Living Your Best With Advanced Breast Cancer
Set Your Boundaries
Protect yourself. You're more vulnerable right now. Before cancer, self-care was not in my vocabulary. I was a class mother, worked 60 hours a week. Now, I've changed. Learn how to say no. Be in control of what you can control, because there are many things you can't control. Figure out what you need.
-- Susan Ruffini, president, North Fork Breast Health Coalition
Listen to the Birdsong
I honestly feel that my breast cancer was a gift to me, because it made me very aware of living. The birds didn’t have my address and I never heard them. But since I began my cancer journey, I go outside, and it’s like a symphony. Live every day to the fullest now.
-- Cookie Aftergut, founder, Chemoflage
Be Kind to Yourself
Some women have had a mastectomy, reconstruction, or lost feeling in their breast. It’s not visible to the outside world, but it’s visible to you. Give yourself time. Be kind to yourself. It takes time to heal. You’re not just cancer, your breasts, or your body. You’re you.
-- Karen Hartman, licensed clinical social worker, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Quality of Life Matters
Women with metastatic breast cancer have been living longer each decade. We’re making real headway with immunotherapy and other targeted therapies. It’s important to incorporate patient-reported outcomes in our clinical trials to emphasize quality of life as a pillar of research.
-- Jennifer Litton, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Keep Asking Questions
No question is unimportant when it comes to cancer. It’s difficult to realize what you don’t understand or should ask your doctor. Never be afraid to speak up and ask your questions! The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel about your care plan.
-- Sobia Ozair, MD, Mary Bird Perkins/Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center
Stay Social for Support
I’ve kept family, friends, volleyball players, students, and clients updated via my Facebook page with information and photos, so they could see and hear what I was going through. In turn, they’d share support and encouragement. I look forward to hearing their kind words and positive comments.
-- Pako Whannell, Cancer Fighters
Believe in Your Plan
The early weeks after diagnosis are the most overwhelming. Most women feel less overwhelmed once a plan is in place. Regardless of how serious things seem to be, remain hopeful. Be willing to accept help. Be clear about what’s actually helpful to you at this time.
– Katherine Castle, MD, Mary Bird Perkins/Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center
Sources Medically Reviewed on 09/19/2023 Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on September 19, 2023
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Susan Ruffini, president, North Fork Breast Health Coalition, Riverhead, NY.
Cookie Aftergut, founder, Chemoflage, Dunwoody, GA.
Karen Hartman, licensed clinical social worker, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Port Washington, NY.
Jennifer Litton, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
Sobia Ozair, MD, Mary Bird Perkins/Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
Pako Whannell, Cancer Fighters, Cancer Treatment Centers of America support network, Goodyear, AZ.
Katherine Castle, MD, Mary Bird Perkins/Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on September 19, 2023
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
