I am five years cancer free with a excellent prognosis ~ Positive Outcomes for TNBC

I want you to take a moment to consider how many things you have seen, experienced, all the precious moments and memories you have lived in the past five years.
It is more than personal for myself and family. Five years ago when I was diagnosed with stage 3 C triple negative breast cancer it was unconscionable to ever imagine or see myself as I sit here now.

When you hear breast cancer and certainty stage 3C, with  my life on the line it was a defining, life long, changing moment and a diagnosis for myself and entire family. At my initial diagnosis I remember the thoughts that flashed across my mind. I'm young, I have no family history, my children need their mom, I want to attend their weddings, see my future grandchildren and I cant leave my husband who is my soulmate to raise them alone.
My five children at the time where a freshman in high school, middle school, first grade, toddler, and an infant.
Needless to say the random thoughts where very short lived. I found my inner core and strength, became steel, had sheer determination,  a positive mindset and never again entertained that it was going to take my life. I had such pure faith, and still do that it was not my time and I would become, remain cancer free and be an advocate to help as many others as I am able to with their BC journeys also!
On my journey I have helped raise money towards women's treatments and medical bills. I have won survivor awards, publicly spoken, helped raise 1 million from NASCAR towards medical bills, filmed a national ad campaign for breast cancer. I have interviewed with the media & aired on the news to show you can over come and survive BC.The very most important thing I have done and  continue to do is reach out to my pink sisters all over the world to help them have courage, hope and see there is a life after treatments, and they too can prevail and become steel as I did! I am living life, my health is fully restored as they can too. There is always hope and BC is survivable.

My children live life to the fullest, we all do. My journey has made them stronger, advocates and they too inspire, my family is completely humbled. Our journey has been a team effort every step of the way. I watch my oldest in college fastly achieving his goals and dreams, attending galas with me to help raise funds for patients BC treatments and helping others. I am watching my junior now in high school play football, close in on his future dreams of college, win awards due to his compassion and ability to inspire others.   I have watched my baby start kindergarten and play flag football My fourth and third graders become young ladies and really relish in our "girl time together".  I am attending field trips.
 Our family vacations are full of laughter and love and we never forgot how blessed we all truly are.
We have honestly really lived these past five years with no fear, enjoyed every moment.
My family turned stage 3 into something positive!


I am just shy of  five years cancer free with an excellent prognosis.

Please remember the positive outcomes

 I have studied UK, Canada,US, and  San Antonio TNBC annual meeting as well many long term studies.

It is imperative we remember TNBC is a very survivable disease.

TNBC is very chemo-sensitive and survival rates were 86%, and 83%, .TNBC is more sensitive to chemotherapy. The rate of pathological complete remission (PCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is higher than in other breast cancer subtypes

The majority of women with triple negative breast cancers are -- thankfully -- cured and survive. Triple negative cancer is something that if it has not come back by the five-year mark

After 3 years the chance of recurrence of TNBC is reduced by 50%. With each year after the 3 year mark the chance of recurrence is reduced by an additional 10%-15%. Long term survivors (longer than 5 years) have almost a 0% rate that the disease will not recur. With other breast cancers the recurrence rate climbs after the first 5 years. (You have a 90.6% to not have metastasis)

Please keep your eyes on the bright light at the end of treatments they do end! I'm down to a simple blood test once a year. 

Your not alone, all of us Pink sisters know how you feel. I am humbled and blessed to of met so many and follow your journeys as you prevail too!

May you heal in Gods speed!

Five years ago it was 1 in 9 diagnosed with breast cancer. Its now  1 in 8 now. 

A self exam once a month (five minutes of your time) can lead to early detection. 

This is Team Fox living life! It really does return to normalcy and treatments become a distant memory. They do end!

You may not know your strengths or talents until there are no other options ~

You may not know your strengths or talents until there are no other  options. When faced with my life on the line, my inner strength, strong mindset, and sheer determination  are a top few of the factors that lead mt to turn stage 3 into something positive. 

