical Research— demonstrates that targeting radiation to an overload of proteins (known as EGFR) together with a dramatically reduced dose of chemotherapy is effective in stopping both the cancer growth …

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A monoclonal antibody targeting a protein known as SFPR2 has been shown by researchers at the University of North Carolina to inhibit tumor growth in pre-clinical models of triple-negative breast breast cancer, according to research published in the April 19 issue of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, The UNC lab first discovered the role of SFRP2 in tumor growth while …

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From a news release from the University of California: UCLA researchers  have developed a potential new treatment for triple-negative breast cancer that uses nanoscale, diamond-like particles called nanodiamonds.   Nanodiamonds are between 4 and 6 nanometers in diameter and are shaped like tiny soccer balls. Byproducts of conventional mining and refining operations, the particles can …

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A news release from the University of California School of NursingThe risks of developing lymphedema increased significantly for women who had more advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis, more lymph nodes removed or a significantly higher body mass index, and a specific set of genes, according to a study of some 400 women who …

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Eat your fish.  Take your Omega 3 supplements.  Here’s why: WASHINGTON, DC (April 9, 2013)—Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center have found that omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolite products slow or stop the proliferation, or growth in the number of cells, of triple-negative breast cancer cells more effectively than cells from luminal types of …

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WASHINGTON, DC (April 9, 2013)—Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified a host of small molecules critical to metabolism in cells of triple-negative breast cancer—one of the least understood groups of breast cancer. These molecules, called metabolites, include key players in energy regulation and lipid synthesis. They could help pave the way for helping …

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[NOTE:  This is a news release from January from Oregon State University.  I found it while researching other things.  It offers a good perspective on exercise and how to make it work.  Exercise is important in fighting TNBC.  Tied with a healthy diet, it can lead to weight loss, which is a key to reducing …

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Carolyn Justin Baer took this photograph of Lake Tahoe, where she lived with her husband Bob.   Justin’s family selected  this photo for her obituary after she died of triple-negative breast cancer March 21, 2013.    I considered Justin a friend, even though I had never met her, and  I wrote about our friendship for Psychology Today.  But I …

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Beyond its most basic definition—negative for receptors for estrogen, progesterone and Her2/neu—triple-negative breast cancer has unique genetic characteristics.  Research published April 1, 2013 in the journal Cancer Research has outlined some of TNBC’s genetic associations.  Researchers keep getting closer to finding what makes TNBC tick.  Once they know that, they can target it.  Put a …

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We went for a walk yesterday right before lunch, then stopped at the gas station.  Note to self: Don’t do that anymore.  The gas station has Diet Coke and potato chips. And I am hungry and more vulnerable to food temptations of lunchtime.   I have written about Diet Coke before—it is one of the …

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My blogs about my diet are not working as well as I had hoped.  My goal was to create a sense of community, with readers joining in on a healthy eating bandwagon.  But reader response was lackluster.  And then I had missteps in my own diet, so I felt like a bit of a fraud. …

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Green Drink Pure Synergy: 45 calories, no fats Breakfast: Smoothie: •1 cup fresh blueberries (frozen, then thawed): 70 calories, 0.2 grams saturated fat, no trans fats • I peach: 51 calories, trace of saturated fat, no trans fats. •1/2 cup Almond Breeze almond milk:  20 calories, no trans or saturated fats • 1 cup orange juice: …

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March 19, 2013 Green Drink Pure Synergy: 45 calories, no fats Breakfast: •1/2 cup fresh blueberries (frozen, then thawed): 35 calories, 0.1 gram saturated fat, no trans fats •1/2 cup Cascadian Farm Organic cereal: 67 calories, no trans or saturated fats •1/4 cup Almond Breeze almond milk:  10 calories, no trans or saturated fats Snack: •1 banana: …

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News Release from the American Association for Cancer Research PHILADELPHIA — The overexpression or underexpression of a newly identified set of genes related to lipid metabolism may help physicians identify whether or not a woman is at risk for hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-negative breast cancer and to subsequently tailor prevention strategies appropriately, according to data …

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Breakfast:•1/2 cup fresh blueberries (frozen, then thawed): 35 calories, 0.1 gram saturated fat, no trans fats•1/2 cup Cascadian Farm Organic cereal: 67 calories, no trans or saturated fats•1/4 cup Almond Breeze almond milk:  10 calories, no trans or saturated fatsSnack:•1 banana: 105 calories, 1 percent daily value of saturated fats, no trans fats• 8 whole almonds: 41 calories. …

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I love French fries, potato chips, pastries, coffee in my cream, enchiladas with green chili, tacos, and you get the point.  This food is truly addictive.  According to The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food, in The New York Times Magazine, food companies know just how to grab us where we’re most vulnerable—with crunchy goodness that taps …

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Could you create a breast cancer tumor in mature mice by reactivating how embryonic breast cancer cells develop?  And, if you could, what would you learn? In a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, scientists discovered that basal-like  breast cancers with the BRCA1 mutation—many of them triple-negative breast cancers—grow differently than other cancers.  …

