Metastatic Breast Cancer

So, I learned something yesterday. And correct me if I am wrong, because I might be, and I really would LOVE to be corrected on this.

After watching a video posted on Facebook by Holley Kitchen, and a (very) little follow up research, I discovered this: if they do not cure breast cancer while it is within the breast, they cannot cure it.

What I mean by this is, if the breast cancer spreads from the breast to anywhere else in the body (thus becoming metastatic), it is incurable. Patients are treated for cancer for the remainder of their lives, but are considered “cancer lifers.”

Now there are lots of stats related to this, and lots of reading one can do to better understand the stats, odds, etc. But in the end, 20 – 30% of people who get diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer eventually get diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Median survival after diagnosis with MBC is three years. And 40,000 people die annually from metastatic breast cancer.

This brings up a lot of emotions in me, but the chief ones are fear (obviously), embarrassment (how did I not know this?), and anger (WHY did I not know this?!?).

Anyhow do with this info what you will but I humbly request that if you don’t share this blog post, you share Holley’s video, or tell your coworker about MBC, or even just do a little more research to educate yourself. There’s no way that someone who gets diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer – like me – should be totally unaware of the possible long-term effects and very immediate implications of such a diagnosis.

Finally, RIP Holley Kitchen, who lost her life yesterday to MBS but obviously still continues to educate, which was part of her mission. Thank you, Holley.