Adriana
is a mom of three and was pregnant at the time of her diagnosis. Living life with mBC
has given her a new perspective on the importance of time and how we spend it with our loved
ones.
This is Adriana’s story.
Diagnosis: I was six
weeks pregnant
with
twins
when
I
was first
diagnosed with cancer. Three months earlier, I found a lump in my breast, but everyone
thought
it was just a clogged milk duct because I was still…
Barbara
is a mom, wife and nurse by training that is living with mBC. Barbara advocated for her
health
and getting a diagnosis. Surrounded by a community of family and friends, her strong support
network and relationships help her manage living life with mBC.
This
is Barbara’s story.
Diagnosis: In August 2014, I
felt a
bump on my back. I went to the
doctor. After that visit, I was still having difficulty breathing and I felt weak,…
Donna
is a wife and mother who first had cancer in 1994 but was diagnosed with mBC in 2004. She
has
seen a lot of advances in cancer therapy and is telling her story to instill hope.
This is Donna’s story.
Diagnosis: I
didn’t
have a lump at first. I had ductal cancer that
started back in October 1994. At that time, they didn’t think it could be cancer. I’m
talking about 1994; this is 2017. No tests came back that showed anything…
Judit
is a paediatric nurse who was diagnosed with mBC in her late twenties. She wants to increase
awareness about the deadly nature of mBC and the need for more research to improve outcomes
for
patients.
This is Judit’s story.
Diagnosis: I was 26 years old when I felt a lump while doing a
self-exam. Being so young, I really didn’t assume it was anything. I was living a really
busy life; there was work, I was planning on getting married. I literally…
Karen
was diagnosed when she was 27. While her life has changed, she refers to herself as a breast
cancer thriver, not a survivor, highlighting that while it’s a big portion of her life, it’s
a
small part of who she is.
This is Karen’s story.
Diagnosis: I found a lump in my breast at the end of January,
beginning
of February, of this year. I went to my doctor right away, but because I was only 27 and
there’s no history of breast cancer in my family, it…
Nathalie
is a mom and wife who is living with mBC. She helped start an inclusive peer support group
called Breast Cancer Support Saskatoon, which is the only support group of its kind in the
city
right now.
This is Nathalie’s story.
Diagnosis: I was diagnosed in 2008 with locally advanced breast
cancer
at the age of 29. When I was 24, I found out that I had the BRCA1 genetic mutation. Having
this mutation means that I was considered at…
Véronique
describes herself as a positive, determined woman who loves to laugh and make people laugh.
At
age 31, she was diagnosed with mBC. As she navigates her thirties with her diagnosis, she is
taking time to raise awareness and educate others about mBC.
This
is Véronique’s story.
Diagnosis: After an annual
check-up
with my family doctor, I was asked
to have a few additional tests. At first, she wasn’t concerned since…
Debbie
is a mother who was 11 years into remission when she was diagnosed again. She is encouraging
people to advocate for their health and push for help when you need it.
This is Debbie’s story.
Diagnosis: I
had
breast cancer before this…when I was 45. I went through chemo and 35 treatments of radiation
and at the end of that I was good. I was 11 years clear. Then I found a lump in my neck. I
thought it was a…
Heather
was not always comfortable speaking publicly about her disease, but she sees the need for
more
awareness about metastatic breast cancer, and to advocate for more research.
This is Heather’s story.
Diagnosis: I
was
diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer 12 years ago. I
had surgery, did 6 months of chemotherapy and then hormonal treatment. But at the 5-year
mark I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer; …
Adriana
is a mom of three and was pregnant at the time of her diagnosis. Living life with mBC
has given her a new perspective on the importance of time and how we spend it with our loved
ones.
This is Adriana’s story.