I have been challenged, my life has been on the line, and I do not entertain excuses or (cant do attitude) If you want it YOU WILL! 

When I was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer in July 2014 I had five kids ages 14, 10, 4, 2 and a 1 year old. 

With no family history, and no rhyme or reason I  was DETERMINED to conquer breast cancer,and fully live life. I beat stage 3 and have an now have excellent prognosis by my determination, positive mind set and faith. I turned stage 3 into something positive! I am proud to be The Face of Fierce! 

Courage is not the absence of fear, its the conquest of it!

I am honored and privileged to turn my journey into a positive way to help so many.

I have been blessed with a gift to engage, tell my story of triumph, share my positive outcome with so many. I have spoken and helped raised money for many who cant afford medical treatments. 

I recently filmed a new campaign called The Face of Fierce showing the positive, triumphant, and courageous side of breast cancer. It will have a YouTube channel, website, full TV and ad campaign

in hopes of shinning a bright light on how our scars from breast cancer have made us fierce, Its survivable, my life has resumed to full normalcy.

http://www.thefaceoffierce.com

The Face of Fierce is starting its launching!

Full ad campaign, commercial, photo print ad, YouTube!

They have started the website (new working on it) link above.

With stage 3C,my life on the line,I was DETERMINED to conquer breast cancer, and fully live life. I beat stage 3 and now have an excellent prognosis that I credits to my determination, positive mind set and faith. I turned stage 3 into something positive!

My journey to help others has resulted in meeting so many other breast cancer women from all over the world. I have shed tears, of both happiness and great sadness for some that where not as fortunate as me and lost their lives.

I had the privilege to meet Kyle Busch see NASCAR behind the scenes and watch him graciously donate 1 million to pay for BC women life saving treatments. I helped raise money at the last Gala I spoke to help an additional 16 have treatments.

I was on the news and able to turn the negative message into you too can prevail and survive!

I am very proud to be part of The Face of Fierce campaign, as it will help so many benefit from life saving treatments and also see they too can prevail! Breast cancer!

Breast cancer is NOT bald heads, pale and sickly looking its Bold, Strength, Courage, and Battle Scars that have only made us all who fought or are currently fighting stronger and STEEL!

We are all THE FACE OF FIERCE!

HELP OTHER PINK SISTERS!

I was diagnosed with stage 3 Triple Negative with five children on the line & my positive can do attitude greatly contributed to my excellent prognosis

I am rarely surprised at peoples large range of reactions when they discover I am a stage 3C survivor.
Some have questions, some are encouraged, some praise God, some say you don't look like you had breast cancer, and some simply do not know what to say. It is always interesting. When I speak with those battling, in treatment or newly diagnosed I can absolutely tell who will have lesser symptoms and side effects and will get through treatment easier by their positive "can and will do" mindset.

Breast cancer is very survivable
The average survival rate for people with breast cancer is 90%.  If the cancer is located only in the breast, survival rate of people with breast cancer is 99%. 

Many will survive however the speed bumps in your journey will either be minimal, or largely challenging all by your emotional mindset.
A positive mindset is 80% of the battle already won. Negative breeds negative and a downward spiral. Its harmful to both you, your health, your family and all those around you. You owe it to yourself to be positive and know the benefits are great when you achieve this mindset.

Courage isn't the absence of fear, its the conquest of it!

LIFE and PEOPLE CANT RATTLE MY SOUL or STEAL MY HAPPINESS!

I was diagnosed with stage 3 C Triple Negative  with five children on the line. A freshman in high school, middle school, first grader, preschooler and infant. No family history, no brca, no rhyme no reason.
I could either let it break and change me, define me or strengthen me.
So I said I'm swinging with all I've got, this will not slow me down, take my life, and it will only strengthen me. I was going to get this off my plate and resume normalcy with the least adverse reactions possible.

We hired a college girl to come in three days a week for a total of only fifteen hours a week to carpool and watch the kids while I  received chemo and treatments.
My husband could not lose his job, so he had to continue to go to work. No family in NC its just the seven of us.

