Close Menu
Healthtost
  • News
  • Mental Health
  • Men’s Health
  • Women’s Health
  • Skin Care
  • Sexual Health
  • Pregnancy
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
What's Hot

Your joints can get older decades faster than you – here is how to slow it down

June 22, 2025

UK Heatwave is expected to cause 570 deaths by the end of the weekend

June 22, 2025

Is the ozempic of nature? Dietitians weigh in the metabolic benefits of this undervalued supplement

June 22, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Healthtost
SUBSCRIBE
  • News

    UK Heatwave is expected to cause 570 deaths by the end of the weekend

    June 22, 2025

    Researchers use electric fields to detect elderly cells

    June 21, 2025

    Study links the volatility of heart rate to sleep with the risk of stroke and depression

    June 21, 2025

    Loros blood proteins help detect early septicemia in premature infants

    June 20, 2025

    Inflammation and immune dysfunction lead breast cancer to women aging

    June 20, 2025
  • Mental Health

    Data reveals both challenges and positive trends

    June 16, 2025

    How to choose the best yoga teacher training in Rishikesh

    June 14, 2025

    Stress is the most common mental health problem – here is how technology could help manage

    June 11, 2025

    Heart attack or panic attack? Why do young people call ambulances for non -managed stress

    June 7, 2025

    My journey, my development, my truth – uninterrupted

    June 6, 2025
  • Men’s Health

    Is the ozempic of nature? Dietitians weigh in the metabolic benefits of this undervalued supplement

    June 22, 2025

    Revolution of Male Birth Control: Dr. Darlene Walley offers plan A for men

    June 21, 2025

    6 health tips to help men thrive – Dr. Ardyce Yik ND

    June 17, 2025

    4 Weeks Calisthenics Workout Plan to build strength and endurance

    June 16, 2025

    Who warns Orvo as epidemics and health risks are increasing

    June 15, 2025
  • Women’s Health

    Natural ways to enhance breast size

    June 21, 2025

    Benefits from a post -sauna workout

    June 20, 2025

    Hiking ideas you will love for each season

    June 19, 2025

    Place your intestinal-gut axis with probiotics for better winter health

    June 18, 2025

    Massage Week 2025 – Healthworks Fitness

    June 17, 2025
  • Skin Care

    10 tips for a flawless texture of the skin of the face Joanna Vargas Skincare

    June 22, 2025

    How to apply sunscreen: everything you need to know

    June 20, 2025

    After the balm for treatment of the sun with hyaluronic acid

    June 19, 2025

    Best face cleaner for oily skin? I tried 5 options

    June 18, 2025

    The two must have acne ingredients

    June 16, 2025
  • Sexual Health

    How to make a sex movie

    June 20, 2025

    Could a vaccine you probably have already protected from gonorrhea?

    June 20, 2025

    Cancer and sexuality: questions for your provider

    June 19, 2025

    Your nervous system love language

    June 19, 2025

    Trump’s attacks on higher education – a pillar of the American Republic -Face Pushback

    June 17, 2025
  • Pregnancy

    Why most probiotics don’t work for women (and what really do)

    June 21, 2025

    How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten? Parent guide

    June 20, 2025

    What do you need to know

    June 19, 2025

    200 perfect names teddy bears

    June 18, 2025

    Teenagers exposed to chemicals forever in the uterus face higher blood pressure risk

    June 17, 2025
  • Nutrition

    Is it possible to feel naturally comfortable at higher weight?

    June 21, 2025

    Re -examining abnormal uterine bleeding through the metabolic health lens

    June 21, 2025

    Why the dipping of vegetables on the ranch is better for heart health than you think

    June 20, 2025

    9 ways to reduce your blood sugar after lunch

    June 19, 2025

    15 minutes of sushi wrapping (child-rejected!) | Sarah Remat

    June 18, 2025
  • Fitness

    Your joints can get older decades faster than you – here is how to slow it down

    June 22, 2025

    Sweat in the summer scheme: Part 2

    June 20, 2025

    Am I a real runner? Why each rhythm has a place

    June 20, 2025

    How to build power a rep every time

    June 19, 2025

    Reset your energy with yoga flows for every day of the day

    June 17, 2025
Healthtost
Home»Women's Health»Living with metastatic breast cancer means the pandemic is not “over” for me
Women's Health

Living with metastatic breast cancer means the pandemic is not “over” for me

healthtostBy healthtostNovember 3, 2024No Comments6 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Email
Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer Means The Pandemic Is Not
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Email

As he told you Jacquelyne Froeber

It’s October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I was in the produce aisle of Winn-Dixie when an adult coughed on me. Out loud.

I froze — a ripe tomato in my hand. I felt his weight and noticed the fine spray of cough on his bright red skin.

This was no accident. I had seen that man moments earlier change direction and make a beeline for me. As I stood there boiling, I reminded myself to breathe. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time a random person saw me wearing a mask in public and coughed in my direction. But that didn’t mean I knew how to act when it happened.

In my imagination, I pick up the tomato and throw it at him. As he turns around, I tell him I have breast cancer and a weakened immune system. I see his unmasked face fall. “Metastatic breast cancer!” add. And then I scoff. Like he knows what that means.

But the moment had passed. I took the spit tomato to the counter and told them to throw it away. “You don’t want anyone taking it home,” I said.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2019. I found the lump myself and like anyone in this position, I was hoping I caught it early. My oncologist and surgeon said I did – the cancer was stage 2 and slowly growing. I was advised to have a double mastectomy to remove the tumors – and all my breast tissue – and put it behind me. Even better: I wouldn’t need chemotherapy or radiation.

