Introduction

My Cancer Story -- Continues

My original diagnosis of ER/PR positive, Her2 Negative Stage2b - BRCA1+ with 5 positive nodes was in 2014. I had Chemotherapy, 4 AC and 4 Taxol, Bilateral Mastectomy, Oophorectomy, Hysterectomy, Expanders and full reconstruction - along with 35 radiation treatments. I was then declared "Cancer Free" in March 2015.

I was on Letrozole, daily, which I was told I would remain on it for 5 to 10 years.

However, on Groundhog Day 2017, I was re-diagnosed with Stage IV Triple Negative (TNBC) Metastatic Breast Cancer with a breast cancer tumor in my liver. As my first line of treatment, I joined a Clinical Trial - TOPACIO sponsored by Tesaro, which is a combined treatment of Immunotherapy and a Parp Inhibitor. The drugs are Niraparib (Parp) and Pemprolizumab (Immunotherapy). I have been on this trial since March 2017. ... Read More

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Pinktober

As we are very close to “Pinktober”, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am asking each of you (and to please share with your networks) to #thinkbeforeyoupink.

You will be bombarded with opportunities to make donations at your local store, buy all kinds of “pink” items, t-shirts, ribbons, etc.

Please make sure that at least a portion or all of the proceeds from your purchase or donation is earmarked to be donated to a certified charity, research facility, Breast cancer patients for assistance with access to care, etc, anything that benefits the goals of Breast Cancer Month.

For me, it is We Need A Cure. Do you know that while Stage 0 to Stage 3 Breast Cancer patients can be cured, there is no cure for #stageivbc #stageivneedsmore.
I will make sure when making my purchases the donations will go to research for a cure.

Everyone’s reason for donations, purchases for this month, is personal and I am not asking to change that. I just believe that your reason is not to SOLELY increase the profits of the company selling the pink items. #knowledgeispower

Thanks for listening to my opinion and hopefully #makeadifference this October.

#allforlucy #tnbc #brca1

Clinical Trials

So much to share about my trip. It was so informative and educational. I am still absorbing and processing everything that was shared.

I know this about my platform and how it needs to change:

1) Clinical Trials for Stage IV breast cancer are essential to finding a cure - but without brave patients willing, able, and informed as well as having access to the trials, to be a participant, the trials will take longer or never get the needed data for FDA approval to get the drugs into community healthcare
2) Clinical Trials need to be easier to find and access to the trials need to be expanded to community healthcare (I think they said) less than 2% of Breast cancer patients are participating in trials.
3) Patient Advocates are needed in every area to promote trials and charitable organizations need to help patients find the trials that they are eligible for and access the trial treatment.
4) I understand there are several in the works by private companies but clinical trials.org is not the answer for patients to try and do their own research to find trials that may work for them. We need easier websites for patients to try and advocate for themselves.

More to follow

#thinkbeforeyoupink #stageivneedsmore #clinicaltrials #lucysworld #msabcjax

First View of Cancer Story

Wow, can’t wait until I can share. I viewed the first cut of My Cancer Story, the long story, today. I am so impressed with the production team. Each and everyone of them is so talented and I am forever grateful to the people responsible for donating this special gift to me! There will be a long story and a short version. I am putting up a website that will be the main location where the video will he shared and will also become my video and written blog that I will update. This way I won’t fill you Facebook feed with my update and thoughts but you can check it whenever!

More soon!

#thinkbeforeyoupink #pinkisnotacure #stageivnocure #clincialtrials #tnbc #brca1 #msabcjax #lucysworld

Where do the proceeds go? "Pinkwashing"

I was watching an ad last night for a “PINK” items where proceeds will go to “Clinical Research for Breast Cancer”

Made me wonder, where exactly does this money go? To a specific research doctor? Specific research hospital? Specific research facility? Charitable organization that tracks and earmarks specific donations for research? Maybe a charitable organization that has research facilities as part of their organization?

Why wouldn’t the ad state exactly where it goes? And why not state how much of the proceeds will be donated?

Is anyone tracking these business commitments to make sure the monies donated are actually going to the designated location?

I will be asking more in-depth questions before I make purchases again.

You donation and money is so important and I appreciate every dollar you donate to Breast Cancer Research but let’s be informed! Ask questions! Know where you money will go!

#thinkbeforeyoupink #pinkisnotacure #pinkribbonsdonotcurecancer
#knowledgeispower
#stageivnocure #tnbc #lucysworld #brca1
#msabcjax

My Cancer Story -- Continues

My original diagnosis of ER/PR positive, Her2 Negative Stage2b - BRCA1+ with 5 positive nodes was in 2014. I had Chemotherapy, 4 AC and 4 Taxol, Bilateral Mastectomy, Oophorectomy, Hysterectomy, Expanders and full reconstruction - along with 35 radiation treatments. I was then declared "Cancer Free" in March 2015.

I was on Letrozole, daily, which I was told I would remain on it for 5 to 10 years.

However, on Groundhog Day 2017, I was re-diagnosed with Stage IV Triple Negative (TNBC) Metastatic Breast Cancer with a breast cancer tumor in my liver. As my first line of treatment, I joined a Clinical Trial - TOPACIO sponsored by Tesaro, which is a combined treatment of Immunotherapy and a Parp Inhibitor. The drugs are Niraparib (Parp) and Pemprolizumab (Immunotherapy). I have been on this trial since March 2017. As of today, September 2018, my tumor has reduced in size to 1.6mm. I am close to seeing it disappear.

However, no matter what happens, there is NO CURE and I will never hear the words you are "Cancer Free" again unless science catches up in my lifetime. There is NO CURE for any StageIV Breast Cancer.

My cancer life, which has lots of ups and down, has been shared by me on various social media sites throughout my story.  I created this blog to help get the TRUE MESSAGE out about Breast Cancer. October Breast Cancer awareness month is important and has met it's original goal, Breast Cancer Awareness. BUT it needs to be so much more, we need to move past the awareness message, everyone is aware but are they aware of what is happening in the StageIV community?

We need a CURE.

40,000 women a year die from Stage IV (Also known as Metastatic) breast cancer in the United States. This number has not changed in decades. Clinical Trials and research has made strides in finding a cure but the steps being done are baby steps and slow to reach community healthcare. There are many reasons for this but none that cannot be overcome with Donations, Volunteerism, Advocacy, Knowledge, Fundraising and most importantly, your involvement. This is a marathon but there is no end in sight.

I will share my thoughts, knowledge and advocacy on this site. Please join my story regularly and feel free to share with your networks. Help change the message!

Love,

Stacy Hanson (Mom to Lucy, Wife to Kent)

Friday, September 28, 2018