3. Be Your Own Advocate
When Tucker was initially diagnosed with breast cancer, the doctors found it in an unexpected place — the cancer had metastasized to her back.
“My back was broken. I was extremely sick, so I went to urgent care thinking I would get some fluids and maybe some meds,” Tucker said. “It turns out, there was cancer in my spine releasing that calcium into the blood as it ate away at my back.”
While her doctors wanted to address the cancer first, which would have involved more mammograms, scans, and biopsies, Tucker didn’t want to delay radiation treatment that could help with the pain she was feeling. In people with cancer that has spread to their spine, radiation therapy may be used to relieve back pain. Tucker discussed the matter with her radiation oncologist and was able to receive radiation therapy sooner rather than later. Following her treatment, Tucker received surgery for her back and started chemotherapy soon after.
“Advocate for yourself,” Tucker said. “Talk to your doctor about all options — there are so many! I’m sure there are some that I don’t even know of. If something doesn’t work, try something else. Just never stop trying.”
4. Find a Source of Support
Tucker said she’s blessed to have a strong support system, which included her mom and aunt, who have been with her from the beginning. For those who may not have the same type of support, Tucker recommended seeking it out elsewhere.
“There is a lot of support out there,” Tucker said. “The American Cancer Society, for one, has Hope Lodges [where] you can stay [during] treatment, [and] they have a Survivors Network if you just need someone to talk to.”
5. Advancements in Medicine Are Made All the Time
Three years after Vick’s diagnosis, her treatment stopped working. By the fourth year, she struggled to find a regimen that would help at all, she said. “By the end of year four, I thought I was a goner — the cancer had spread to my liver, lung, and many bones. But then I started a new drug, fresh on the market. It’s been a whole year, and now I’m NED (no evidence of disease).
“Research is leading to more and more breakthroughs that are allowing [those diagnosed with] metastatic cancer to have more years of living, which means there is definitely hope,” Vick said.
6. This Isn’t the End
Phelps refused to believe that her diagnosis meant that she would have to limit herself and stop investing in her life.
While she acknowledged that it’s important to make certain lifestyle changes, such as adopting better eating habits and building a nutritional mindset to stay as healthy as possible, Phelps didn’t view the disease as a be-all and end-all. “Metastatic breast cancer does not have to be a death notice but can instead become an eye-opener,” she said.
Vick came to the same conclusion early on in her treatment. “I was told by my medical team when I was first diagnosed that it was no longer a death sentence, but more of a treatable condition nowadays,” she said. “That’s the biggest thing I want to pass on to others. It is not the end, but rather a new path.”
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