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
I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2013 and underwent treatment, including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, multiple reconstructive surgeries, and years of hormone therapy.
My diagnosis taught me that life really is short, and after completing treatment I made a conscious decision to live it to the fullest. I learned to SCUBA dive, started taking guitar lessons, changed jobs, and traveled extensively.
In 2020, I joined a weightlifting gym, learned Olympic-style weightlifting, and eventually started competing. Weightlifting helped me build strength, improve my fitness, and find a wonderful community. After training 4–5 times a week for several years, I was stronger than ever.
I also had an annoying hip injury that just wouldn't go away.
In the fall of 2024, I finally went to a sports orthopedist, who suspected a torn labrum and ordered an MRI. The MRI confirmed the torn labrum, but it also showed something unexpected: suspicious lesions in my pelvis.
Additional imaging and a biopsy confirmed my worst fear. My breast cancer had returned, spreading to my bones (femur, pelvis, sacrum, spine, and skull) and lungs.
I had stage IV metastatic breast cancer.
I've now been in treatment for almost two years, and I'm incredibly grateful that my cancer is stable. But there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, which means I'll be in treatment for the rest of my life. The hope is that each treatment works for as long as possible, and that another is available when it stops.
That's why I'm asking for your support.
We need treatments that work better, last longer, and have fewer side effects. And ultimately, we need a cure. None of that happens without research.
METAvivor funds research specifically focused on metastatic breast cancer. Your donation helps support the scientific advances that people like me are depending on.
And here's something I find remarkable: ribociclib, one of the drugs currently keeping my cancer stable, was being studied in clinical trials back in 2014, when I was undergoing treatment for early-stage breast cancer.
Research matters!!
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!