I would come home after chemo and walk into constructive chaos with five children, and still resume normalcy as their mother.
My veins would not corporate after my initial scans, and my port needed to be placed ASAP so I could start chemo so I had it put in regardless of the inability of sedation. I went into the  operating room completely sober  with only a drape so my vision was obstructed and a numbed area.  The surgeon talked to me wide awake the entire surgery as my port was placed.
I was also home 24 hours after my bilateral, both breast removed on Tylenol no narcotics being a mom to my kids.

All of my positive can do attitude contributed to my ability to remain as energetic, healthy, and have the normalcy with my children to continue my mom routine. It enabled me to beat stage 3 C and have an excellent prognosis with minimal speed bumps, and truly minimal side effects

When you tell me you are on medications to even sleep at night, scared, depressed, and worried all the time, I say to you its imperative to remember BC is very survivable. Or you say you are worried about a reassurance. You could be in a random car accident. Life is full of unforeseen events and you have the ability to remain strong, and positive. Life absolutely returns to normal, your health will be restored.  Treatment will end! You will travel again, have that margarita again, celebrate your children and family. If you are a survivor, don't let worry steal your time or happiness. You are here after your battle was won to LIVE and enjoy every day and life.

Now that I am a survivor, I am forever changed. I am stronger, love harder, see clearly, enjoy watching and celebrating all the milestones, achievements and accomplishments of  my children.
I enjoy every moment, ups and downs watching my children grow, and spending my life with my husband.

I am an advocate, speak to others, help raise money, awareness and help others!

I am blessed to meet many Pink Sisters from all walks of life, all over the world.
All of us Pink Sisters are here to encourage each other, be supportive, let each other know there is HOPE, a bright light & life after treatment. We offer strength, love, a ear to listen or a shoulder and hug for each other!
We know how each other feels to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and the battle endured.

I was honored  to speak at a large function, gala to help raise money for medical bills and treatment for patients with breast cancer, and will be speaking again on Friday at another large event to help raise more.
I am blessed to share my journey with others and pray it helps encourage hope in others along their journey to beat breast cancer as I did!

I am not defined by money, medical bills, I don't let stress, or any of life's hiccups or unforeseen speed bumps rattle my soul or steal my happiness! I am breathing today and its that simple!  Its a gift, I am blessed and I LIVE every single day happy, appreciative and blessed!



I spoke on Friday at a large Gala
Was a great night. I got to sit with Debra Morgan wonderful selfless woman. I met her coworkers Gerald Owens and Greg Fishel a few years ago when I won the survivor award. The Wral team is awesome. We raised enough money last night to cover 16 women’s treatments!!!
So blessed my speech went very well and we nailed it! 
What a phenomenal young man Robbie my oldest son is is. He was the youngest by far in a packed house among physicians, celebrities and the media as he held his own and I couldn’t be more proud of him!

Four years after prevailing against Triple Negative BC ````Positives outcomes````

Next month (July) will be my four year anniversary since beating triple negative stage 3C breast cancer. 

I have no family history of any cancer, and am BRAC negative with no gene mutations. 

I was in Walt Disney world spending a week with my children then ages 1,3,5,11,14 years old. I was in great shape, near felt better, looked healthy, had a ton of energy, and NO CLUE I had stage 3C.

We returned home, I frankly had an itch at my upper rib cage, scratched my ribs, under my arm pit at 2 am stumbled upon and felt this large (size of my finger) Woke up  my husband and said "What the Hell is this"? I had small size A cup breasts. How could I of missed this?

I was able to go see a OB/GYN doctor the next day who felt it and told me it felt like a fatty cyst, I had nothing to worry about and sent me in for a mammogram. She assured me it was a non cancerous cyst and all was fine. 

I went in by myself that Friday to confirm my "cyst" and have a mammogram without my husband, as we where certain all was well.

After FOUR negative mamo's that afternoon (even tho you could feel this large tumor) the radiologist called me to a back room to preform a biopsy. When she inserted small titanium ribbons into my right breast over the tumor and said "this is to guide the surgeon" I did not need to wait for the lab to confirm on Monday. I knew something was terribly wrong. 

