In December 2013, I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer, shortly before my 38th birthday. Metastatic cancer is when the cancer spreads from the original site to bones or other organs. Mine is in the bones. All breast cancer deaths are caused by stage IV metastatic disease, which most people don't know. The average patient with this diagnosis lives less than 5 years, but I don't plan to be average! I've been told that I am likely to survive longer because my mets is only in my bones so far, not in any of my organs and "bone mets isn't what kills you." My attitude is that I don't need a cure right now, I need a treatment that gets me through to the next breakthrough, and the one after that. With any luck, I'll be one of the people who survives 10 or even 20 years.
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