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More Hope for Eventual Targeted Treatment LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2013) – A study led by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center’s Dr. Peter Zhou found that triple-negative breast cancer cells are missing a key enzyme that other cancer cells contain — providing insight into potential therapeutic targets. Zhou’s study is unique in that his …

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The research on copper depletion has captured a lot of readers’ imaginations.  But, some worry that this might mean we have to watch out for foods that might have high copper levels.  And that, of course, goes against much of what we have heard about healthy diets overall.  High on the list are canned foods …

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A News Release from M.D. Anderson HOUSTON – Researchers have identified a pivotal protein in a cellular transformation that makes a cancer cell more resistant to treatment and more capable of growing and spreading, making it an inviting new target for drug development. Additionally, the international team led by scientists at The University of Texas …

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A News Release from University of North Carolina Health Care  [PAT”S NOTE:  This isn’t really all that new, but it does shows that researchers are fine-tuning their definitions of TNBC, which will lead to new treatment.] CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Triple-negative breast cancers are more biologically diverse than previously believed and classification should be expanded to reflect …

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A News Release from Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNEW YORK (February 13, 2013) — An anti-copper drug compound that disables the ability of bone marrow cells from setting up a “home” in organs to receive and nurture migrating cancer tumor cells has shown surprising benefit for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.Results of a new phase II clinical trial …

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News Release from the  Weizmann Institute of Science  In a study in mice,  two EGFR-blocking antibodies prevented the growth and spread of triple-negative tumors.  Cancer drugs of the new, molecular generation destroy malignant breast tumors in a targeted manner: They block characteristic molecules on tumor cells – receptors for the hormones estrogen or progesterone, or a co-receptor, …

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From a news release from the University of California at San Francisco In the January 27, 2013 online edition of Nature Cell Biology, UC San Francisco researchers describe how the protein  GATA3 — which is abnormal or absent in many cases of human breast cancer — normally works to prevent metastasis. The absence or loss of GATA3 can …

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NOTE: Triple-negative breast cancer, if it is going to spread, often spreads to the brain.  Currently, drugs to treat metastatic breast cancer have had mixed effect.  This research, by defining the way breast cancer might move to the brain, could be a first step in finding therapies to combat that spread.  Hurry, hurry, docs! PHILADELPHIA …

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Researchers at St, Louis University have  found a molecular signature that may define a particular subset of triple-negative breast cancer,  which can ultimate lead to target therapy for that group of patients.  In specific, they have uncovered a pathway responsible for the loss of 53BP1 in TNBC tumors related to the  BRCA1 mutation. Loss of BRCA1, …

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C Join CURE in a one-hour discussion on how to make lifestyle changes that will improve your quality of life and help lower recurrence risk. When: Thursday, Jan. 24, 12 p.m. CT (10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET)Where: CURE’s Facebook page RSVP for the event and submit questions for“Making Lifestyle Changes to Improve Well-Being, Reduce Recurrence” Even small changes in …

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PHILADELPHIA — A new multiple gene expression profile test was able to predict the presence of harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations in otherwise healthy women carrying the mutations, according to data published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. “This novel technology aims to provide a layer of information regarding …

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Near Kona, Hawaii.  Photo by Pat

Cancer Scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered the molecular switch that allows triple negative breast cancer cells to grow the amoeba-like protrusions they need to crawl away from a primary tumor and metastasize throughout the body. Their findings, published in Cancer Cell, suggest a novel approach for developing agents to treat cancer once …

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Below is an edited version of the webinarI presented through the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Foundation October 16, 2012.   You can still get the actual webinaron the Foundation’s site.  It was based on questions sent in from women with TNBC.   I was diagnosed with hormone negative breast cancer in 2006, and I’ve been studying this …

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Seven years ago today, I celebrated my 60th birthday with a lovely gathering of family and friends.  Our cocktail napkins read, “I see old people.”   Yep, I see old people—or at least I see one in the mirror everyday. But my definition of old gets older every year.  I am now thinking you get …

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No matter how or what you celebrate at this time of year, I wish you all a time of joy, the love of family and friends, and the blessing of peace.

Jeannie and Maureen tried to light the 26 candles on the altar, but the lighters wouldn’t work—no spark—and the matches burned out too quickly.  We watched, thinking of the 26 victims at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, 20 of them little children.  And we cried. Like communities all over the world, our church found …

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Women who wait at least 15 years after their first menstrual period to give birth to their first child may reduce their risk of triple-negative breast cancer by up to 60 percent, according to a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study.  The research also showed that breast-feeding can reduce the risk of triple-negative. The findings are published online …

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[I wrote this last year for Breastcancer.org.  I am rerunning it with best wishes for a happy holiday season and a healthy new year.] It’s the most wonderful time of the year, croons Andy Williams over the store’s loud speaker. Really? I think. I’m sure the retailer wants me to agree with Andy, which might mean …

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From the National Cancer Institute: New results from a population-based study show that about 75 percent of women diagnosed with cancer in one breast who chose to have a double mastectomy did so despite being at low risk of developing a new cancer in the unaffected (contralateral) breast. Greater degree of worry about cancer recurrence was associated with removing …

