This time I was diagnosed with stage four & knew what that meant for me. I would be in constant treatment for the rest of my days. I knew this was now terminal. I was given 3-5 years to live & started my first line of treatment. I did relatively well on that treatment for 5 years. The scans I had at that 5 year mark showed what I had dreaded most- progression. Progression that would spread throughout my skeleton well over the next year. I blew through one treatment after another. Nothing was working. In November of 2023, I switched oncologists. I am so glad I did. I would not even be here today if I hadn’t. She looked deeper into my records, tests & more. She discovered that my cancer had mutated to hormone negative, HER2 low & sadly, that it had spread into my bone marrow. This is extremely rare for MBC to spread to the bone marrow. It comes with a dismal prognosis of 9-12 months. I was devastated. I have been hospitalized 3 times since discovering this, once almost not making it back home. The first chemo I was put on lasted 5 months. It then spread to my liver. I am now on the next chemo & will find out sometime in September if this is working or not. Unfortunately, I am almost out of possible treatment options, so I need this to work as long as possible. My life is nothing like it was even a year ago. I spend many days in bed. I never know how I will feel one day to the next. I have had to cancel so many special events , trips, and time with loved ones because I was too sick. I still try to do as much as I can, when I can & continue to hope for that miracle that will buy me more precious time.

 This is where Twisted Pink comes into play & why they have become so important to me. I was first introduced to Twisted Pink online, by a dear MBC friend who has since, sadly, passed from this horrible disease. I received one of their incredible care boxes & started following them, along with other MBC organizations. In May of 2023, I sent in my video to try to receive a scholarship to the Gala that year. I was thrilled when I was selected & thought what a great time this would be! I had never been to Louisville either! What I did not know, was how much that weekend would impact me. Everything was perfect & every single person I met was so kind & welcoming. The other metastatic breast cancer women I met became instant friends. I am happy to say I have stayed in touch with most of them. I was lucky to talk to some of the incredible people who work/volunteer tirelessly with Twisted Pink & quickly realized just how special this organization is. I started my career in research (psych), so I have a background on how research works. I got chills as I asked questions & learned the process Twisted Pink has implemented to distribute the money they raise. They support GROUNDBREAKING research for metastatic breast cancer! This is what is most needed in the MBC community. I came home inspired & with a newfound hope that, even though I most likely won’t live to see it, I knew Twisted Pink would be a huge part in funding & finding better, brand new treatments for metastatic breast cancer patients. I have met a few of the kindest woman through Twisted Pink. Caroline, Stephanie & Brandi have made it a point to check in many times since the Gala, just to see how I am doing. I received cards & special little mementos when I was at my lowest. This meant so much.

Last October, with the help of dear friends, I held a fundraiser for Twisted Pink here in NJ. I thought it was a huge success & is one of the things I am most proud of. Over the past year, I have spread the message of Twisted Pink to anyone who will listen! Many ladies in my support group now follow & support. I have my oncologist & medical team very excited about what Twisted Pink is doing. This Sept/Oct I am holding my 2nd Twisted Pink fundraiser!! We are doing a couple of different things & I am hoping it will be an even bigger success than last year! I live in South Jersey, right over the bridge from Philly. I would love nothing more than for Twisted Pink to expand their reach to the East Coast. Until my dying day, I plan on helping in any way to do just that. 

To Caroline & everyone @ Twisted Pink, thank you for giving myself & my fellow MBC sisters & brothers something we need so much of – hope. Hope that one day, we will no longer die from this awful disease, that another person will never be told by a doctor that there are no more treatments left for them to try. Please keep doing the great work you are doing & fighting in memory of all those we have lost & in honor of those of us still fighting. Thank you