Monday's call  confirmed  I had breast cancer. I met with a surgeon Thursday that told me I had triple negative breast cancer. She explained A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene– are not present in the cancer tumor and that TNBC is very aggressive. She then told me I needed to have chemotherapy first prior to any surgery. 

After sitting down with my oncologist the following week and having an array of tests in the weeks to follow, scans, heart mugga tests and labs galore I was then staged at 3C, and given a 17 chemo treatment regimen. I had a surgical port placed in SOBER, only numbed the area and was wide awake in the OR due to lack of cooperation of my veins due to all the prior tests.  The port need to go in ASAP so I could start chemo.

At this point I had a choice. I could throw the worlds biggest pity party, or I could swing with my full force and give this fight everything I had! When I looked at my husband and five children I knew TNBC was not going to take my life! 

My first chemo treatment my tumor shrank in half, after my 2nd treatment my tumor was undetectable! I sat for five total treatments (only 30 percent of my prescribe treatments) and had a bilateral mastectomy(donated my tissue to study in hopes to help others) November that year 2014 on my oldest sons 15th and dads birthday and woke up with a PCR, no micro cancer cells and given an excellent prognosis. I did not have any radiation treatments due to my PCR.

Six months later I was involved in a horrific car accident that totaled my car into a crumble of torn steel with my three youngest in the car. front nor side airbags ever deployed. All four of us walked away without a scratch.

God has complete control, and the only control I have is how I choose to treat others and live my life. 

I have been given a miracle, and could not be any more blessed to spend and LIVE my life watching my kids grow with my best friend, my husband,  enjoying the rest of our family.

Life is full of unscripted challenges, its not easy, our finances are strained after medical bills, I cant feel my breasts, I miss having nipples, and its never easy to have all the connections with so many pink sisters, and watching them them go through their treatments. 

 I am breathing today full of health and energy! There are hiccups and speed bumps I choose to get over at full speed because I know there are ALWAYS a silver linings ahead in the near distance. I LOVE MY LIFE and every moment is a gift I never take for granted.I have no regrets and would do nothing differently. I turned my journey into  strength I use in my daily life and too help others. We where blessed to have Kyle and Samantha Busch donate a million dollars for women's medical bills whom cannot afford treatments..

There is a BRIGHT LIGHT after treatments Life absolutely returns to normal! You turn into steel and life's moments are sweeter and forever precious. You take nothing for granted!

Be fierce, STAY POSITIVE, have faith, Its Ok to sit in bed have a quick cry then get up (NO GLOOM or DOOM) A positive mindset is 80% of the battle already won. 

"Courage is not the absence of fear, it's the conquest of it!"

It is important for my pink sisters of TNBC  to remember it has many

Positives outcomes!

I have studied UK, Canada,US, and  San Antonio TNBC annual meeting as well many long term studies.

It is imperative we remember TNBC is a very survivable disease

TNBC is very chemo-sensitive

and survival rates were 86%, 83%, and 83%, respectively.TNBC is more sensitive to chemotherapy. The rate of pathological complete remission (PCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is higher than in other breast cancer subtypes

The majority of women with triple negative breast cancers are -- thankfully -- cured and survive. Triple negative cancer is something that if it has not come back by the five-year mark

After 3 years the chance of recurrence of TNBC is reduced by 50%. With each year after the 3 year mark the chance of recurrence is reduced by an additional 10%-15%. Long term survivors (longer than 5 years) have almost a 0% rate that the disease will not recur. With other breast cancers the recurrence rate climbs after the first 5 years. (You have a 90.6% to not have metastasis)

Please keep your eyes on the bright light at the end of treatments they do end! I'm down to a simple blood test every six months. 

Your not alone, all of us Pink sisters know how you feel. I am humbled and blessed to of met so many and follow your journeys as you prevail too!

May you heal in Gods speed!

Four years ago it was 1 in 9 diagnosed with breast cancer. Its closer to 1 in 7 now. 