Diagnosis: I was six
weeks pregnant
with
twins
when
I
was first
diagnosed with cancer. Three months earlier, I found a lump in my breast, but everyone thought
it was just a clogged milk duct because I was still…
Barbara
is a mom, wife and nurse by training that is living with mBC. Barbara advocated for her health
and getting a diagnosis. Surrounded by a community of family and friends, her strong support
network and relationships help her manage living life with mBC.
This
is Barbara’s story.
Diagnosis: In August 2014, I felt a
bump on my back. I went to the
doctor. After that visit, I was still having difficulty breathing and I felt weak,…
Donna
is a wife and mother who first had cancer in 1994 but was diagnosed with mBC in 2004. She has
seen a lot of advances in cancer therapy and is telling her story to instill hope.
This is Donna’s story.
Diagnosis: I didn’t
have a lump at first. I had ductal cancer that
started back in October 1994. At that time, they didn’t think it could be cancer. I’m
talking about 1994; this is 2017. No tests came back that showed anything…
Judit
is a paediatric nurse who was diagnosed with mBC in her late twenties. She wants to increase
awareness about the deadly nature of mBC and the need for more research to improve outcomes for
patients.
This is Judit’s story.
Diagnosis: I was 26 years old when I felt a lump while doing a
self-exam. Being so young, I really didn’t assume it was anything. I was living a really
busy life; there was work, I was planning on getting married. I literally…
Karen
was diagnosed when she was 27. While her life has changed, she refers to herself as a breast
cancer thriver, not a survivor, highlighting that while it’s a big portion of her life, it’s a
small part of who she is.
This is Karen’s story.
Diagnosis: I found a lump in my breast at the end of January, beginning
of February, of this year. I went to my doctor right away, but because I was only 27 and
there’s no history of breast cancer in my family, it…
Nathalie
is a mom and wife who is living with mBC. She helped start an inclusive peer support group
called Breast Cancer Support Saskatoon, which is the only support group of its kind in the city
right now.
This is Nathalie’s story.
Diagnosis: I was diagnosed in 2008 with locally advanced breast cancer
at the age of 29. When I was 24, I found out that I had the BRCA1 genetic mutation. Having
this mutation means…
Véronique
describes herself as a positive, determined woman who loves to laugh and make people laugh. At
age 31, she was diagnosed with mBC. As she navigates her thirties with her diagnosis, she is
taking time to raise awareness and educate others about mBC.
This is
Véronique’s story.
Diagnosis: After an annual check-up
with my family doctor, I was asked
to have a few additional tests. At first, she wasn’t concerned since…
Debbie
is a mother who was 11 years into remission when she was diagnosed again. She is encouraging
people to advocate for their health and push for help when you need it.
This is Debbie’s story.
Diagnosis: I had
breast cancer before this…when I was 45. I went through chemo and 35 treatments of radiation
and at the end of that I was good. I was 11 years clear. Then I found a lump in my neck. I
thought it was a…
Heather
was not always comfortable speaking publicly about her disease, but she sees the need for more
awareness about metastatic breast cancer, and to advocate for more research.
This is Heather’s story.
Diagnosis: I was
diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer 12 years ago. I
had surgery, did 6 months of chemotherapy and then hormonal treatment. But at the 5-year
mark I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer; …
When you have mBC, time takes on a new meaning. Learn more from patients as they navigate their life with their diagnosis.
Michelle’s Story
Teva’s story
Watches that tell more than just time
What are the biggest misconceptions about living with mBC?
What does mBC look like?
Who gets mBC?
What gives you hope?
What are the biggest challenges of living with mBC?
What can others do to help someone living with mBC?
How has mBC affected relationships in your life?
Michelle’s Story
Teva’s story
Watches that tell more than just time
What are the biggest misconceptions about living with mBC?
What does mBC look like?
Who gets mBC?
What gives you hope?
What are the biggest challenges of living with mBC?
What can others do to help someone living with mBC?
How has mBC affected relationships in your life?
