MY LIFE Matters: TNBC Patient Voices Issue 2022 - 25

TNBC Cover Story
force me to stop living my blessed life.
In May of this year, I acknowledged
that I have been living with metastatic
TNBC for two years. This diagnosis
shook my world. I had no clue what
was in store for me. Now that I am a
bit more seasoned, I can reflect on and
share my journey to help others navigate
a similar path. I have started to share
my journey on social media platforms
to encourage myself and others not to
give up and to keep living their blessed
lives despite their circumstances. In
my opinion, building and/or finding a
community is essential to surviving a
cancer diagnosis. I have found community
in many places, and all the groups
that I joined have been beneficial and
supportive. Sometimes family cannot
understand what you are going through
or how to help you if they have not
lived a similar experience. Being part
of a support group gives you a judgement-free
place to ask questions when
you are confused, listening ears when
you need to vent, open arms when you
need a hug, and genuine expressions
of joy and acknowledgment when you
have great news.
You can follow my journey on soFor
a split second, I wondered if I
would look like a " problem patient "
on paper if my medical records showed
the multiple changes in oncologists and
medical centers within such a short
time frame. Then I remembered that
I mattered, my health was important,
and my care was my priority if I expected
others to prioritize it. I was becoming
a bit discouraged, and I needed to
find an oncologist who I could trust to
join me in the fight against MBC. As I
was debating leaving the medical center,
they onboarded a new oncologist
who previously worked at the medical
center I was considering transferring
to. I scheduled an appointment with
them, and we discussed my needs and
their work style. I left the conversation
feeling great about asking them to join
my medical team with a condit ion
being that I am always treated like a
person and not as a number. I am glad
to share that they have kept their word,
and I have felt seen and heard during
the approximate two years we have
worked together.
During the search for a new oncologist,
I learned of clinical trials. At
least three oncologists saw me before
I became aware of clinical trials. Patients
should learn about clinical trials
as a treatment option during their first
appointment. Patients should also ask
for clinical trial recommendations. For
women of color, we need to know about
research opportunities to ensure that we
can be a part of case studies, learn more
about how new drugs affect us, and help
decrease healthcare disparities. During
my first couple of appointments, I discovered
I had the most aggressive breast
cancer subtype, triple-negative breast
cancer (TNBC). At the time, there was
no targeted therapy for TNBC, meaning
there were a limited number of treatment
options. That conversation was
paralyzing. After I gathered myself, I
wiped the tears from my eyes and decided
that cancer would not paralyze me or
cial media @ThrivingIVLife. I created
Thriving IV Life to help me cope with
being diagnosed with terminal breast
cancer. Not only do I desire to survive,
but I want to thrive in every aspect
of my life. This platform has allowed
me to share my cancer journey-the
good, the bad, and the ugly par ts.
Countless women with similar lived
experiences and community engagement
make it easier to manage TNBC.
I am so grateful for the support I have
received throughout this journey. I am
inspired by women of all ages, colors,
and creeds. I am doing my best to advocate
for myself and those affected
by health disparities to fight cancer.
I am a Baddie ambassador with For
the Breast of Us, and I have completed
the " Hear My Voice " breast cancer
advocacy training provided by Living
Beyond Breast Cancer and " Angel Advocacy "
training provided by Tigerlily.
I will continue to be a Breast Cancer
Advocate until we can work together
to find a cure for TNBC. l
MY LIFE MATTERS
TNBC PATIENT VOICES ISSUE 2022
25
MY LIFE Matters: TNBC Patient Voices Issue 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MY LIFE Matters: TNBC Patient Voices Issue 2022