A self exam once a month (five minutes of your time) can lead to early detection. 

I will always be an advocate & help others battling TNBC ~ I'm here & healthy three years later with an excellent prognosis and you can prevail too!

I have officially hit my 3 year Cancer Free Anniversary!

At diagnosis July 2014 Stage 3C
I only did 30% of my prescribed chemo and was not required to have radiation due to my PCR.
Here is a synopsis below of TNBC

God is good every day! I am reminded I truly have NO problems as I'm healthy and raising my children! I never minimize my miracles and am very passionate about sharing hope to others that are struggling with TNBC!

I will always be an advocate

I speak frequently to other women battling
I work with Pretty in Pink and The Helene Foundation
We where able to get Samantha and Kyle Busch to donate a million dollars toward women's medical bills who can not afford treatment.

Triple-negative breast cancer is:

estrogen-receptor-negative
progesterone-receptor-negative
HER2-negative

About 15% to 20% of breast cancers are triple-negative. Triple-negative cancers can be more aggressive, harder to treat, and more likely to come back than cancers that are hormone-receptor-positive and/or HER2-positive. Hormonal therapy and the targeted therapies Herceptin do not work

Risks
Women (17.4%) without a BRCA1/2 mutation were diagnosed with breast cancer when they were younger than 40
Women who have multiple children and breast fed was less (less than 5% risk) (I by all statistics should of never had TNBC)

Treatment given before surgery to weaken or shrink the cancer is called neoadjuvant treatment. Neoadjuvant treatment often is recommended when the breast cancer is large, aggressive, and/or has spread beyond the breast to surrounding tissue. (I was stage 3C)

A PCR (women who had breast cancer surgery after chemotherapy was completed. A pathologist examined the tissue that was removed to see if there were signs of cancer cell activity)
I HAD A PCR all cancer gone!

Overall PCR rates were:
41.4% for women treated with standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone (this was my treatment)

At 3 years, patients who achieved pCR vs no PCR
demonstrated lower rates of recurrence (2.9% vs. 13.3%),

I want to share with you my last speech I gave to many TNBC ladies and a few of their replies.

My speech

A mother and TNBC pink sister recently passed away I am reminded yet again how uniquely bonded all of us TNBC ladies are.
It occurred to me not only do we all realize all factors, ups, downs, triumphs, and eyes wide open to all of the in-between.
I hear often "my new normal". In my case I feel it was adapting, and after my treatments I am now forever changed. Mostly greatly improved and for the better, but my eyes wide opened is both a blessing and hindrance as well. I gained friendships, strengthened bonds, my marriage is steel and I'm a miracle who NEVER minimizes my silver linings and blessings daily. I'm more emotional, and relish in my 5 children's lives I am privileged to share with them and watch them grow. I see my family and extended family for who they truly are and who was there and sadly not there when I battled for my life. I lost people I consider friends sadly clearly not the case. I witnessed how amazing strangers and acquaintances are to offer help and prayers. People who sacrificed their busy schedules and valuable time to help. I am now steel and grab every silver lining I can. My finances are strained at best, my medical bills are unobtainable in my lifetime, and I could care less.I no longer have toxic selfish people in my or my children's life.We are blessed to be surround by friends and family who too gained strength thru my battle and love us. Our silver lings are plentiful. I'm healthy and cancer free! I'm LIVING my life and I can honestly say Its that simple! I'm not weighed down by the "small things'. I don't let uncontrollable events, worry, or fear ever steal my happiness. I truly do not have any problems!
I was TNBC July 2014 stage 3C
My bilateral Nov 2014 I had a PCR No micro no cancer nodes clear that gave me an excellent prognosis and no radiation!
I'm here and healthy three years later with an excellent prognosis and you can prevail too and many do!
I truly know what you are battling, or have battled and how you all feel! You and your families are in my prayers!
Don't let the little things, or any person weigh on you! Keep your eye on the prize and keep supporting each other! The only control we have in life is how we behave ourselves, and how we treat each other!
I appreciate all my pink sisters
Those who are fighting
May you heal in Gods speed