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NEWS RELEASE FROM TGEN PHOENIX, Ariz. — Dec. 6, 2012 — Genomic sequencing has revealed therapeutic drug targets for difficult-to- treat, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), according to an unprecedented study by the Translational Genomic Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology Research.The study is published by the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics and is currently available …

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We al worked hard at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.  But the weather was gorgeous and the convention was right on the river walk, so we had a gorgeous place to unwind.  It was difficult to remember that it is only 17 days to Christmas—until you see the Alamo all decked out.   The …

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The best news from the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium is its emphasis on triple-negative breast cancer.  There are so many papers presented on the subject that I can’t keep up. Those of us who have been hanging around this dance for a long time—I was diagnosed in 2006—remember the frustration of seeing and …

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Women with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer had a more significant response to treatment with eribulin (Halaven) versus capecitabine (Xeloda) than women with other forms of breast cancer, with a median overall survival of 14.4 months with eribulin compared with 9.4 months with capecitabine.  The results were part of a phase III multicenter study presented today …

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Some 87 percent of TNBC patients with stages 1, 2, and 3 triple-negative breast cancer treated with current chemotherapy survived disease-free, according to the BEATRICE phase III trial presented today at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The trial actually was designed to determine whether Avastin (bevacizumab) plus chemotherapy was more effective than chemotherapy alone. …

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Enzalutamide, a drug used to treat prostate cancer, may be effective against breast cancer.  It targets androgen receptors, including testosterone, which has been implicated in prostate cancer. But a clinical trial at the University of Colorado has been studying how Enzalutamide might affect breast cancers. They presented their research at a poster session at the San …

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Tuesday night I had a chatty two-hour dinner with a good friend I had never met before.  It was the first time we have visited in person, but we hugged like friends who had known one another for years.  For nearly a year, she and I have worked together on the phone and by email …

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The great majority of women with local and regional recurrences survive after five years with proper treatment.  Women with estrogen-negative breast cancer benefitted the most if that treatment included chemotherapy after surgery, according to research today at the 35th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.  The research was part of the Chemotherapy as Adjuvant for …

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Women under 35 responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy better than older women, according to research using German studies on 8,949 women with operable or locally advanced, nonmetastatic breast cancer presented today at the 35thannual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.    The younger group included a greater proportion of triple-negative breast cancer cases (26 percent) than the …

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Diverse Genetic Alterations After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Roughly 30 percent of triple-negative breast cancers have a complete pathological response after neoadjuvantchemotherapy, which leads to an extremely rosy prognosis.  But nearly 70 percent have residual cancer cells that have the potential to lead to a recurrence.  Right now, there is no targeted therapy for TNBC patients with …

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In a phase 2 clinical trial, brostallicin in combination with cisplatin showed promise in treating metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, according to research at the  San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The study evaluated tumors of 47 patients who received cisplatin on the first day, brostallicin on the second day, and GCSF or pegylated-GCSF on the third day, …

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Ginny Knackmuhs was diagnosed with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in April 2009, so she is more than three and a half years past diagnosis.  We all know that metastatic TNBC can be especially difficult, so seeing a long-term survivor is encouraging.  I met Ginny this morning and she looked great. Ginny is a board member …

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A newly revitalized organization, After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) matches recently diagnosed patients with a mentor who has had the same subset of breast cancer—and they have mentors with triple-negative.  ABCD is a free, phone-based service that can serve patients all over the world—there are no geographic limits.  The group’s focus is on one-on-one mentoring with their …

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Since the mid-2000s, sentinel node (SNL) biopsy before chemo has been the standard of care for all women with breast cancer, replacing the more invasive axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).   This standard has not reached all pockets of our population:  Black women have a disproportionately higher rate of ALND—12 percent—and are suffering the consequences.  Black women …

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We’re getting closer and closer to the point at which the term “triple-negative breast cancer” is old hat.  Based on research presented today at the 35thSan Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, we’ll soon be adding other receptors to the definition.  And we’ll be looking at a whole set of genetic markers that define how the disease …

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This plane is full of doctors.  I know this because, when a woman faints two seats in front of me and the flight attendant asks for a doctor, about half the passengers stand up.   They are all going from Chicago to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, which is where I am headed.  The woman …

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The alarm is set for 4:30 a.m., a smoothie is chilling in the refrigerator, my suitcase is packed, and my computer  is all spiffed up with new memory and an oddly clean desktop.  I am ready to head to Texas tomorrow for the 35th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.   The first educational sessions start at …

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I love egg salad sandwiches, but don’t have them as often as I would like, as eggs are high in cholesterol and saturated fat  Still, I eat no meat and watch my fats, so I feel OK with an egg or two a day, especially if they are boiled or poached.  And eggs can be …

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The following is from a news release from the City College of New York.   What I love is that the person getting this grant to study breast cancer therapies is a biomedical engineering professor and she is looking at the problem from a different perspective that most other researchers.   For some time, researchers …

