I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer in the fall of 2016. I’ve been told by medical specialists that my illness is not curable. I’ve been told by the internet that my life will end in three to five years.

In honor of this day, the following is my breast cancer story. I would also like to share with you some myths about MBC, derived from breastcancer.org

My cancer story began in 1997, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39 years of age. Our children were 14, 12, 8, 5, 2 ½ and 1. I discovered a breast lump while breastfeeding our youngest child. A biopsy, breast cancer diagnosis, double mastectomy (breast removal) and six rounds of IV chemotherapy quickly followed, along with losing all my hair.

Fast forward to the fall of 2016. At age 58, in preparation for a hysterectomy, scans were done before surgery. The scans disturbingly presented something on my bones that did not belong there. A bone biopsy was done to determine what it was. Shockingly, after almost 20 years, it was found that I had metastatic breast cancer, which had spread to my bones.

After a second series of chemotherapy and losing all of my hair (again), I now take monthly injections that, hopefully, will help the cancer that has moved into my bones remain stable. Every three months, my body is scanned to determine if the cancer has progressed into my brain, lungs, other organs or further into my bones.

Myth No. 1: Metastatic breast cancer is curable.

Whether MBC is someone’s first diagnosis or a recurrence after treatment for early stage breast cancer, it can’t be cured. However, treatment can keep it under control for months at a time and sometimes years. Reality for me is that I will be in treatment for the rest of my life, taking this treatment regimen as long as it keeps the cancer under control and the side effects are tolerable.

Myth No. 2: People with MBC have a short amount of time left.

While some people mistakenly think MBC is curable, at the other extreme are those who assume it is an immediate death sentence. But there is a big difference between Stage IV incurable cancer, which MBC is, and terminal cancer, which can no longer be treated. A person is not automatically “terminal” when he/she gets a metastatic diagnosis. Although MBC may shorten my life, it can be managed for years. Stage IV MBC is not an immediate death sentence.

Myth No. 3: MBC requires more aggressive treatment than earlier stage cancer.

The goal with MBC is control rather than cure. Doctors treat earlier stage breast cancer more aggressively because the goal is to cure it — to destroy all of the cancer cells and leave none behind, reducing the risk of reoccurrence as much as possible. With MBC the goal is control so patients can live well for as long as possible.

Myth No. 4:  If you’re diagnosed with MBC you did something wrong or didn’t get the right treatment the first time. When some people hear “stage IV breast cancer” they assume something must have been

missed along the way to let the cancer get that far. Although regular screenings increase the possibility of diagnosing breast cancer at an earlier stage, they cannot guarantee it, nor prevent the breast cancer from recurring. Another major misconception: If you are diagnosed with MBC after being treated for an earlier stage breast cancer, you must have chosen the wrong treatment regimen or it wasn’t aggressive enough. This, however, is not true. Between 20% and 30% of people with earlier stage breast cancer will eventually go on to develop MBC and there is often no good explanation as to why. It can happen to anyone. Treatment can reduce the risk of occurrence, but treatment does not eliminate the possibility of recurrence.

Myth No. 5: When breast cancer travels to the bone, brain or lungs, it then becomes “bone cancer,” “brain cancer” or “lung cancer.” Not true. Breast cancer is still breast cancer regardless of where it travels (metastasizes) in the body.

  

Julie Timm of is a metastaic breast cancer survivor.