Unfortunately, my bones were keeping a secret from me. Lymph nodes removed during surgery showed that the cancer was more aggressive than we thought. Follow-up tests confirmed the worst: The breast cancer had spread to my bones. There was damage to my spine and hip. I didn’t have stage 2 breast cancer. I had stage 4.

When I was told the news, I instinctively put my hands on my stomach. I felt like I had been fooled. I struggled to breathe – stunned by the betrayal coming from within my own body. And then my brain almost went into autopilot because, well, there’s not much you can do when you’re recovering from a double mastectomy and preparing for the unknown.

As of March 2020, I was still healing but moving forward with my new treatment plan which included lots of needles and pills and tests and scans for the foreseeable future. My family, especially my sister, helped me plan all the things and picked me up when I was down.

Then Covid hit and the whole world shut down.

My first thought: Who gets diagnosed with terminal cancer during a pandemic? I would laugh if it wasn’t so ridiculous. And totally terrifying. Suddenly I was quarantined, alone and on the high risk list of people to die from a virus that none of us could see and had never seen before.

The irony was that I still had to go to the hospital for treatment, which meant I could be exposed to the virus at any time.

I had begun to hold my breath as long as I could under my mask, hoping that every little bit would help against the unseen threat lurking within the very place that kept me alive.

Still hiding in public, 2024

But in October, once again, I discovered that the threat was coming from inside the house. I was diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma on the bottom of my leg. From all places! And it was a rare type of lymphoma. My first thought: Who is being diagnosed? two cancers in a pandemic?

The lymphoma really solidified how spectacularly crappy my immune system is. My white blood cells – the ones that help fight infection – were low due to treatment, but looking back, I’ve always struggled to overcome an illness or heal from a wound. I once had poison ivy for six weeks. I didn’t want to think about what if I got Covid.

So when the restrictions were lifted and the pandemic was “over”, I continued to live my new normal as if nothing had changed. I avoided crowded areas. I wore my mask in public. And I got the vaccine as fast as I could. Even though it doesn’t completely fight the infection, every bit helps.

My life today is pretty much the same as it was at the height of the pandemic. My world travels have a mission-like precision: Mask up, get in, get out, exhale. I avoid doing things indoors as much as possible and unfortunately that means I miss out on a lot of events and opportunities. And I know there are people who think my answer is an overreaction.

I also had to learn that there is a tipping point where people will only satisfy your needs for so long — if at all. “There are just… so many of us. And so few of you,” someone told me wearily. I am very sorry to tell you that this is simply not true. About 7 million people in the United States are immunocompromised, and many of us are still trying not to get deathly ill from Covid.

So I’m still wearing my N95s. I avoid crowded indoor spaces. I watch the surges come and go. I have seen some people walk out of my life and others support me with fierce kindness. I’ve also come to know the pleasure of my own company all too well, and I have to say: If you don’t have the patience to make room for me, you’re really missing out. (I’m kind of hilarious.)

I understand that Covid is not even a thought for some anymore, but it is still a very real threat to me. Being immunocompromised, I can’t say how sick it might make me. And, I no longer trust my body to protect me because it has failed me in such spectacular fashion. So I have to do everything I can to avoid getting seriously ill — or even dying.

But there are days I wonder if perhaps I’m getting ridiculous. Maybe I should go to that indoor concert or grocery store without my mask. But then I remind myself that I’m living with two cancers and I’ve been through a pandemic. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’ve come this far by trusting my instincts. I’m not going to stop now.

Do you have a real woman, real stories of your own that you want to share? Let us know.

Our real women, real stories are the authentic experiences of real life women. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these stories are not endorsed by HealthyWomen and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthyWomen.

From your website articles

Related articles around the web

breast cancer living means Metastatic pandemic
bhanuprakash.cg
healthtost
  • Website

Related Posts

Natural ways to enhance breast size

June 21, 2025

Benefits from a post -sauna workout

June 20, 2025

Inflammation and immune dysfunction lead breast cancer to women aging

June 20, 2025

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Don't Miss
Fitness

Your joints can get older decades faster than you – here is how to slow it down

By healthtostJune 22, 20250

If your knees break when standing or your shoulders hurt simply to reach a cup…

UK Heatwave is expected to cause 570 deaths by the end of the weekend

June 22, 2025

Is the ozempic of nature? Dietitians weigh in the metabolic benefits of this undervalued supplement

June 22, 2025

10 tips for a flawless texture of the skin of the face Joanna Vargas Skincare

June 22, 2025
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
TAGS
Baby benefits body brain cancer care Day Diet disease exercise finds Fitness food Guide health healthy heart Life Loss Men mental Natural Nutrition Patients Pregnancy protein research reveals Review risk routine sex sexual Skin study Therapy Tips Top Training Treatment Understanding ways weight women Workout
About Us
About Us

Welcome to HealthTost, your trusted source for breaking health news, expert insights, and wellness inspiration. At HealthTost, we are committed to delivering accurate, timely, and empowering information to help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being.

Latest Articles

Your joints can get older decades faster than you – here is how to slow it down

June 22, 2025

UK Heatwave is expected to cause 570 deaths by the end of the weekend

June 22, 2025

Is the ozempic of nature? Dietitians weigh in the metabolic benefits of this undervalued supplement

June 22, 2025
New Comments
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    © 2025 HealthTost. All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.