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A preclinical study shows oral Aurora A/angiogenic kinase inhibitor, ENMD-2076 can be effective against triple-negative breast cancer.  Published in Clinical Cancer Research, the research  also identified predictive biomarkers that may be useful in selecting patients that are particularly sensitive to ENMD-2076. Tumors with the p53 mutation and increased p53 expression were especially sensitive to this treatment.  …

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One  in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. What if there were something you could do to reduce that risk?  It could be something as simple as sitting down and chatting with a group of friends? Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer offers the opportunity for you to do …

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NEWS RELEASE from the University of Colorado-Denver Epithelial cells are homebodies – they like to attach to things and becoming detached initiates a form of cell suicide known as anoikis (literally “homeless” in Latin). But in order for cancer cells to metastasize they have to leave their homes and to survive while traveling they must …

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Somewhere close to my cozy home, a child is hungry.  As my husband and I plan our Thanksgiving Day—we are without family for the first time in many years—a mother nearby tries to stretch her income through the end of the month and still give the kids at least a small treat for this day …

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I am heading to San Antonio for my first-ever breast cancer conference, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 3-8.  I hope to visit with researchers, practitioners, other advocates, and media outlets.  I plan to blog regularly from San Antonio. I am pretty pleased that the conference organizers consider this blog an official media outlet …

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Expression of the p53 proteinwas associated with better prognosis in patients with estrogen-negative tumors but with a worse prognosis for estrogen-positive tumors, according to a study published in the November 5 edition of Breast Cancer Research.  The protective value of p53 applies to both triple-negative and Her2-positive breast cancer.

Which models are most effective in determining a woman’s five-year risk of breast and ovarian cancer? Research published in the November 5, 2012 edition of Breast Cancer Research indicates that the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study (IBIS) might be the most effective and could be used effectively even for women without risk factors. Researchers compared the IBIS …

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Women over 70 who are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer might have a less aggressive form of the disease, according to research presented at the International Society of Geriatric Oncology annual meeting in Manchester, England.  This is consistent with earlier research that indicated that older women benefitted less from chemotherapy than younger women, perhaps because …

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Women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer under the age of 35 were more likely to have the BRCA genetic mutation that women diagnosed at a later age, according to research done in Malaysia and published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.  The researchers analyzed tumors of 430 women from the Malaysian Breast Cancer Genetic Study, …

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Boston, October 29, 2012—Breast cancer patients who receive radiation treatment do not have a higher risk of long-term cardiac morbidity when compared to patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM), according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO’s) 54th Annual Meeting. This is the first study to document comprehensive, late cardiac …

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 WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa, recently did a story on me and my book, Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.  Check it out.  It was a fabulous experience for me—the reporter was exceptionally well prepared and asked impressively intelligent questions.  The photographer was so involved that he suggested using the notebook I kept while undergoing treatment, specifically …

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I am filling out a survey today for the National Weight Control Registry.  I have done this for five years, ever since I dropped 50 pounds through diet and exercise and the wisdom of one of the biggest extravagancies of my cheapskate life—hiring a personal trainer. There was a little bump in the road nine …

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We have heard so much rhetoric about the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, that I would like to once again clarify some of the provisions in the bill.  Gov. Romney has said on multiple occasions that he would repeal the bill, and I think it is essential for all of us who have walked the …

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NEWS RELEASE COLUMBIA, Mo. –Nearly 40 percent of breast cancer survivors suffer from lymphedema, a chronic condition that causes body limbs to swell from fluid buildup, as a result of lymph node removal and radiation therapy. A cure for lymphedema does not exist, so individuals with the condition must find ways to manage the symptoms …

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My husband whipped up this yummy salad the other day and it’s about as tasty as it is healthy—and it is quite healthy.   It mixes the ever-nutritious broccoli, a cancer-fighting cruciferous veggie, with chickpeas(aka garbanzo beans), which contain dietary fiber and folate, also good for reducing your risk of cancer.   Add low-fat yogurt, red …

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Increased concentrations of the pregnancy hormones estradiol and progesterone were associated with an increased risk for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, according to the results of a nested case-control study presented at the 11th Annual American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.   The research was …

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NEWS RELEASE Breast-feeding reduced the risk for estrogen receptor-negative and progesterone receptor-negative breast cancer, according to results presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 16-19, 2012. “We found an increased risk for estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor- (ER/PR) negative breast cancer in women …

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NEW RELEASE Arlington, Va. — A new compound created from a rich source in vegetables including broccoli and brussel sprouts has been developed to combat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This research is being presented at the 2012 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition, the world’s largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting, in Chicago, …

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Researchers have successfully slowed the growth of triple-negative breast cancer tumors in lab research that combined PARP inhibitors with EGRF inhibitors.  In the past PARP, or Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, inhibitors  have shown mixed results for TNBC.  The difference here might be the effects of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor).   The  research was published in PLOS One (The …

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I have a series of videos on You Tube.  This is my favorite. 