Beautifully said sister. I wish I could hug you and I could not agree more
Well said sister! Congratulations on 3 year Anniversary! Yeah! Happy dancing with you! 💃🏻
Beautifully spoken. I'm with you on that my Pink Sister❤️👍
it's the new normal. Ur not the only one..love u
This...Great post. Fight on.
Well said. You speak for all of us.
This is absolutely perfect and something I needed to hear today as I continue my battle. Thank you ❤
Your words connected with me (and I'm certain many others)
So true God bless I am very grateful 🙏🏻💕
Yes! We are bonded as sisters, possibly stronger than blood. We speak a secret language, sometimes without saying a word, sometimes it's a mood we pick up on. The world can be a strange place after walking the tightrope between life and death. Even those who stuck around to hold our hand can not feel like we do. Usually it's late in the evening I feel the pull to my sisters pages. I am both heartbroken and uplifted being there, but it's the one place I feel I "belong"
.i often feel the fear and go to the dark side. I was diagnosed on May of this year as stage 2....unfortunately in had one node positive. I am also BRCA positive. My road ahead is long and overwhelming.....but strength from my pink sisters helps me stay focused.

I receive letters, messages and am truly inspired by women across the country. I too appreciate them reaching out to me!

I am fastly approaching my 3rd year anniversary of my health restored and being TNBC cancer free and my 44th birthday (Life is filled with silver linings)

In light of my pending 44th birthday around the corner I can honestly say I'm not only fully content, I feel great and very blessed.


In 2016 I attend my oldest of 5 children graduation and his starting college. I enrolled my youngest in preschool, Attend field trips and plenty of dance parties with my little ladies. I have attend numerous football games my son has played and witnessed his freshman high school year, his achievement of straight A's in all honor classes.

I graduated to blood tests every six months and have never felt healthier. I am a firm believer that we are more youthful, with modern medicine. Sixty is the new forty and forty is the new thirty. Between my kids attending college, high school, elementary, and preschool, they are growing and aging however I am not! Ha Ha..

I am fastly approaching my 3rd year anniversary of my health restored and being cancer free.
When I was told in early July 2014 by a physician that the lump in my right breast felt like a cyst and would certainly be benign and nothing to worry about (wrote it on a note for my husband) needless to say I went by myself  for a mammogram to have a look at "my cyst". I had four that day that showed nothing, even tho you could feel the large tumor the mamo did not detect it. First lesson of many starting my journey. I was taken to an ultra sound room, and had a biopsy and had no need to wait on the results over that weekend. As the biopsy was taking place I had small markers inserted into my breast over the tumor and told "they are to guide the surgeon".

The following week I meet my surgeon who informed me I had stage 3 TNBC and must have chemo first then surgery. At that moment I had a very personal choice to make. I could throw a pity party, be negative, scared, angry, have a can't do attitude or a million other negative emotions or I could FIGHT!

I am often asked how I conquered stage 3 and am I scared cancer will return.

At that moment I knew to my core I was not going to allow breast cancer to slow me down, steal my happiness, or my life. I thought, whatever it takes to get this off my plate the fastest and easiest way so my life could resume to normal. I simply was never going to entertain any gloom or doom or negativity.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, it's the conquest of it!"

A positive attitude and mindset is over 80% of any battle won in life! 

After my bilateral (best decision I ever made) I had a complete pathological response. No micro cells found, I was spared radiation and given an excellent prognoses. 

What happens when you mix Iron and Carbon, it makes STEEL.....When faced with any of life's challenges, when you prevail and arrive at the other end you become STEEL...

After my achievement in restoring my health my journey has enhanced my life, my opinions, views, values the way I live and I am positively forever changed. 

It is important for my pink sisters of TNBC  to remember it has many Positives outcomes!

I have studied UK, Canada,US, and  San Antonio TNBC annual meeting as well many long term studies.

