Quotes from you for MBC Awareness Day (Oct 13)?!

Moderators

Hi Everyone,

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is Thursday, October 13th and for this we would like to share inspirational, hopeful messages on our Facebook page and in our community.

To help us with this, would you mind completely this sentence, and provide your screen name, age, and where you are in the world?!

"I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still . . . " (e.g. play with my kids, love gardening, plan on...., expect to..., etc.)

OR

"I am living with metastatic breast cancer and . . . "

(Screen name, age, where you live)

Thank you!

Zillsnot4me

I am living with Metatastic Breast Cancer. I still can aggravate my husband and play with our young children (with lots of naps taken). I've lost body parts every year and I'll be on chemo for life. Whatever it takes. I plan n being a perky granny with rainbow hair driving a Mini Cooper.

Zillsnot4me, 49 yrs young (3 yrs with mets), KY

Moderators

Love it! Thank you, Zills!

ABeautifulSunset

I am living with metastic breast cancer and I still work out every day, make my family dinner every night, vacation as often as I can, and live as normally as possible for as long as possible...5 years and counting.

Stefajoy, 52, California

Moderators

Thanks so much Stefajoy. The Mods

AnimalCrackers

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still laugh and enjoy life. I work full time, spend quality time with my family and friends, work out when I can fit it in and appreciate the life I have more than ever. Is my life different? Absolutely!. Do I spend more time in doctors' offices, hospitals, and on the internet reading about cancer? No doubt! Do my treatments make me sick? Sometimes. Am I scared? You bet! But I'm here and I'm fighting and I'm LIVING with metastatic breast cancer!

AnimalCrackers, 54, Massachusetts

Partyoffive

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and still find joy in life. I continue to love my husband and five children-and still cook clean and do everything and more that I used to do(unfortunately the cancer did not make the laundry disappear!) I try to give voice to my hope and quiet the fears and enjoy each day-I am 3 years out and planning on many more

Becs511

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still am not just a statistic, a medical id number, or an insurance file. I am an actual living, breathing person who is more than just an MBC patient: I am usually goofy, fairly klutzy, generally quick-witted, fairly intelligent, stunningly gorgeous, extremely loyal to my family, friends, and New York Rangers, a sucker for "bad" TV, tourist traps, and high levels of tackiness and kitsch. I am still, and will always be, a collector and lover of funny stories; whether it's reading them, watching them, hearing them, telling them, or most importantly, living them.

Becs511, New York City, 35 years old

exbrnxgrl

I am living with MBC and will not put my foot in the grave until I absolutely have to. Whether I die in 10 days or in 10 years, I plan to live with joy and happiness.

-living with MBC for 5 years

teacher911

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still enjoy the simple things in life, my family, friends, leaves changing colors and a walk with my dogs. I had early breast cancer in 2008 and then metastasized in 2012. Love that I'm still here and able to enjoy each day.

Moderators

Thank you, everyone!

Lita57

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still believe in God. He didn't do this to me, the toxic environment in which we all live, with polluted air and water, and toxins in our food supply, contributed to this. It saddens me that more and more people at younger and younger ages are coming down with cancer. We must FIGHT for more research and BETTER, more accurate testing methods. Mammograms are fallible, and repeated annual mammograms did not detect my cancer. A dye-infused CT scan spotted it. But rather than wallow in despair and defeat, I prefer to be an optimistic beacon of light for years to come. If I'm surviving despite the pain of my extensive organ and bone metastases, so can others with the information, love, and support of communities like breastcancer.org. Blessings to you all.

Lita57, Union City, California, 57 years old

MaineRottweilers

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still

LIVE! I move and think a bit more slowly but I smile, laugh, love and enjoy life more than I ever have. Living with MBC has given me a perspective and appreciation of life that I did not have before.

