Hi!  It's me again - still living and thriving with metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer!

I can't believe it has been almost a year since my last minute sign-up and fundraising for the Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK WALK.  What a fun whirlwind that was!  Because of YOU ALL, I learned that I was a top fundraiser in less than 24 hours of signing up!  This turned into a conversation with the San Diego Komen Executive Director.  A few days later, she asked if I would speak about my cancer journey in front of the 10,000 walkers to help kick off the walk!  I met the CEO of Komen that morning and we talked about some cool things.  Out of that conversation came an application and interview with Komen folks and I was later accepted on the Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Steering Committee with Susan G. Komen.  I am still finding my way on this committee but I am excited about all the potential to help the breast cancer community.  Who knew that signing up for this walk would allow me to give back, hopefully make an impact on others, and just have another purpose (in addition to being a mom to my favorite small-ish humans) in this new chapter of my life?  

I know you have heard me say this before but when I think about life (something I do often now) and what is truly important, it all comes back to the people in my life.  Wow, I have been blessed!  From my parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, relatives who are dear friends, family friends, childhood friends, high school friends, sports buddies, graduate school friends, coworkers, San Diego buddies, the family I married into, Scripps Ranch pals, friends I have met through having cancer, and of course the family I have created - my husband and my boys (aka "my fellas") - you are ALL BLESSINGS in my life that make my life so special.  

I am happy to report that since my diagnosis of MBC in April 2023, I have been living life very fully.  I have lots of scans (currently every 3 months), bloodwork (every 3 weeks) and appointments.  I do get tired much easier now than I used to and I have pain often and throughout my body, but I am doing so much awesome stuff! I have been on an oral chemotherapy for a year and a half and it is keeping things stable (meaning no new metastasis and tumors not growing; old tumors just hanging out out in my bones and liver).  I am trying to get better about posting things on social media (not my comfort zone but I am learning) about cancer and how I am trying to help others.  

This life is such a blessing!  I want to live longer on this earth with YOU ALL!  While I am only on my second line of defense for metastatic breast cancer and my oncologist assures me there are many more lines of treatment, I know that there will come a time where I will most likely have exhausted all of them.  She has told me that each treatment works, on average, for 18 months before it fails.  This is why research is so important to me.  I know there are some exciting things currently being studied that might help me in the near future.  Additionally, the more time I have on the treatments approved for the type of breast cancer I have, the more time there is for research on other lines of defense.  Unfortunately, there have been more recent government cuts to cancer research.  This is why I am so passionate about giving to Susan G. Komen.  I've learned that in 2024, Komen invested $10 million in breast cancer research with a focus on metastatic disease treatment and precision medicine.  Additionally, Komen provides emotional support via their helpline, financial support through their financial assistance program, and navigation services to break down barriers to care.  This is important work.  It obviously affects more than just me.  One in eight women get breast cancer at some point in their lives.  You heard that right - one in eight of us.  This disease has taken the lives of my sister, my mom (indirectly - she ended up dying from another type of cancer most likely due to the chemo she was on from breast cancer), my aunt and my grandmother.  I am sure you know others who have had breast cancer and even died from it.  We need to do our part to end this disease.  

So, if you have made it this far in my small novel, THANK YOU for supporting me in countless ways; THANK YOU for walking alongside me in this; THANK YOU for supporting Susan G. Komen in 2024 and THANK YOU for supporting again this year!  Let's blow this thing up RIGHT NOW!  Please JOIN MY TEAM, reach out to friends and family (feel free to PASS THIS ALONG), talk to your EMPLOYER about MAKING A DONATION and consider DONATING TODAY!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!  ~Megan