Every day 117 people in the U.S. die of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), also known as Stage 4, where the breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Funding MBC research is the only way to find a cure!
ABOUT ME
Hi! My name is Christina, and I am living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). I have been happily married to my lifelong love, Bill, for the last 22 years. We have three amazing children, 24-year-old twin daughters Alyssa and Brianna, and our 21-year-old son Anthony.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 de novo (which is Latin for from the beginning) two years ago, on May 6, 2021. I was just your average 40-year-old working mother going in for her first routine mammogram. I have no family history of breast cancer, so I wasn't concerned in the least about going in for this standard screening. That was until a couple of weeks before my appointment, when I noticed a hard spot (I wouldn't even call it a lump) on my right breast. Low and behold, after a few weeks of appointments for initial mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and CT scans, I was told those words that nobody ever thinks they will hear. "The cancer has spread to your liver, and you are now stage 4. We can treat you, but there is no cure."
I am grateful that my initial rounds of chemo made my disease undetectable. Because my cancer was HER2-positive only, I have been on her2 targeted maintence treatments since then. Most cancer treatments have risks and side effects, though. My current treatment has caused my heart function to drop, so I need to closely monitor that. My mammogram in April 2023 showed a new area of concern, and after more biopsies, it was found to be DCIS. Even though surgery for stage 4 is not the standard course of treatment, my oncologist presented my case to the tumor board, and I was approved for surgery. I underwent a lumpectomy in June 2023, consisting of 3 incisions and 8 lymph nodes being removed, and underwent 30 radiation treatments. This year's mammogram had the same result as last year's (although they think what is being seen is something that was missed from last year's surgery). I am scheduled to undergo another lumpectomy this summer. I am not the same person I was before I was diagnosed. This disease has taken a toll on my body and has prevented me from doing the things I love. I am fundraising because MBC needs more! There are far too many of us living with this disease, and we desperately need better, more tolerable, life-saving treatments!
WHAT IS #LightUpMBC?
The #LightUpMBC campaign is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) research to benefit METAvivor. Held annually in October, the campaign partners with hundreds of iconic landmarks around the world to illuminate in the symbolic MBC awareness colors of green, teal, and pink. By uniting patients, families, and supporters, #LightUpMBC shines a spotlight on the urgent need for more research and resources to improve outcomes for MBC patients.
#LightUpMBC Live is a dynamic virtual event that serves as the centerpiece of the #LightUpMBC campaign, bringing together the metastatic breast cancer (MBC) community and its supporters for an evening of storytelling, inspiration, and impact. Hosted annually on October 13 on Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, this live-streamed program features powerful stories from MBC patients and their families, musical performances, and appearances by special guests who amplify the mission of raising awareness and funds for MBC research. #LightUpMBC Live provides a platform for education and advocacy, highlighting the urgency of funding scientific breakthroughs for the most advanced stage of breast cancer. For more info on how to watch, get involved, or view the list of participating landmarks, please visit www.LightUpMBC.org
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Follow @LightUpMBC on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected to our campaign!
Use #LightUpMBC and #METAvivor tags in all social posts to help raise awareness.
Support METAvivor Research and Support by making a donation through this page, and be sure to share with friends!
Thank you!