It is imperative we remember TNBC is a very survivable disease and unlike Her 2 positive our risk margins mirror closely then drop considerably in 3 years. In 5 years I'm told by an oncologist the risk is a 2% over my entire life span (so divide 30-40 remaining years into 2% and it is almost untraceable. In light of those who don't consider TNBC to be cured, many oncologist would disagree. Your risk are greater to have a unforeseen life event (car accident for example) than a recurrence after 5 years.
 I also would like to add ,  I  have the privilege to personaly know three remarkably strong stage IV women who are thriving years later with stable disease, living a high quality life of normalcy and 21st century treatments and medications are enabling them to watch their children grow .
TNBC is very chemo-sensitive and the majority of patients confronted with and treated for TNBC will never relapse.
TNBCs had excellent outcomes even in the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy, and on reviewing the literature they found a 3% breast cancer specific death rate and  frequently carry a good prognosis
High radiosensitivy was suggested (7% of the patients had a complete response during  chemotherapy had no effect on the rate of recurrence or survival (6-year local recurrence-free survival, metastasis-free survival, and survival rates were 86%, 83%, and 83%, respectively.TNBC is more sensitive to chemotherapy. The rate of pathological complete remission (PCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is higher than in other breast cancer subtypes

Although it sounds frightening, the fast growth rate means that standard chemotherapy's have a good chance of inducing remission.TNBC has a much better response to conventional chemotherapy than other breast cancer subtypes. It’s important to remember that most people with TNBC don’t have a metastatic recurrence.The risk of recurrence drops significantly in 3 years, when a woman survives five years without a recurrence, her chances of survival are extremely high.. A woman who has been successfully treated for TNBC and is disease-free 5 or more years has almost no risk of having the cancer come back.   I think the message is triple negative breast cancer accounts for between 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers. We haven't solved this problem yet, but it's also not a death sentence. The majority of women with triple negative breast cancers are -- thankfully -- cured and survive. Triple negative cancer is something that if it has not come back by the five-year mark, you are almost certainly are cured of it. Most women with triple-negative breast cancer never have a metastatic recurrence or a new cancer.After 3 years the chance of recurrence of TNBC is reduced by 50%. With each year after the 3 year mark the chance of recurrence is reduced by an additional 10%-15%. Long term survivors (longer than 5 years) have almost a 0% rate that the disease will recur. With other breast cancers the recurrence rate climbs after the first 5 years. (You have a 90.6% to not have metastasis)

It is true that hormone-negative breast cancers can be more aggressive than hormone-positive. But the majority of women who get the disease survive.

Many women with TNBC have no positive nodes—and, if they do, they still beat the disease and survive.

We truly have no control over random life events.... The only real control we have is remaining positive, and how we behave ourselves and treat others! 

Fearless is maintaining faith, hope and strength in knowing you have the ability to endure, be triumphant, and celebrate all life has to offer~

God is good everyday!

My prayers are with all less fortunate and all battling this disease. 

Positive thoughts are always with my pink sisters and your families! You too can prevail and there is a bright shinning light at the end of the tunnel. Live life!

A few pictures of 2016 highlights! 

I never expected to question my vanity when forced to make the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy or to keep my breast ~ I Prevailed against TNBC & YOU CAN TOO!

I consider myself a very content, self secure woman. That being said I am a woman and as most of us ladies will admit we notice every flaw on our bodies. We are judgmental and harsh on ourselves, attempting to reach for youth, beauty and to achieve all tasks even tho that regimen demands we operate at a mile a minute and sacrifice so much of our selves. 

When I was diagnosed with TNBC (triple negative breast cancer) in 7/2014, among the million tasks, questions, physicians, and life altering treatments I never expected to question my vanity when forced to make the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy or to keep my breast. 

Its very interesting to me that physicians can be so different (non uniform) from A to Z with advice, their suggestions and recommendations on the topic of mastectomy. Even the statics and risks can be told very differently. I realize we are all uniquely different, have different stages, and need individual treatments. I was stage three and had three different oncologist give me three different risk factors and opinions. So as a patient, confused, frighten, emotional, and realizing the decision you must make to keep your breast or to remove them can and will effect your entire life.

