Metastatic Breast Cancer

A patient with metastatic breast cancer recalls the emotional experience of being among the thousands of attendees who gave a standing ovation in an auditorium in Chicago when the results of the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast04 trial — which recently led to the FDA approval of Enhertu in HER2-low disease — were presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting.

If approved, Enhertu may “redefine how we classify and treat metastatic breast cancer,” according to a representative from the drug’s manufacturer.

This year, I returned to the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, where I heard about the latest advancements in cancer care, as well as met with fellow patients and advocates.

After experiencing complications from breast reconstruction, I’ve decided to go “fabulously flat” and evict my implants.

At first, I was apprehensive about a male doctor treating my breast cancer, but I soon realized that he was treating me as he would his own family members — and that made me realize that I was in good hands.

When a friend with metastatic breast cancer said that her cancer responded to treatment and she was excited to stop taking daily pills, I thought that something must have been miscommunicated to her.

I typically don’t use cancer labels, such as “survivor” or “thriver,” but when I heard about COVID-19 “long-haulers,” the term resonated with me.

Watch Emily Huskey, Dr. Wendy Baer, Fabienne Ehivet and Lisa Weems answer questions about areas outside of treatment during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Fabienne Ehivet, from Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, discuss genetic testing, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Dr. Wendy Baer, from Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, discuss psychosocial issues, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Emily Huskey, from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discuss diet and exercise, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Dr. Kimberly Curseen, Dr. Anna Bausum, Dr. Kevin Kalinsky and Alyncia Mason answer questions about additional care, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Dr. Kevin Kalinsky, from Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discuss joining clinical trials, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

After seven years, my prosthetic breast, “Rightie,” sprung a leak and needed to be replaced.

Watch Dr. Anna Bausum, Winship Cancer Institute at Emroy University, discuss alternative medicine, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Dr. Kimberly Curseen, from Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discuss supportive care, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Receiving a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer that has spread to the brain can be a frightening time for patients, however a new resource may help guide them through the stressful journey.

Watch Dr. Suchita Pakkala, Dr. Jane Meisel, Dr. Keerthi Gogineni and Kelly Shanahan discuss updates in disease management during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Dr. Keerthi Gogineni, from Emory University School of Medicine, discuss the management of triple-negative disease, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

Watch Dr. Suchita Pakkala, from Emory University School of Medicine, discuss estrogen receptor-positive disease, during the CURE Educated Patient Metastatic Breast Cancer Summit.

In CURE®’s “Speaking Out” video series, on behalf of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Dr. Nancy Lin discusses treatment planning for brain metastases in breast cancer and how patients can take part in driving their care.

I hope every patient and their family can feel the caring that two angels standing by a shoulder can bring.

After surviving cancer, I knew what medical upselling looked like, and experienced it firsthand when a clinician tried to send me for more tests than I felt necessary.

Cancer and its treatments can affect oral health, though when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, the thought of seeing the dentist slipped my mind.

Getting other medical opinions for my cancer diagnosis not only saved my life but also taught me self-care.