It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.

“Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.”

I received my first breast cancer diagnosis in 2009. This was shocking news, but it was caught early. The tumor was only 2.5cms, and no lymph nodes were involved. The level of care from my healthcare team, during this time, was remarkable. After two lumpectomies, a busted valve, a double mastectomy, hormone therapy, reconstruction surgery, and a replacement implant, life went back to being relatively normal within a couple of years, although my awareness of breast cancer was much greater.

Even with the best surveillance by my medical team, in December of 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, I received another diagnosis of breast cancer; but now, it had metastasized into my bones. After many scans, nuclear imaging, infusions, and countless blood tests - I am back on the medical bandwagon. However, I continue and am dedicated to fight as hard as I can. I continue to get back up and fight cancer, with the love and support from family near and far. I quickly learned the most effective treatment for estrogen positive breast cancer is to remove the estrogen from the body. For those of us who are not post- menopausal, we are quickly thrown into that state. After a short course of Zoladex, a more permanent solution was taken, and in January 2020, I had a full hysterectomy which included having my ovaries removed. While this was a difficult decision to make, I kept telling myself that it needed to be done to be able to live with metastatic breast cancer.

After the operation, I began taking an aromatase inhibitor. The AI makes my joints ache, so I feel like I have arthritis when I rise in the morning. And, because I have tumors in my spine and lesions in my pelvic bone and shoulders, I have a monthly injection which strengthens the bones, but this too causes further bone pain. I am brave. It is hard and difficult, but I do what I need to do to survive. The beast, cancer, does not play by the rules, so drastic action is often required, and sometimes you face challenges before you can fully come to terms with them.

I am grateful for all the people out there who have been a lifeline and support for me, and for all those who want to help. It gives me faith in society, comfort in heart, and makes me smile during this journey. I would not be where I am today without the following support systems: Pink Lemonade Project, Pink Phoenix Dragon Boat Team, and Pink Sistas.

I recently connected with Pink Sistas and had the pleasure of meeting Deb Hart. No one understands cancer more than fellow fighters, warriors and survivors. We have a mutual language and understanding that we share, and we instantly know what another warrior is trying to convey when sharing their story. When I connected with Pink Sistas for a day retreat in the summer of 2022, my journey with cancer began to shift. During the day event, I decided that I was just going to sit back and hear what everyone else had to share. I did not want my story to discourage anyone or put fear into them of, “Will my cancer come back too?” But, with each story shared, including Deb Hart’s, my fellow Pink Sistas showed their own vulnerability. I reflected and recognized that I gained a lot of emotional strength since the day of my latest diagnosis. I left that day feeling strong and empowered and with new friends who knew exactly how I felt. I also felt the love and support from these inspirational women.

People tell me I am inspirational and amazing. But I am just a mom, aunt, sister, cousin, and best friend who is doing her best to spend quality time with her family and friends and fellow Pink Sistas.

Although at this time there is no cure for metastatic disease, it will have to hunt me down as I will continue to LIVE with metastatic breast cancer! I will live everyday doing what I love to do: spending time with loved ones and new friends from Pink Sistas, and my paddling warriors from Pink Phoenix.

I will cherish the time I have to enjoy all the things that bring me happiness and joy. I will not allow “C” to highjack my life or my happiness.

“Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.”