My breast cancer journey has been a long one. It started in 2006, almost 20 years ago. From 2006 until 2018, I was a breast cancer survivor. I was all about the pink, the color associated with breast cancer. Pink T-shirts, breast cancer walks, high five — I was a survivor. In 2018, breast cancer returned. So I became a two-time breast cancer survivor. Yay me! I beat the beast twice, I was a survivor, and I proudly wore my pink.
But in 2023, breast cancer returned for a third time. This time, it was metastatic breast cancer (MBC) — breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. My pink instantly changed to pink, green, and teal.
Pink, Teal & Green
Pink, green, and teal are the colors associated with metastatic breast cancer. Who knew? Not me, until my diagnosis.
I just began my third year living with MBC. My first year was all about adventures; I wanted to do everything I could, and I didn’t want to miss anything. I did a good job, I couldn’t have fit much more in – hiking the Grand Canyon, biking the Katy Trail, biking from Prague, Czech Republic to Vienna, Austria, and the birth of my first grandchild. What a year!!
This past year was busy, but at a slower pace, I still felt a sense of urgency to do it all. No big trips, but more time spent with family and friends, living and enjoying life.
As I begin my third year, a sense of sadness comes over me as I wonder if I will have two more years. Maybe, maybe not. The odds are stacked against me as only 31% of US MBC patients live longer than 5 years, and only 11% live longer than 10 years—definitely sobering statistics.
Choices
I have two choices. I can choose to let the sadness take over my life, or I can choose to live and to make the best of the time I have left. I prefer to live, to plan adventures, to plan for the future, to make memories.
This October, when everything turns pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month, don’t be limited to wearing pink. Wear pink, green, and teal in support of those of us living with MBC. We won’t be survivors. But we do our best to survive every day, living with a disease that has no cure.
Thank you for reading and following my blog. Your prayers, support, and words of encouragement help me fight this battle.
— Brandi
You can help.
