That little pink ribbon seems to pop up everywhere these days. With sports teams, organizations, and foundations all behind it, today breast cancer support is a greater cause than ever before. But for the people who are living with breast cancer themselves, specifically stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC), the reality of life with a terminal disease is more nuanced.
After a breast cancer diagnosis, many find comfort in connecting with family, friends and support groups — but some choose to live with their illness more quietly, keeping it private from almost everyone. They may not want to worry loved ones with talk of treatments and prognoses or they may wish to avoid being labeled as “sick” at work, home or even among strangers.
It still surprises me that , it is not infrequent for patients with breast cancer—early-stage and metastatic disease alike—to keep their diagnosis a secret from friends, colleagues, and even family.
“Ultimately, who you tell and don’t tell is up to you. But it is important to have a close network of family and friends who can support you through this process. They’re likely going to find out you’re dealing with this eventually. Don’t try to spare them,”
“Holding stressful emotions inside without an outlet can lead to worsened stress, anxiety, depression and isolation.There’s no shame in having Breast Cancer"
Sometimes you just need to find a connection or a voice that echos your own during your battle with breast cancer or during your recovery.
Some of the biggest things we are proud to offer are support, guidance, knowledge, and awareness. I've said it before and I will say it again: finding your tribe and support group before, during, and after your treatment is imperative to your well being. You need love and support to help fight your battles, even if that just means sitting with a friend, bringing a family member to your treatments, or sharing your story with others.
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