In Memoriam
In-Memoriam
Please join us in honouring the memory and courage of these women and their families who have shared their metastatic breast cancer story with us. Through their stories, we hope their voices will live on.
In Loving Memory of Nalie
Nalie was only 24 when she was first
diagnosed with cancer. She helped raise hundreds of
thousands of dollars for cancer and started sharing her journey with mBC online to help
raise awareness.
This is Nalie’s story.
Diagnosis: I was
a
young, active, healthy 24-year-old – rarely sick, very athletic, always training – and
suddenly
I found lumps in my left breast. I went for a general check-up but overall, the feeling was
that
the lumps were normal; that women in their twenties have lumpy breasts due to hormones or
periods or that it could be a fibroadenoma or a cyst. But I was told to get checked anyway…
and
was given a referral paper. But because nobody was really stressed about it, I didn’t put it
as
a priority. I did call the referral number but was almost immediately told they don’t give
mammograms to women under 40. So I…
In Loving Memory of Cloé
Newly married Cloé was only 23 when she was
diagnosed. She shared her story to help raise awareness of mBC.
This
is
Cloé’s
story.
Diagnosis: The day I received the diagnosis
was
the worst day of my life. It felt like a bad dream. I was completely stunned. My parents
would come with me each time I had to go to the hospital. But that time, I just had my
husband with me. We thought the worst was over since I had been in remission for six months.
I gave my parents the news very bluntly over the phone. Thankfully…
In Loving Memory of Jaspreet
Jaspreet was first diagnosed with
cancer in
her early thirties. To better understand mBC to be able to share with others, she joined
in-person
and online communities, and blogged about her experiences.
This is
Jaspreet’s
story.
Diagnosis: Maybe I should just start from the
beginning. I was originally diagnosed at the age of 31 with stage 3 inflammatory breast
cancer, which is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer. Treatment started quickly
after my diagnosis. I went through chemo, surgery (mastectomy) and radiation. After months
of recovering from treatment, I was feeling pretty good and getting back to life as…
In Loving Memory of Sandi
Sandi advocated for herself to get
checked when she felt something wasn’t right. After diagnosis, she focused on living her
life one day at a time and readjusting her goals.
This is Sandi’s story.
Diagnosis: It
started
in November of 2015. I was at work and I had a bit of a pain in my breast. I noticed it
wasn’t
going away, so I paid close attention to it. That night, at home, I felt something there
that I
didn’t think was right. I asked my husband to check and he agreed there was something there.
It
was a Friday night so I couldn’t do anything about it, and I worried about it the whole…
In Loving Memory of Julie
Just as I was figuring out how to be a mother, when I was breastfeeding my six-month-old
baby, I
felt a lump under my arm.
This is Julie’s story.
Diagnosis: Something really didn’t seem right to me. Since I had an
appointment with our family doctor for my little one, I mentioned this to her. After
examining me, she was immediately proactive and ordered the necessary examinations to see
what the lump was, sending me to a specialist…
In Loving Memory of Teva
This is Teva’s
story.
Diagnosis: I was trying to run a half marathon, it wasn’t my first
one,
and I was trying to train, but every time I went out for a run I was coming back in agony
with
crippling, debilitating back pain. It was to the point where I couldn’t even sit at my desk,
it
was so painful. I was standing in the office, during meetings, sleep was difficult – the
pain
was that severe. I went to the doctor and ended up in…
In Loving Memory of Jan
This is Jan’s
story.
Diagnosis: I was first diagnosed with stage 1
breast cancer in 2003. I was told that a recurrence could happen within the first 5 years.
At the 5 year mark I thought, ‘oh yay, I survived breast cancer!’ I kept going for yearly
mammograms and then, surprise, something showed up on the mammogram again. The cancer had
returned to the same breast. I had a mastectomy and chemo in 2009 and…
In Loving Memory of Julie
This is Julie’s story.
