Triple Negative
Alright, let the research begin. I type “triple negative breast cancer” into Google, hit enter and scan the results. The first hit is the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation – this looks like a great place to start. I watch the video and I am in tears.
Only 10-20% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. It’s an aggressive cancer that mainly affects African-American women and those who have a mutation in their BRCA gene. Since I don’t fall into the first category, I more than likely have the gene mutation.
After drying my eyes, I search the site to see that it has a wealth of information on TNBC and a supportive forum. And, that there are TNBC survivors!
Before being diagnosed with TNBC, I thought maybe my breast cancer might have been related to growing up on Long Island. I haven’t lived there in years, but I remember 20/20 doing a segment on the high incidence of breast cancer on Long Island and the beginnings of a coalition from a group in West Islip (located next to the town I group up in) to try to find answers for the this high percentage in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Growing up on the Great South Bay, you could literally jump from clam boat to clam boat, but soon many of the clam beds began to die. There’s many environmental reasons for it, including DDT. As kids, we use to run behind the mosquito trucks as they sprayed their fog. The 20/20 segment showed kids eating lunch at Jones Beach and being sprayed with that toxic spray as they were eating their lunch.
Nothing like having a little DDT with your PB&J sandwich!
2 Responses to “Triple Negative”
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Dad, Uncle John, use to spray DDT in our back yard to control the earwig bugs we had. I remember many of mom’s friends getting breast cancer growing up…..genes and the enviornment…. scary. Regardless of how or when, we are living in a time when treating breast cancer is very advanced and your odds are much better then moms, Aunt Eunice. Hang in there! Fight this SOB!
Donna,
Thanks for sending me this link! Mom told me about your diagnosis, and I’m glad you’re dealing with it head on and so bravely! I remember the veil of secrecy that hung over cancer when your father was first diagnosed and how,as children we were kept in the dark. I had no idea my dad had a heart condition until he died suddenly of a heart attack!
It is crazy to think about how we played in the fog behind those trucks…
Sending you much love and encouragement, and look forward to your progress towards wellness!
Love, Peter