A vaccine that has been given to millions of people worldwide without serious side effects may end up being a non-toxic treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, according to research presented at the 2012 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. In lab research on mice, a new smallpox vaccine,  GLV-1h164, was successful in …

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[NOTE: I originally wrote this post, with a more refined title, for the Oxford University Press blog.] The big news this week comes from the Cancer Genome Atlas program, which has announced a strong molecular connection between basal-like breast cancer tumors and ovarian cancer. The news stories I have read on the topic provide a great …

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Basal-like breast cancers, many of which are triple-negative,  bear a molecular similarity to ovarian cancers, which can ultimately lead us to targeted therapies, according to researchers at The Cancer Genome Atlas program in research published in the September 23, 2012 online edition of the journal Nature.  And it’s possible that this could eventually lead to less-toxic chemotherapy …

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NEWS RELEASE The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announces the launch of theMoon Shots Program, an unprecedented effort to dramatically accelerate the pace of converting scientific discoveries into clinical advances that reduce cancer deaths. Even as the number of cancer survivors in the US is expected to reach an estimated 11.3 million by 2015, …

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News Release from Thomas Jefferson University A natural substance found in the surrounding tissue of a tumor may be a promising weapon to stop triple negative breast cancer from metastasizing. A preclinical study published in PLOS ONE September 19 byThomas Jefferson University researchers found that decorin, a well-studied protein known to help halt tumor growth, induces a series of tumor …

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An inspiring note from one of my readers, who posted it in the comments section of a previous post: After a recurrence I was told “the TN will probably come back within 3 months.”  That was 2 years ago. The doctors are surprised to say the least. But I know why at least in part I …

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Like Pat’s perspective?  Check out her book, Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.  

Taking dancing lessons was one of the best things my husband and I have ever done.  We signed up for a course through adult education at the local middle school.  It was just us and about 100 other folks of about every age, all longing to make it on Dancing with The Stars.  Or to …

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In early 2012, there were 13.7 million of us in the United States.  By us, I naturally mean cancer survivors.  Within ten years, that number will rise to 18 million or so, according to a report, sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute and published online in CA: A Cancer Journal …

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I am honored to be the first presenter in the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Foundation’s (Un)Common Knowledge series.  My Webinar will air October 16, 2012, at 1 pm.  You can be part of the discussion by asking questions that will form the base of my presentation.  The Foundation is accepting those questions through September 24.   …

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NEWS RELEASE Washington, DC, September 12, 2012– The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation® is proud to support the American Association for Cancer Research in their effort to raise awareness of the need for greater federal investment in the war against cancer. Representatives from the TNBCF and scores of other patient advocacy groups attended the unveiling …

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  The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation has the chance to win a share of $5,000,000 from Chase Community Giving.  Help by voting before Sept 19.  Chase customers get bonus points by checking in with your online credentials.  And you can add votes by getting folks to click your Tweets. (Such a silly phrase, isn’t …

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Patients with triple-negative breast cancer face an increased risk of residual cancer after a lumpectomy, making the need for generous margins especially important, according to research published in the Journal of the Academy of Physician Assistants.  Some details:• Surgical specimens from 369 women with invasive breast cancer were examined.• 51 percent of those with TNBC …

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Two mountains rise from the plains near Walsenburg, Colorado, twin peaks that point up to the sky like giant breasts. Native Americans —the Utes, Comanches, and Apache that once called this area home—named the peaks Wahatoya, which means Breasts of the Earth.  The Europeans who settled the region were less poetic and less graphic and called them the …

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Folks in rural Pakistan might be on to something.  They have long used extracts from a common herbal tea ingredient, the plant Fagonia cretica, known as virgin’s mantle, to treat breast cancer. Now researchers at Aston University, Birmingham, England, and Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, England, have evidence that this is more than folklore—an extract of the plant might …

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Here’s one face of TNBC as I have seen it this week:A reader wrote that his 36-year-old wife, who had been diagnosed in February with stage 3b TNBC, just got a glowing report from the doctor after a mastectomy and 8 rounds of ACT: Her chances of long-term survival are excellent.  They are meeting with the …

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NEWS RELEASE Newswise — A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, led by Dr. Mark W. Jackson, have developed a novel method to identify genes that, when overexpressed, make normal cells behave like cancer cells. Using this method, the Jackson laboratory has identified a new oncogene, which is a gene …

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The pharmaceutical company EntreMed has announced a Phase 2 study of ENMD-2076 in triple-negative breast cancer.  Jennifer R. Diamond, MD, of the University of Colorado, says,  “We are encouraged by the data from the Phase 1 study of ENMD-2076 in patients with advanced solid tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer. ENMD-2076 has also demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity …

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NOTE:  The article below is essentially a press release about a new book, and I don’t normally share these things until I can read the book.  However, I like what Gourgey has to say about the qualities of dying patients–essentially they demonstrate how we all should live, especially the part about love not being self-interested.   …

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A botanical formula that includes medicinal mushroom, flavonoids, botanicals, and extracts of cruciferous vegetables may be effective against triple-negative metastases, according to a study published in the  journal Oncology Reports. The study was conducted at the Cancer Research Laboratory, Methodist Research Institute, Indiana University Health. It was presented at the annual meeting of the American …