I took a step back from the confusion, read, did research, weighed the risk vs all benefits, had faith and prayed, and asked myself difficult questions. 

It really became easy and very clear to me I was not living with my breast, that had already attempted to take my life. I wanted to know I reduced all the risk, and reduced the chance of a recurrence. I wanted to live, be a mother to my five children, and reduce my worry. To know I did all I could and gave myself the best chance to live a healthy life. I wanted to of battled cancer and WON only once.

I had a bilateral mastectomy and nipple removal on 11/13/2014 and had a PCR (no cancer cells found).

Upon my pathology report a few days after my bilateral they found non cancerous, but abnormal cells in my left breast tissue also. My tumor was in the right breast, not left. All my scans, and ultra sounds would never detect the left breast of what could of possibly been brewing. Again the bilateral mastectomy was the best decision I have ever made.

The surgery was really mild considering, I do not take narcotics so I was on a strong Tylenol for a few days and switched to ibuprofen. I was grocery shopping three days later in a large sweat shirt to hide my bandages and drainage tubes. The tubes are removed within seven days of the surgery and are really just an inconvenience. My pain was only mildly uncomfortable. My chest looked strange and flat to me as the expanderas to stretch my chest muscle where slightly filled. Over the coarse of three months I visited my reconstruction physician and had more fluid inserted to gradually stretch my muscle. Again no real pain just uncomfortable for me. February, 2015 I had my first implants placed behind my chest muscle and was home the same night. I was able to be a mom to my kids and did remarkably well. I could not lift my toddler, but had him sit in my lap instead.

My breast looked great, and my scars are sideways. They start well off to the side of my breast and are not visible in bikini tops, or low cut tops. They did look a bit strange with no nipples however 3D nipple tattoos are a "game changer" and can really make your breast look bigger in the mirror to yourself, and normal again. My suggestion is to try 3D nipple temporary stick tattoos first before making a decision. I will provided all info at the bottom of the page. I had an option to have a protrude forming a nipple, a minor surgery I was told it is in the physicians office where they pull your skin and form a nipple. After healing, it can be tattooed to look more like a natural nipple. I personalty did not want to "look cold" and love the smooth "optical illusion of the 3D nipple tattoo, as I can wear a tank top bra-less now.

So my 1st set of implants I will admit (its extremely rare) aggravated my armpit muscle, so I had them removed and a completely different set of implants placed on 11/2015. They are absolutely fabulous. They look natural, you would not be able to detect in a bathing suit top that they are implants. They truly look natural. They do get cold in the winter, so I wear a padded bra on cold days to stay warm. 

Its important to realize the ones who love us do not see the scars and what we are so critical of ourselves as women. 

My husband truly and honestly does not notice my scars at all. My scars have no barring and have not changed our intimate relationship at all. I look and feel sexier now in a low cut top and bikini after my bilateral than I did with my natural breast. I now personalty bypass my scars in the mirror and feel great about my decisions, and implants. I have a scene of more security and feel like a whole woman. I also lowed my recurrence risks and that alone was worth the surgeries for myself and family.

I get asked often by many women in treatment if they should have a bilateral mastectomy, or a lumpectomy. 

I can not answer the question for them. I can share my personal decisions, and my experiences, and outcome in hope that it is another piece to help make their personal decision a bit easier.

Please go to this website and look at this expert in  3D nipple tattoos and view the pictures

www.ReneeMaschinot.com

www.vinniemyers.com

TEMPORARY nipple tattoos (purchase on line and try first)

www.nippletattoos.com 

Please see a picture below and know life resumes after breast cancer, you can look beautiful after a bilateral mastectomy. 

I am posting a recent picture of myself at a concert 8/2016 with my husband so you can see after my surgeries I look natural. 

My thoughts and prayers are always with my pink sisters. Know you can prevail as I did. There is a bright light, treatment does end. Life returns to normal, you walk away stronger, wiser, and become steel. A positive mental attitude is 80% off the battle won! 

May you heal in Gods speed and let your faith guide you