Our foundation is currently seeking sponsorship for breast cancer awareness of a specific subtype of cancer that affects minority and younger women in an aggressive manner, Triple Negative Breast Cancer. We have included a brief synopsis of who we are and what we support.
TNC Foundation is a non-profit organization we have begun to call attention to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer battle that many young women face today. TNBC is a relatively new subtype of cancer that can be very aggressive. Since there is less information about this form of breast cancer there is a greater need for information to be disseminated to the public and research to be done by the medical industry. 15% of all breast cancer cases are now TNBC, with the majority of them occurring in minority and younger women.
The fact that TNBC affects young women in their 20’s and 30’s makes diagnosing the disease more difficult than in older women. Most recommendations for mammograms suggest women older than 40 need one rountinely, but younger women are not often referred for one unless they have a family history of breast cancer. Many women who are diagnosed with TNBC have no such link. This makes self breast exams all the more important. Recently, my girlfriend has been diagnosed with TNBC and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. She faces many obstacles in this battle and wants to make sure this disease gets the attention it deserves. Because I love her and plan on facing these obstacles with her, I feel this disease provides me with a unique opportunity to reach out to young men. Our awareness approach will be targeting younger adults in an ‘out of the box’ approach, not the typical Walk for Breast Cancer. We will be targeting outdoor events and college campuses to bring attention to this disease.
Calling attention to this disease and raising awareness is just the beginning for the TNC Foundation. Young women today lead active lives and we plan on focusing our attention on events and activities that encourage healthy lifestyles and provide maximum opportunity for education on the diagnosis, risks, and treatments of TNBC. Our first event will be the Baja 500 Quad Race held in Ensenada, Mexico June 1, 2008. As we get more established we hope to expand our involvement to many other athletic/sport venues. In regards to colleges, our foundation plans to be on campus’ to provide information, teach the proper way to do a breast self exam/partner breast exam, and answer questions. We will not only provide information but t-shirts and other items of support for our foundation.