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NEWS RELEASE ScienceDaily (Aug. 1, 2012) — By identifying a key protein that tells certain breast cancer cells when and how to move, researchers at Michigan State University hope to better understand the process by which breast cancer spreads, or metastasizes.When breast cancer metastasizes, cancer cells break away from a primary tumor and move to …

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From Medical Daily Two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for blood cancer treatment may also be used to treat triple negative breast and kidney cancer. researchers say. The drugs are romidepsin and decitabine. Together they can activate a gene sFRP1 (secreted frizzled related protein one) that can stop the growth of cancer cells.  …

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NEWS RELEASE PHILADELPHIA—Breast cancer patients whose tumors lacked the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene (RB) had an improved pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, researchers atThomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson report in a retrospective study published in a recent online issue of Clinical Cancer Research. Many breast cancer patients undergo neoadjuvant therapy to reduce …

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A little evergreen tree has died alongside our road and, as we walked by it yesterday, my husband wondered why.  All the other trees around it are healthy and it did not look like it had been hit by lightning or damaged by wind or attacked by bugs. The tree is about eight feet tall, …

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When most breast cancer patients finish treatment, docs set up a schedule of regular visits for mammograms, blood work, and general physical monitoring.  In the best cases, they also help you develop a survivorship plan (SCP) to help navigate life as a whole after cancer.  The report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in …

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We drive up a rutted mountain road, going 15 miles an hour, feeling we are speeding as we dodge rocks and pines and locust trees full of pink blossoms. The road follows a small creek that rushes down the mountain, sliding over rocky beds and through lush grass. We stop to say hello to our …

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NEWS RELEASE The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – BC/Yukon Region (CBCF) is thrilled to announce a game-changing discovery in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This breakthrough points to one of the first personalized therapies for the treatment of TNBC and reports that RSK inhibition has the potential to block TNBC recurrence. The breakthrough research of Canadian Breast …

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NEWS RELEASE CHICAGO, June 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — TLE3 Biomarker Over-expressed in HER2-positive, Hormone Receptor-positive, and Triple-negative Breast Cancers — EGFR status May Facilitate Therapeutic Decision-making in Head and Neck Cancer — In a poster presentation today, Gargi Basu, Ph.D., and colleagues at Caris Life Sciences, presented results from the first study providing …

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Medpage Today published an interview with  Dr. Carey Anders of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.  Dr. Anders has written a great deal about triple negative breast cancer.  In this piece, she talks about targeted therapies for TNBC and her hope for the future of treatment for metastatic breast cancer.  My favorite part of …

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Susan Landmann has been on a low-fat, largely organic diet since her treatment for TNBC, which was diagnosed in August 2009.  She has been conscientious about her diet, and here’s photographic proof of her seriousness of purpose: a refrigerator brimming with beautiful healthy goodies.   Yum.   But Susan is sick of it.  She is …

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When my daughter was in college, I went to the office supply store with her to buy an appointment calendar.  It was a challenge—she wanted something portable, but none of those had enough space on individual days to include all her activities. “Perhaps you have too many commitments,” I offered. “Maybe you’re doing too much.” …

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A potent combo of glembatumumab vedotin, and Celldex known as CDX-011 has increased survival of patients with TNBC who have not responded to previous treatments and whose tumors express the protein NMB (GPNMB).   This according to EMERGE, a randomized  IIB clinical trial. Some details:• TNBC that has resisted previous therapy stymies doctors who don’t know where to …

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From a news release from BioMed Central: The histone de-acetylase (HDAC) inhibitor panobinostat is able to target and destroy triple negative breast cancer, reveals a new study published in BioMed Central’s open access journal Breast Cancer Research. Researchers from Tulane University Health Sciences Center have shown that panobinostat was able to destroy breast cancer cells and …

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Lab research on cancer cells demonstrates how important it is to administer chemo drugs in specific order.  According to a news release from MIT:• Giving the drug erlotinib between four and 48 hours before doxorubicin killed up to 50 percent of triple-negative cells• Giving the two drugs together, by contrast, killed about 20 percent. • Pretreatment …

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Looks like whole-breast might be slightly better for TNBC and other forms of ER- breast cancer.  And, it may have fewer complications than partial-breast, which is the opposite of what I would have expected. The study on complications was on women over 67, but researchers compared the effects of whole-breast versus partial-breast, so age should …

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BUT, those that returned locally were more likely to be estrogen negative. The full press release from The American Society of Breast Surgeons: COLUMBIA, Md., May 01, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) also known as brachytherapy, is equally effective–if not more effective– in preventing local breast cancer recurrence than Whole Breast …

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According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there was no significant difference in survival rates for older women treated with whole-breast irradiation versus those treated with partial breast radiation, or brachytherapy.  But, those with brachytherapy faced more complications:• The study was on data from 92,735 women 67 or older.• 6,952 had …

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I’ve had lingering pain from cancer treatment—nothing horrible, but enough to cause me concern.  Recently, I heard from a reader who was worried about bone pain in the chest area—she was sure it was a recurrence.  I told her I’d had the same pain and it eventually went away, but she was worried until she …