MaineRottweilers 46, Jay, Maine

Lynnwood1960

I am living with metastatic Breast cancer and I still enjoy life! Following my passion as still working as a nurse, caring for others. Still a Mom to 3 great sons, a wife to my wonderful husband of 36 years. A little slower, a lot more tired, but still getting it done!

akshelley

I am living with Metastatic Breast Cancer and I still am holding out for a cure! Treatment options are wonderful, and perhaps life extending, but a cure is the only answer for Stage IV. I am living each day surrounded by peace and love, with supportive family and

remz

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still haven't "checked-out". 14 years after my final round of chemo I now know I am not cured. I do know that my life will end before I thought it may.The coming months will be difficult but that's the way life can be for everyone. Personally, I am facing this head on gathering as much knowledge and support as I need. It'll all be ok in the end...and if it's not ok it's not the end.

dlb823

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still live a very full life, running two small businesses (I'm an antiques dealer and I also created and run an on-line business to share the non-toxic personal care products I am passionate about), traveling, and advocating for much-needed mbc research, all while trying to integrate as much family time and self-TLC as possible into my busy life. dlb823, Bermuda Dunes, CA

Shutterbug73

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I still work full time, make my husband laugh, enjoy being with family & friends, and like to find quiet time time alone in the woods with my camera. I love my 2 cats, spring, Thai food, cheesy Bollywood movies, and singing 80's tunes on long road trips with my husband. I know my time is probably limited, but I'm determined to make the most of the time I have.

Shutterbug73, 43, SE Michigan

Iwrite

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I'm now focused on what is important...time with the family I love and friends I cherish. After the initial diagnosis one year ago (stage IV from the start) i now take care of myself without guilt or stress after a lifetime of chasing deadlines and goals set by others. With a deadline of my own, the sun is sunnier, every hug from a grandchild means more, every minute with my grown daughters is precious and every rose smells sweeter. Those in the cancer community are a blessing though we all wish we had never met under these circumstances. Living joyfully for as long as it lasts.

Kathryn, 64, Illinois, US

ShetlandPony

Moderators, you have received quotations from many very brave and kind-hearted women here, who are making the best of a horrible situation and want to offer encouragement to others. It is very important that MBC patients hear these messages and be able to encourage each other. And yet I think it would be a disservice to these women to paint a rosy picture of MBC by publishing only "inspirational, hopeful messages" without also addressing the harsh reality of MBC and the need for action. I do appreciate the effort of BCO to participate in improving awareness of MBC. But what is the goal of awareness? If only part of our reality is spoken, it perpetuates the problems with the whole "breast cancer awareness" culture and brings these problems to the MBC world. This feel-good awareness culture minimizes the mental and physical impact of breast cancer and promotes empty awareness with no action that will actually help breast cancer patients or end the epidemic. The general public needs to feel the urgency, the outrage, the horror of this epidemic and join the movement for more attention and research money to go toward better treatments that could allow people with MBC to live their normal lifespan, and to prevention and a cure. They need to know that MBC can happen to anyone. They need to know this is not ok, despite the courage exhibited by these women who have contributed comments. I fear this "positive" narrative will only lull the people into feeling that things are not too bad. And it may make MBC patients who are struggling physically and emotionally, unable to carry on with their normal lives, feel more lonely because they are not inspirational enough. So I think there needs to be some kind of balance and I hope whatever is published will achieve that.

I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I am dismayed by the very small amount of resources devoted to MBC research. I am living with metastatic breast cancer and I need people to hear the whole story so things can change.

(These comments of mine are not for your Facebook page. I just wanted to offer this perspective.)

kt1966

I agree with Shetlandpony,

It is the reality that it won't always be easy having MBC. Sure while you're stable life can be very doable and you can still enjoy most of the things you used to do. However progression does happen. It s not planned, you have no say when it does.

You can adjust to yet another new normal, but sometime eventually it turns into the slippery slope you can't bounce back from. Eventually our quality of life just won't be there

We need more awareness of the reality of MBC & more research for new drugs. We need cures!

Bluefrog76

Agreed. I've hesitated to post, because I am living a fairly normal life, but I've lost so much and feel like I'm constantly calculating how much time I have left and what that means to my 9 and 11 year olds. No on really "gets it" except the women here. I feel lonely even when surrounded by friends and family.