Diagnosis: I was
34
years old when they found the tumour in my breast. I did not want to take any chances
because
there had already been several cases of cancer in my family, so I went to see my doctor
right
away. So in September 2012, I had an MRI for my tumour and was told that I had stage 2
breast
cancer…
In Loving Memory of Jasmin
This is Jasmin’s
story.
Diagnosis: When my youngest daughter was 7 months old, I was nursing
her
and noticed a lump but I thought it was a blocked milk duct so I waited a couple of weeks
and
tried to sort that out. Nothing changed so I went to my GP to express my concern. I do have
a
history of breast cancer in the family so she sent me for an ultrasound. Things got
expedited
pretty quickly from there…
In Loving Memory of Cathy
This is Cathy’s
story.
Diagnosis: I started off having pain in my
left
shoulder and was having
difficulty lifting things up. Within a couple of weeks, pain started in my back and hips but
I sit all day at my job and had felt pain like that before so it wasn’t anything new per se.
My friend suggested I try acupuncture, so I did that and physical therapy but it didn’t seem
to be getting any better. Then one morning I couldn’t get out…
In Loving Memory of Nalie
Nalie was only 24 when she was first diagnosed
with cancer. She helped raise hundreds of
thousands of dollars for cancer and started sharing her journey with mBC online to help
raise awareness.
This is Nalie’s story.
Diagnosis: I was a
young, active, healthy 24-year-old – rarely sick, very athletic, always training – and suddenly
I found lumps in my left breast. I went for a general check-up but overall, the feeling was that
the lumps were normal; that women in their twenties have lumpy breasts due to hormones or
periods or that it could be a fibroadenoma or a cyst. But I was told to get checked anyway…
In Loving Memory of Cloé
Newly married Cloé was only 23 when she was
diagnosed. She shared her story to help raise awareness of mBC.
This is
Cloé’s
story.
Diagnosis: The day I received the diagnosis was
the worst day of my life. It felt like a bad dream. I was completely stunned. My parents
would come with me each time I had to go to the hospital. But that time, I just had my
husband with me. We thought the worst was over since I had been in remission for six months.
I gave my parents the news very bluntly over the phone. Thankfully…
In Loving Memory of Jaspreet
Jaspreet was first diagnosed with cancer in
her early thirties. To better understand mBC to be able to share with others, she joined in-person
and online communities, and blogged about her experiences.
This is
Jaspreet’s
story.
Diagnosis: Maybe I should just start from the
beginning. I was originally diagnosed at the age of 31 with stage 3 inflammatory breast
cancer, which is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer. Treatment started quickly
after my diagnosis. I went through chemo, surgery (mastectomy) and radiation. After months
of recovering from treatment, I was feeling pretty good and getting…
In Loving Memory of Sandi
Sandi advocated for herself to get checked when
she felt something wasn’t right. After diagnosis, she focused on living her life one day at a time
and readjusting her goals.
This is Sandi’s story.
Diagnosis: It
started
in November of 2015. I was at work and I had a bit of a pain in my breast. I noticed it wasn’t
going away, so I paid close attention to it. That night, at home, I felt something there that I
didn’t think was right. I asked my husband to check and he agreed there was something there. It
was a Friday night so I couldn’t do anything about it, and I worried about it the...
In Loving Memory of Julie
Just as I was figuring out how to be a mother, when I was breastfeeding my six-month-old baby, I
felt a lump under my arm.
This is Julie’s story.
Diagnosis: Something really didn’t seem right to me. Since I had an
appointment with our family doctor for my little one, I mentioned this to her. After
examining me, she was immediately proactive and ordered the necessary examinations to see
what the lump was, sending me to a specialist…
In Loving Memory of Teva
This is Teva’s
story.
Diagnosis: I was trying to run a half marathon, it wasn’t my first one,
and I was trying to train, but every time I went out for a run I was coming back in agony with
crippling, debilitating back pain. It was to the point where I couldn’t even sit at my desk, it
was so painful. I was standing in the office, during meetings, sleep was difficult – the pain
was that severe. I went to the doctor and ended up in…
In Loving Memory of Jan
This is Jan’s
story.
