Triple NEgative BReast Cancer
Koreen was diagnosed with stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) in January 2021. While TNBC is known to be treatable, it is also recognized as one of the more aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Why is TNBC
aggressive?
Every breast cancer diagnosis has its own unique "personality," determined by three key factors:
Estrogen receptors– Does the tumor feed off estrogen?
Progesterone receptors– Does it rely on progesterone to grow?
HER2 protein– Does this protein drive aggressive growth?
If the tumor feeds off any of these factors, doctors can identify how it grows and target treatment to lower those levels, much like dimming the lights with a "switch."
However, if the tumor doesn’t rely on these three factors, its growth becomes harder to explain and treat—there’s no identifiable "switch" to turn off. This makes TBNC more challenging to manage.
March is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to shining a light on a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that affects thousands of people each year. Koreen played an instrumental role in supporting this cause by raising money for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. Her efforts contributed to funding vital research, aimed at improving treatment options and outcomes for those diagnosed with this challenging disease. By actively engaging her community and inspiring others to join the fight, Koreen helped amplify the message that progress in understanding and combating triple-negative breast cancer is both necessary and possible. Her work highlights the power of collective action and hope in the face of adversity.
