"Stage 4 Breast Cancer?? But I'm Only 26!"
Finding out you have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in your 20s is about as fun as it sounds. With no family history, an active & healthy lifestyle, and an otherwise clean bill of health… I was definitely a little surprised when, at 26 years old, I heard the words “You have cancer”.
At first, they tried to reassure me: “It’s likely very early stage 2”, “This will just be a bump in the road”. But after a follow-up PET scan, they, unfortunately, found 2 small metastases on my sternum which automatically made me stage 4. As terrifying as it was to initially hear the word “cancer” when I was first diagnosed, nothing compares to being told, “you are stage 4 and will be considered a cancer patient for the rest of your life”. I fell into a pretty dark place with this news and it took me a while to finally climb my way back out. Even though my oncologist was optimistic about my treatment plan and prognosis, I was convinced that I was dying.
The one thing that did give me hope, however, was learning that my cancer was considered “oligometastatic”. Oligometastatic means that although the cancer has metastasized to another part of the body (in my case, bone) it has only spread to one area and in a small amount. My oncologist explained that many patients who are oligometastatic actually have a chance at a “cure” (in the same way that earlier stage breast cancer patients can achieve long-term remission). My team explained that they wanted to treat me with “curative intent” because they believed I had a strong likelihood of achieving long-term remission. So... I took that sliver of hope and gave it everything I had in me. I went into fighting mode: 8 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, a partial mastectomy, 25 rounds of radiation, and long-term hormone therapy and targeted therapy. It was easily the hardest time of my life. 0 out of 5 stars, would not recommend.
In January 2019, I got the amazing news that I had a pathologically complete response to treatment because not a single cancer cell was found after surgery. My oncologist explained that given my amazing response to treatment, I am now in remission and have a great long-term prognosis. So in the span of 5 months, I went from feeling like I was on my deathbed to being told I was fine and will likely live a long and otherwise normal life. The whiplash of this change in circumstance is never lost on me. My entire perspective on life has fundamentally shifted for the better, and for that I’m forever grateful.
Even though I’m in remission, I’ll never be “done” with cancer. I’ll be doing maintenance treatment for the foreseeable future and monitored closely for the rest of my life. But instead of letting my whole life revolve around cancer, I’m learning how to make cancer fit in with the rest of my life. This doesn’t just mean learning to schedule a bunch of medical appointments around my work schedule and vacation plans. Instead it’s about choosing how I let cancer take up space in my mind. It’s about shifting my perspective and reframing my circumstances on a daily basis. It’s something I have yet to master, but one thing is for sure... I’ve come a long way from where I was when I first heard the word “cancer”.
Thank you Brian, Taylor, and Jeremie for the opportunity to share my story and for showing everyone that laughing at an illness takes away its power. As a long time listener, I never expected to actually be a guest on the podcast, but meeting you all was definitely a silver lining!
And a quick PSA for everyone reading this: it doesn’t matter your age, sex, family history, or current health condition... be your own advocate, trust what your body is telling you, and CHECK YOUR BOOBS.
