“

“Real cancer awareness is being educated on cancer”

Whistler resident, Patricia Stoop, is living with Metastatic Breast Cancer and spreading this message:

Submitted.

 

“Patricia Stoop is a Whistler resident, and has been living with metastatic breast cancer for over two years. For Patricia and the other members of the Living Legacy committee, their diagnosis with mBC means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. These women no longer “think pink” and do not feel a connection with the community of women with early stages of breast cancer. They are not focused on “beating cancer,” but are instead looking to bring much-needed attention to this highly sensitive topic that often gets overlooked when it comes to breast cancer and discussions relating to survivorship.”

 

According to the Canadian breast Cancer Network, “Metastatic breast cancer, also known as advanced, secondary or Stage IV breast cancer is the spread of cancerous cell growth to areas of the body other than where the cancer first formed, often with increased severity. This may happen before or after treatment of the cancer in the breast, or it may occur from a recurrent breast cancer (breast cancer that grows back in the same location). Though breast cancer cells can spread to almost any part of the body, they most commonly spread to the bones. Other common sites include the lungs, liver, brain and skin. It is this new cancer that is called a metastasis”.

 

The facts:

  •   Every year, approximately 25,500 Canadians are diagnosed with breast cancer.
  •  More than three women with breast cancer will be diagnosed as metastatic or stage IV breast cancer.
  •  Nearly 30 per cent with early stage breast cancer will eventually go on to develop metastatic disease.
  • Treatment for mBC focuses on control and quality of life vs. curative intent (being “treatable but unbeatable”).

 

Patricia is an advocate for herself and others living with cancer and participates in fundraising activities. Patricia sites her support network of friends, family, her husband and her children as her inspiration to continue to be a shining example and advocate in her community. Patricia encourages anyone living with this disease to live their life to the fullest and to go for anything that once might have scared them”.

 

Facts generated from the following sources:

http://www.cbcn.ca/index.php?pageaction=content.page&id=8234&lang=en

http://www.crs-src.ca/research-breast-cancer.

http://www.cbcn.ca/documents/cbcn_special_reports/MBCIC-Report.pdf.

http://www.cbcn.ca/documents/cbcn_special_reports/MBCIC-Report.pdf.