Diagnosis: I was first diagnosed with stage 1
breast cancer in 2003. I was told that a recurrence could happen within the first 5 years.
At the 5 year mark I thought, ‘oh yay, I survived breast cancer!’ I kept going for yearly
mammograms and then, surprise, something showed up on the mammogram again. The cancer had
returned to the same breast. I had a mastectomy and chemo in…
In Loving Memory of Julie
This is Julie’s story.
Diagnosis: I was 34
years old when they found the tumour in my breast. I did not want to take any chances because
there had already been several cases of cancer in my family, so I went to see my doctor right
away. So in September 2012, I had an MRI for my tumour and was told that I had stage 2 breast
cancer…
In Loving Memory of Jasmin
This is Jasmin’s
story.
Diagnosis: When my youngest daughter was 7 months old, I was nursing her
and noticed a lump but I thought it was a blocked milk duct so I waited a couple of weeks and
tried to sort that out. Nothing changed so I went to my GP to express my concern. I do have a
history of breast cancer in the family so she sent me for an ultrasound. Things got expedited
pretty quickly from there…
In Loving Memory of Cathy
This is Cathy’s
story.
Diagnosis: I started off having pain in my left
shoulder and was having
difficulty lifting things up. Within a couple of weeks, pain started in my back and hips but
I sit all day at my job and had felt pain like that before so it wasn’t anything new per se.
My friend suggested I try acupuncture, so I did that and physical therapy but it didn’t seem
to be getting any better. Then one morning I couldn’t…
Caregivers’ Perspectives
In Loving Memory of Marnie (Brian, Marnie’s
Partner)
To continue Marnie’s legacy, Marnie’s partner shared their mBC story with us. Documenting
their
experiences, they published I Can’t Make Lunch Today, a book to help
raise
awareness and
help
other families going through mBC.
This is Marnie’s
story.
Diagnosis: My wife’s name was Marnie Parker – Marnie Foreman when we
got…
In Loving Memory of Pauline (Louise, Pauline’s twin
sister)
Pauline’s twin sister, Louise, is
sharing Pauline’s story to help raise awareness and share the perspective of seeing a loved
one’s journey with mBC.
This is Pauline’s story.
Diagnosis: The diagnosis hit us in 2010. My twin sister,…
In Loving Memory of Liz
(Joe,
Liz’s husband)Liz’s husband, Joe, is
sharing Liz’s story
to
honour her memory and to raise awareness about mBC. Throughout her journey, she remained
positive and active in the community.
This is Liz’s
story.
Diagnosis: My wife, Liz, was going to a fitness class, she always ate
healthy and exercised, and one day the instructor told the class that a…
In Loving Memory of Marnie
(Brian, Marnie’s Partner)
To continue Marnie’s legacy, Marnie’s partner shared their mBC story with us. Documenting their
experiences, they published I Can’t Make Lunch Today, a book to help raise
awareness and help
other families going through mBC.
This is Marnie’s story.
Diagnosis: My wife’s name was Marnie Parker – Marnie Foreman when we
got…
In Loving Memory of Pauline
(Louise, Pauline’s twin sister) Pauline’s twin
sister, Louise, is
sharing Pauline’s story to help raise awareness and share the perspective of seeing a loved
one’s journey with mBC.
This is Pauline’s story.
Diagnosis: The diagnosis hit us in 2010. My twin sister,…
In Loving Memory of Liz
(Joe,
Liz’s husband)Liz’s husband, Joe, is sharing
Liz’s story to
honour her memory and to raise awareness about mBC. Throughout her journey, she remained
positive and active in the community.
This is Liz’s story.
Diagnosis: My wife, Liz, was going to a fitness class, she always ate
healthy and exercised, and one day the instructor told the class that a…