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A large global gene study of breast cancer tissue has defined ten different subtypes of breast cancer, potentially expanding our understanding of the disease, its cause, and treatment options.  It also sheds some light on the nature of triple-negative breast cancer. In the research, published online in the journal Nature, scientists studied tissue from more …

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From a News Release from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) CHICAGO — Because cases of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) are so genetically different, whole-genome sequencing is needed to detect the subtle molecular differences that might point to specific treatments for individual patients. Dr. John Carpten, Ph.D., head of the Integrated Cancer Genomics Division at the …

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I am doing something revolutionary, something I haven’t done in years.  I expect it to improve my life and perhaps help me relax. I am going on vacation for two weeks without my computer. How I will handle being untethered remains to be seen.  If I want to write, I will make notes in a …

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From the News Wire: HAVERFORD, Pa., March 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) has announced it will host its annual conference for women with metastatic breast cancer at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, 2012. This event, now entering its sixth year promoting the …

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GE has announced five winners of its competition for the development of early breast cancer detection and diagnostic technologies—and two of the grants go to researchers studying triple-negative breast cancer.   Yea! Check out GE’s interviews with the five winners and their research.The two that focus on TNBC are: • MyCancerGenome.org, a freely available online tool for …

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A group of women with permanent hair loss after chemotherapy have started a site, A Head of Our Time, to spread the word, support others with this condition, and look for a cause and remedy.  All of the women who contribute to the site—more than 40 at this point—took the drug Taxotere.  According to one …

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News release from the Mayo Clinic March 23, 2012 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Could blocking a testosterone receptor lead to a new way to treat an aggressive form of breast cancer? That’s a question researchers at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) are exploring. Preliminary results of a Mayo Clinic – …

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FROM THE Dana-Farber Cancer Institute March 22, 2012 DNA marker predicts platinum drug response in breast, ovarian cancer Marker identifies tumors unable to repair DNA damage by platinum agents  IMAGE: Andrea Richardson, M.D., Ph.D, and her colleagues have found a genetic marker that predicts which aggressive “triple negative ” breast cancers and certain ovarian cancers will …

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Low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of cancer, including breast cancer,  and may even keep it from spreading, according to two articles published in the journal Lancet.    Previous research has shown that aspirin benefits those with both hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer and those with hormone-receptor-negative, such as triple-negative. Some key points: • The benefits of …

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Hey,  folks, I have a new Facebook page dedicated to my book, Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  The page will have some duplication with the blog, but will allow more interaction with readers.  So head there and hit “Like.”   The Surviving TNBC page is here. You can also friend me on the author’s page …

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Researchers say the presence of CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes may mean a good prognosis in some early-stage breast cancers, especially in cases that normally come with a poor prognosis—those that are high grade, basal-like, estrogen-negative, and her2-positive. The research, on tumors from 3992 breast cancer patients, was published in the March 15, 2012 Breast Cancer Research.  …

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About a month ago, Justin—pictured in Maui this week—got the news nobody wants.  She had a recurrence of TNBC in her brain.  Doctors were quick in their response and immediately excised the tumor with  gamma knife surgery–an amazing process that means  the patient can avoid the horrors of brain surgery.    She says  she is  “working …

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Cadmium in agricultural crops, especially root crops, has been linked to hormone-positive breast cancer in post-menopausal women.  The link to hormone negative, such as triple negative breast cancer, however, was weak—not statistically significant, according to research published in Cancer Research, the publication of the  American Association for Cancer Research.  First, this is only a link—researchers …

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I have a big glass of juice every night as part of my anti-cancer regimen.  I use an Omega juicer, which works quite well.  So, when I got the recipes below from Omega, I thought I would share them with you.  I would especially recommend the ones with kale, bok choy, or broccoli.  These are …

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Look!  It’s a book.  Publication date:  October 1, 2012.  Email me if you want to be on my list for updates on when it is available.

And do it right.   Use loose tea for brewing so you get the full, rich aroma that is part of the charm of a cup of tea.  Use a pretty cup–this should be an experience, not just a brief cup on the run. Take a moment away from everything else–sit in front of a …

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That’s the title of my upcoming book: Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Hope, Treatment, Recovery. I hope you like it. Thank you to all who filled out my survey, left comments, and sent me emails about the title.  The consensus was that some form of “survive” should be in the title, and several of you suggested …

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a good piece about two women in Atlanta who leaned on one another as they both faced triple-negative breast cancer.  I would correct one line here, though.  The article says triple-negative is “one of the deadliest breast cancers there is.”  I would say the women face a form of breast cancer …

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When my doctor ordered a Neulasta shot for me after my first chemo treatment, he mentioned that it’s the “drug you see advertised on TV.”  Seriously.  Worse, a nurse later said the same thing. Good to know.  My drug is well-advertised.  That is so very meaningful to me, because we all know that advertising is …

