Janice is a rare patient in every respect. Most Stage IV triple negative patients are not alive eight years from diagnoses. If they have survived, they are suffering through their fifth line or more of treatment. Today, the median survival for triple negative breast cancer that has metastasized remains at about two years.
Janice recently posted that as she reflected on her friends with October birthdays (eight in total), the five with mTNBC had all passed away. Death comes over 100 times a day in the United States to patients with Stage IV breast cancer.
As an exceptional responder to treatment, Janice became an exceptional researcher and advocate for those with metastatic breast cancer. She provides peer support, a forum for sharing clinical trial news and results, and the real inclusion of patients in decision making, quality of life discussions and improved communication between patients and their healthcare teams.
She contributes to the idea of personalized dosing based on the patient experience for people who are likely to be on some treatment for the rest of their lives. She has spent years learning science so that her guidance to others is informed and directed to the best options and resources.
Like all cancer patients, the anxiety that precedes her own scans never goes away, and for men and women whose scans show that their cancer has returned or progressed (that sounds like progress but it is the knoll of cancer spreading), she provides hope in the form of new clinical trials and new options because she does her best to attend the conferences and read the literature that most patients are too sick or are otherwise unable to do. She does this all when she also has a family, and a life to live and interests, skills, and obligations, but she does it anyway. She truly has turned her scars into stars to help light the path for others.
Metastatic breast cancer’s ribbon, which was developed by Metavivor, the advocacy group founded by CJ Cornelius, includes green and teal as well as pink.
Editor’s Note: Get Involved
Cancer doesn’t discriminate. WHATNEXT and its partners are interested in amplifying the voices of those from all identities and backgrounds. If you have a cancer journey to share, reach out here to learn more about how your voice can help spread awareness and inspire individuals from all walks of life.
breast cancer community spotlight metastatic breast cancer triple negative breast cancer
Last modified: October 8, 2024
