Marie Anello-Algeri- December 26, 2012

Now An Angel, Marie Anello-Algeri Educated Of Her Illness, Inflammatory Breast Cancer- "I Never Heard Of IBC Before Being Diagnosed And Always Assumed Breast Cancer Only Presented Itself With Lump."

"A tiny flower, lent not given, to bud on earth and bloom in heaven."

"Friends, though absent, are still present."

Shortly before Christmas, It took me by surprise that a dear breast cancer friend, Marie Anello-Algeri's health has a taken a turn and was receiving Hospice Care. I knew for at least a year that Marie was stage 4 but never really had spoken much of her illness for she was always so upbeat and joked often with us in our online group. Marie had Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) that has spread to her brain believed to be a Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Hearing of Marie's passing the day after Christmas, December 26, 2012 at  age 42, heartbreaking... Been feeling the sadness among us TNBC sisters in our online support group. Marie was a one-of-a-kind very sweet, beautiful and caring woman and a mother who hurts leaving her 4 children behind. May your memory lives on within our hearts, and may God Bless your Children as you shine down upon them. No more worries, no more treatments, no more pain... just peace I pray for you, Marie. I will treasure the kindness and thoughtfulness that Marie had shown in our friendship. I feel a need to bring more awareness to Marie's original diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  

"no lump, still cancer"  ~Terry Lynn Arnold

* Inflammatory breast tumors are frequently hormone receptor negative, which means that hormone therapies, such as tamoxifen, that interfere with the growth of cancer cells fueled by estrogen may not be effective against these tumors.

* A disproportionately higher percentage of IBC patients have triple-negative breast cancer. From a study of 144 patients diagnosed with IBC at MD Anderson, 36% were TN IBC. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcebp.aacrjournals.org%2Fcontent%2F21%2F3%2F564.1.abstract&h=uAQHvSb_c&s=1 - http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/21/3/564.1.abstract

For more information on Inflammatory breast cancer, please follow this link, 

 no lump-still cancer  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theibcnetwork.org&h=SAQEKQD6k&s=1 - www.theibcnetwork.org  Terry Lynn Arnold, founder, The IBC Network-Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network

"Important for people to know any change in your breast should be reported to your doctor and have IBC ruled out. I only had very slight swelling, barely noticable and was diagnosed at stage IV. Awareness is key, I never heard of IBC before being diagnosed and always assumed breast cancer only presented itself with lump."  ~ Marie Anello-Algeri