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Remember why you wanted to be a writer?  The love of language, the joy of reading and writing.  But do   you feel you’ve lost your soul to SEO?  Are you tired of expressing yourself in bullet points and subheads?   Let’s have fun with writing again.  Join me for this morning workshop and we’ll get inspired …

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Hey, wonderful readers.  I need your help.  My book on TNBC will be out in the fall, but so far it does not have a winning title.  I have added a poll to the right so you can give your opinion on some of the suggestions so far.  If you have additional ideas–please! please!–you can …

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Calm Spirit. That’s what Madlyn Ferraro calls this beautiful painting. It’s the kind of art that makes me stop and wonder about the story behind the image. Who is this woman, what is she reading, and is she as calm as she looks? And can I be her? Madlyn, the artist, found this calm spirit …

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Do breast cancers develop the same way as fetal breast stem cells? Scientists at the Salk Institute of Biologic Studies think so. And their recent research, published in Cell Stem Cell (February 2, 2012), opens important avenues for the study of the molecular structure of breast cancer—and its cure. But here’s the most compelling part …

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When my daughter was just a wee thing—three or four or so—she was in her room, crying. I went in and asked her what was wrong. “Sometimes you just need to be sad,” she said. So true. Sometimes you do, and it is true and honest and real. So, if you need to, be sad. …

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I got this wisdom from a fortune cookie: Nature, time and patience are the three great healers. We often need to be open in our definition of the word “heal.” It might mean making our body better. But it could also mean learning to accept what is, rather than wishing for what could be. To …

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My first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage—a spontaneous abortion, the doctors called it. I was broken-hearted. I so wanted that little baby and was already in love with it. I was blessed with a beautiful son less than a year later and a gorgeous daughter two years after that. Still, the memory of that miscarriage …

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Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. And think of someplace beautiful while you’re doing it. Photo by Pat: The East Spanish Peak, near Walsenburg, Colorado

We know that women with triple-negative breast cancer are more likely to be young and premenopausal and that African-American Women are disproportionately affected by the disease. Now, a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology adds another group that might be at special risk of TNBC: Ashkenazi Jewish women. The details: • Ashkenazi Jewish women …

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These ruins of a coal mining town in Southern Colorado have always intrigued me. They’re what remains of a community or business center. I imagine workers trudging up the steps to pick up a check, or couples eagerly climbing together on their way to a dance in the heyday of Colorado’s coalmining industry in the …

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The Avastin storyline continues, with research showing once again that the drug (generic name: bevacizumab) can benefit women with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Two studies, both focused on the use of Avastin in neoadjuvant—before surgery—chemotherapy, were published in the Jan. 26 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. The most intriguing research, from a …

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The Rational Therapeutics blog has a post on Vitamin D and triple-negative breast cancer that I find especially intriguing. For example, vitamin D actually operates like a hormone and interacts with other hormone receptors, such as estrogen and progesterone. Too little of it brings a susceptibility to TNBC: What is vitamin D? Well, although we …

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Marilyn Amstutz with her daughter in Toledo, Spain in January 2012: Enjoying life, each other, and the amazing old city. Here’s Marilyn’s story, in her own words: I was diagnosed eighteen months ago with TNBC Stage 3C Grade 3 with 33 positive lymph nodes and a 5.2 cm. tumor. I immediately had a left mastectomy …

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OK, today is silly time. This image, titled “Paper Training Our Little Dog Frank” made me laugh. I hope it gives you a little glee as well. It is from Bent Objects. And a few more chuckles for you, courtesy of Blue Donut and Newslite: • Two fish are in a tank, and one says …

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Breast cancer survival rates are measured from the date of diagnosis. Research has shown that the risk of recurrence for triple-negative breast cancer is highest up to three years after diagnosis; at that point, it drops significantly. In one study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, researchers followed 1,601 women for up to 8.1 years. 180 …

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Snow can be a royal pain in the driveway. Or it can be a beautiful wonder. We can grumble about having to slog through it to get to work. Or we can spend a few minutes in the snowy woods and listen to the quiet. Listen and wonder. It’s all in how you look at …

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“When I reach three years past diagnosis, I can breathe again,” a friend with triple-negative breast cancer told me recently. Triple negs, as we sometimes call ourselves, can begin celebrating our cancerversary at the three-year mark. TNBC is generally more aggressive than hormone-positive breast cancer, but if it does not recur within three years, our …

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Courtesy of my adorable grandson Eli, his mother Ellen, his daddy Steve, and the voices in the background: big brother Tarin and Grandma. Music by Elizabeth Mitchell, singing “Peace Like a River.”

FROM A NEWS RELEASE PROVIDED BY LIVING BEYOND BREAST CANCER(LBBC): January 10, 2012; Philadelphia, PA | Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) has announced the release of Understanding Palliative Care, the newest title in the organization’s library of “Guides to Understanding Breast Cancer.” It joins three other LBBC publications designed specifically to address the needs of …

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Is our cancer the result of nature or nurture? Are we the victims of faulty DNA over which we have no control? Or of lifestyle and environmental factors that we can change? Or is there a third option? Epigenetics is the study of that third option. This fairly new science covers the process by which …

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