Melanin & Pink Ribbons

Part 2

Continuing the conversation on Triple Negative Breast Cancer among Black women. We defined it in our last post as an aggressive form of breast cancer that is challenging to treat and is often hard to view in mammograms thereby making it diagnosed later desirable. With all that being said we must be diligent in the aspects of breast cancer we can control such as performing Breast Self Exams monthly, regular mammograms, exams of your breasts by your medical professional, and looking at your breasts to know what your normal is.

Moving forward it’s important to know the following about TNBC:

• It is a more aggressive form of breast cancer
• Black women with the BRCA1 hereditary gene are more common to have TBNC
• There are fewer treatments for TNBC
• It is harder to detect on mammograms
• When TNBC is found, the tumor is usually at an advanced stage

Wow! Those facts are alarming but what do we do from here? We continue to arm ourselves with information and share it with others. We maintain our healthy routines and if our instincts kick in follow them. Want a second opinion, get one! Arm yourself to be a proactive advocate for yourself. Who will be a better fighter for you than you?