Finding Cancer Support: A Love Letter to My Fellow Thrivers
I am a survivor of stage 3 breast cancer. I will celebrate over 11 years since my diagnosis in June. I remember waking up from my first surgery. My husband and best friend were in the recovery room in tears.
I knew things were not what we expected. The cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. They removed 18 of them. I was 39 years old, just 1 month before my 40th birthday. It feels like yesterday and also like forever ago.
Why was it hard to find stage 3 cancer support?
After my diagnosis, I searched the internet for others with stage 3 breast cancer who survived. I had a hard time finding people like me. I found many stage 1, 2, and 4 groups. Finding cancer support for stage 3 seemed rare. I felt like a nomad moving between groups where I did not fit in.
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View all responsesCoping through patient advocacy
I began to attend meetings to learn about advocacy. I wanted to help others get better care. I felt empowered to sit on peer review panels. I shared my views on research from a patient's perspective.
Starting a non-profit for cancer support
I started a non-profit called Twisted Pink. It provides hope and connection to people with metastatic breast cancer. I have met many amazing people because of my diagnosis. I have also lost friends to this disease. Loss is hard, but not knowing them would have left a void in my life.
Coping with survivor's guilt
I still take Arimidex past the 10-year mark. My doctor thinks I should stay on the drug since I do not have bad side effects like bone loss. I look for ways to live without the survivor's guilt I feel at times.
I often listen to my thriver friends. Many do not want to talk about cancer. They want to talk about everyday stress. I relate to this. I am a mom to a young adult with epilepsy and cognitive delays. Sometimes, I just crave being normal.
A message to those with metastatic breast cancer
I want to share my love for all thrivers. You are seen and loved by a community that wants to offer cancer support. We may not know everything you go through daily. But we know your fear and your hope.
I wish we could all reach remission. I hope we can all live by just taking a drug to keep the cancer away. Until then, we will show our love and cancer support. We will walk, run, and dance to raise money for research. We see you, and we will not leave you behind.
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