Life On The Lopside Episode 2: Sometimes You Just Feel Rick Rolled

I am not against conventional treatment, but I think conventional treatment sometimes leaves a few things out of the equation when discussing treatment for a cancer diagnosis. When I was initially diagnosed with Stage 2b breast cancer, I was never told that 30% of early stage breast cancer will go on to metastasize later on after treatment. I think I would of liked to know that, but only found this out doing my own research about the disease. I guess the more I found out about my disease the more I read and the more I read I kept saying…”Hey! Why didn’t they tell me this stuff?” Not that I want cancer patients to be scared to death to the point they are are fleeing the oncology ward in a kinetic electrified energy ball of frazzled terror. But I think taking the time to sit patients down and prepare patients for possibilities and things to be healthfully mindful of wouldn’t hurt. I think far too much is glossed over. It feels so much like a revolving escalator, I think because the system is overwhelmed. I overheard on my oncology floor, between the 7 doctors, 300 patients were seen that day I came in. I’d say overwhelmed and overworked. No wonder I only get 5-10 mins every month with my oncologist.

One of the biggest campaigns going on now is “Mammagrams save lives”. I guess true. For 70% of people. What about the 30% that will go on to metastasize despite treatments? Mammagrams also don’t show metastasis and early detection doesn’t prevent those 30% from having metastatic recurrence. See METAvivor article here : https://www.metavivor.org/take-action/why-we-need-you/

“Women (and men) do not die from breast cancer. They die when their breast cancer metastasizes and spreads to other parts of the body. There has been a huge push for breast cancer awareness in the past two decades, with a tremendous focus on prevention and early detection. We wish these efforts had been successful. But the simple truth is that after two decades and billions of dollars, breast cancer has not been prevented and early detection has proven no guarantee against metastasis and death. And while these billions have been focused elsewhere, almost 1,000,000 American women and men have died while waiting for research funds to finally be shifted to metastasis research. This tragic truth is lost in the sea of pink promotions. We cannot and will not allow this to go on.” (Credit Metavivor.org)

While researching I came across a informative article concerning breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer, in delves into a lot of things i think need to be addressed. https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2014/10/stage-4-metastatic-misunderstood-breast-cancer.html tho I don’t agree the big cancer organizations have addressed underfunding or lack of support for Stage 4 whatsoever as the article claims, that’s why metavivor.org exists now.

I was one of the 30% who would go on to metastasize 8 months after early stage diagnosis. 100% of women with Stage 4 cancer will die from the disease. Please help continue to redirect the attention where it needs to be focused. #DontIgnoreStage4 #Metavivor.org