Tag: metastaticbreastcancer
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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…
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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
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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…
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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…
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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
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Questions people ask part 1
So I was having a conversation today with a fellow MBC (Metastatic Breast Cancer) friend. We were talking about how people don’t know what to say because they have no idea what all this cancer stuff is about. People think that 1. All cancer is the same – you get it you die or you…
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The Biopsy
I had the bone biopsy yesterday. Got there at 11:30. They prepped me which was a lot of me laying there. Got the IV in, then the dr told me what they were going to do and how they were going to do it. Yes I was scared to death and thank god they sedated…
Erika Sherek