***

I am living with MBC and I still feel

heartbroken every day.

Rachel, 40, Philadelphia

ShetlandPony

Thank you, kt and Bluefrog.

Moderators

Thank you, ladies, for your words. We appreciate you all so much, and we value your perspectives.

pwilmarth

I'm living with MBC and I still walk my dogs everyday and I grow tomatoes on my patio - which gives me great pleasure. I work occasionally which keeps me involved and active in my profession, but eliminates the demands of a very stressful job that was decreasing my joy and happiness with living.

I get great pleasure teaching people and this forum has given me one outlet for continuing this passion.

Each of us are at different places in our lives. Some of us are still dealing with the sadness, anger and denial that comes with a disease that isn't curable, but treatable. Some of us are a little bit further into acceptance. And while some of us are still dealing with the emotional realities of the disease, some of us have overcome many more difficult life stories before we were hit with MBC. It isn't always easy thinking about my own mortality, but life is still good and I'm choosing to live life with as much joy as possible. I'm 62, and I've worked with many people who have passed away before this age. So any day I get on this earth is a bonus, a gift that I choose to spend wisely.

AnimalCrackers

wow! ShetlandPony I applaud you for that tremendously sobering reality check! I agree with everything you wrote. When I submitted my quote I fell into the trap of putting forth that brave front that helps me get through each day. I wasn't thinking in terms of how this is an opportunity to underscore the need for more attention to MBC and more research and funding for a cure. I'd like to amend my quote to say: I am living with MBC and still try so hard to maintain a positive outlook and support my mbc sisters and brothers under the ominous specter of a very uncertain future fraught with myriad unpleasant and painful treatment side effects, never ending anxiety inducing scans and blood tests, constant fear of progression, actual progression, more pain, compromised immune systems, assembly line treatment options that will all fail at some point, clinical trials, no cure, and inevitably death

Moderators

Thanks Pwilmarth and AnimalCrackers for sharing a little piece of your lives with us

Looking forward to hearing from more of our members

LindaE54

Shetlandpony - thank you. You said it all. We live longer with MBC and we are very resilient women/men. We adjust as the disease evolves and it takes a toll on our bodies, sometimes it rebels. For some like myself, it's constant physical pain, a juggling act between pain meds and staying alert. Despite having a positive outlook and living my life in the best possible way, the "when will the other shoe drop" sneaks in my mind too often. Not only is there a need for research for MBC, recent new and upcoming meds should be made available throughout the planet. Many women do not have the same level of care because meds are not available to everyone.

I live with MBC for almost 3 years now and everyday is a gift.

Linda, 57, Quebec, Canada

Mab60

I support the statement from Shetland pony 100%. She hit it out of the park. I stand with her.

Mary Anne

Zillsnot4me

You make a valid point Shetland Pony. I could never be called Miss Sunshine. No one gets stiv unless they are in our shoes.

My address is cancerland. I try to cram in as many memories as possible. It's a balancing act. My pain and fatigue vs my kids. My house always loses. I want to be there for my kids. I am unable to be an active mom. My life goes in three week to three month increments. We need a cure. I deserve one and so do my kids. Make my fantasy of me being a perky granny with rainbow hairdriving a Mini Cooper a reality. Please.

mara51506

I am living with MBC one day at a time. I was diagnosed Stage IV with a brain met July 29, 2016. I have since had a craniotomy to remove the large tumour and gone through whole brain radiation as well. The steroids I had to be on to avoid brain swelling were torturous, my moods were low, and completely bottomed out. I am not able to work, unsure if I can again due to extreme fatigue.

For me, I try to strike a balance and not think about things 24/7 or constantly dwell on my fears. Getting off the steroids has helped and a health issue with the cat gave me a distraction. In time, I may be able to get to doing a few more normal things but am not there yet. One day at a time is the best I can do. Trying not to worry about dementia or other tumours. It will take time.

I am grateful to my family who helped me greatly and continue to do so. Life is very different now. Not all bad but certainly not rosy at this stage for me.