Tag: breast cancer

• More Real Talk about Cancer and Shit

  The Flares I’ve been dealing with cancer for ten years.Metastatic cancer for a little over three. I’m finally starting to understand what’s happening when my body reacts the way it does. And when I say body, I mean all of it — physical, mental, and emotional. You don’t get to separate those things when you’re…

  Erika Sherek

  January 27, 2026

  About Cancer, Stage IV Updates

  #stage4, breast cancer, cancer, chemo, chemotherapy, health

• What Metastatic Breast Cancer Really Means: Beyond the Pink Ribbons

  When people hear the words “breast cancer,” most think of pink ribbons, survivors ringing bells, and five-year remission celebrations. That’s part of the story—but it isn’t the whole story. There’s another side of breast cancer that doesn’t get talked about enough: metastatic breast cancer (MBC), also known as stage 4. This is the kind I…

  Erika Sherek

  September 22, 2025

  About Cancer

  #stage4, breast cancer, cancer, metastaticbreastcancer

• Fatigue No One Sees

  Here’s the thing about fatigue with stage IV cancer: it’s not “I stayed up too late last night” tired. It’s not “I just need a nap and a coffee” tired. It’s bone-deep, soul-sucking exhaustion that no amount of sleep, vitamins, or positive thinking can fix. And the kicker? It’s unpredictable. Just because I wake up…

  Erika Sherek

  September 18, 2025

  About Cancer, Stage IV Updates

  #stage4, breast cancer, cancer, cancer fatigue, fatigue, life, Metastatic, metastaticbreastcancer, StageIV

• The Difference No One Talks About

  When people talk about cancer, the story almost always centers on survivorship. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. A diagnosis, a battle, and a victory. Survivors ring bells, declare themselves warriors who “beat cancer,” and step back into a version of normal life. Yes, there’s fear of recurrence. Yes, there ay be follow-up…

  Erika Sherek

  September 8, 2025

  Stage IV Updates, Transition and Thoughts

  #fuckcancer, #stage4, breast cancer, Metastatic, metastaticbreastcancer

• Grieving the Old Me with Stage IV Cancer

  Grief with stage IV cancer isn’t just about death—it’s about losing pieces of yourself while you’re still here. I grieve the life I had. The ability to plan a day and actually do it. The energy to say yes without wondering if I’ll be too fatigued, in pain, or stuck at another surprise blood draw.…

  Erika Sherek

  September 1, 2025

  General Update, Transition and Thoughts

  #stage4, bitch please, breast cancer, cancer, cancer grief, grief, Transition, warrior

• Radiation Sessions: Getting the Authorities Involved

  Radiation sessions for this crazy party are officially complete. I like to think they made an example out of this group—showing the others that we’re not putting up with any nonsense. In case you missed: I think of every lesion and tumor as a party. The party in my hip got a bit out of…

  Erika Sherek

  August 26, 2025

  Stage IV Updates

  #stage4, breast cancer, oncology, radiation, radiology

• Yay, Radiation!

  It’s been nine years since I last had the pleasure of being zapped. Back then, after chemo and surgery, I endured 33 sessions of radiation to my left chest. It didn’t hurt, but the fatigue was overwhelming. And boy did it tear up the skin on my chest. Fast forward to today: I just completed…

  Erika Sherek

  August 16, 2025

  Stage IV Updates

  #stageIV #Stage4, breast cancer, cancer treatment, metastaticbreastcancer, oncology, radiation, radiology

• When the Hand-Holding Stops: Stage IV and the Vanishing Act of Cancer Care

  When you’re first diagnosed with cancer, the world seems to spring into motion. Suddenly, you have a nurse navigator. Appointments are made for you. Your phone rings with check-ins. Social workers appear with clipboards full of resources. The medical team seems to hold your hand every step of the way, from scheduling to scans, with…

  Erika Sherek

  August 13, 2025

  Diva Training, Stage IV Updates

  #fuckcancer, #stage4, breast cancer, cancer, cancer treatment, metastaticbreastcancer, oncology, StageIV, warrior

• Scheduling, Treament, and Insurance

  Today’s rant includes three of my favorite things. I had an appointment with the Radiology Oncologist today. She was explaining things, and I thought, ‘Yes, I’ve been through this before.’ So she told me what type of radiation I would have and the schedule. It will be the SBRT: Sterotactic Ablative Radiotherapy. The whole schedule…

  Erika Sherek

  July 28, 2025

  Stage IV Updates

  breast cancer, cancer, health, life, mets-to-bones, mri, stage-iv

• I’m baaaack!

  It’s been a minute since I’ve written anything. Been a bit busy. I just looked and I haven’t posted since March 2023! Wow! Okay, so… We moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in November 2024. Pete actually moved in October 2024, because I stayed behind to deal with the house! I finally just picked up and let…

  Erika Sherek

  July 23, 2025

  General Update, Stage IV Updates, The move

  breast cancer, cancer, chemo, chemotherapy, health