I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) in 2017 at the age of 38 while I was tandem breastfeeding and was thrust into the world of living with terminal cancer without understanding what was happening. Soon thereafter, we learned that I was predisposed to cancer because of an inherited mutation at ATM, that this mutation is pervasive in my family, and I found FORCE. It is hard to explain the importance of community, of talking to people who get it, and how isolation can affect each of us negatively. FORCE has been a vital part of my community, and I am committed to ensuring that others are connected to communities where they can thrive, no matter the stage, the subtype or genetic mutation.
I volunteer in three roles at FORCE to make this happen. As a Virtual Community Leader for the ATM, CHEK2, PALB2 and Other Mutations group, I help ensure that people with mutations other than BRCA and Lynch Syndrome have a safe place to connect, share their stories and ask questions. As a Peer Navigator volunteer, I provide personalized 1:1 support by phone so others can become empowered to be their own advocates and make informed decisions with their doctors. As a Research Advocate, I have served on the Pfizer Global Breast Cancer Patient Panel to include patient insights on their tools and resources, so they resonate with patients around the world to improve patient understanding of safe and effective treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.