Photo by Gabrielle Triquet on Unsplash
As we begin October, a month dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, I want to shine a light on an important and often overlooked part of this conversation—Metastatic Cancer Awareness Month. While breast cancer in its early stages gets well-deserved attention, metastatic breast cancer—cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body—presents a different set of challenges, both medically and emotionally. It reminds us that breast cancer isn’t always pink; sometimes, it is a combination of colors that give additional messages of ongoing struggle, hope, and perseverance.
During this sacred time of the High Holy days, as we reflect on the themes of life and death, focusing on our mortality, I am humbled to share a personal story from our Shaarei Kodesh community. Thank you to Heidi, a dear friend and past president of Shaarei Kodesh, who shared her story of resilience and strength with our community during our Pink and Teal Shabbat partnering with Sharsheret. Sharsheret is a national non-profit organization that improves the lives of Jewish women and families living with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer through personalized support and saves lives through educational outreach.
Her powerful message reminds us of the complexities of metastatic breast cancer, a chronic illness that requires ongoing treatment and a continuous wellspring of hope.
In the Unetaneh Tokef prayer, the iconic prayer of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we read the haunting words:
"How many will pass on, and how many will be born;
who will live and who will die;
who will live a long life and who will come to an untimely end;
who will perish by fire and who by water;
and who by disease.
Who will be at peace and who will be troubled;
Who will be serene and who will be disturbed;
Who will be tranquil and who will be tormented;
Who will be brought low, and who will be raised up.
But T'shuvah/Repentance, T'fillah (Prayer), and Tz'dakah (Charity) can transform the harshness of our destinies.
Heidi’s experience calls us to reflect on the fragility of life, the importance of community, and the need for continued awareness, research, and support for those facing this relentless illness. Through our activism, spreading awareness of metastatic breast cancer, and charitable donations to worthy causes like Sharsheret, we can transform the harshness of our destinies. As you will learn, there is no 'cure' for metastatic breast cancer, but one can still live a productive and happy life for many years after diagnosis. Through her words, she embodies the spirit of being a Thriver, not just a Survivor.
I invite you all to read her words and join us in supporting those in our community living with metastatic breast cancer. Together, may we pray for health and strength as we enter the new year of 5785.
From Survivor to Thriver: My Cancer Journey by Heidi Aronson
Breast cancer isn’t always pink.
I am going to share with you tonight a topic that is very close to my heart and many of you may not even know about (I didn’t until I was forced to learn about it pretty quickly)—metastatic breast cancer. While breast cancer in its early stages is a serious concern, metastatic breast cancer represents a different and far more complex challenge, both medically and emotionally.
What is metastatic breast cancer? When we talk about breast cancer, most people think of a tumor that is in the breast. Early detection and treatment can often lead to a cure. However, metastatic breast cancer is a form of cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. This spread, known as metastasis, makes the disease far more difficult to treat. Unlike early-stage breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer is not considered curable. It’s a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment to manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Therefore, many of us think of ourselves as Thrivers vs Survivors as we continue down our life long journey.
This distinction brings with it a unique set of fears and challenges. For those of us living with metastatic breast cancer, there is often an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. The diagnosis can feel like a never-ending battle, with the knowledge that the cancer is no longer confined to one part of the body. This reality can make it hard to find peace, even during periods when the disease seems to be under control.
One of the most profound fears associated with metastatic breast cancer is the fear of the unknown. We often worry about how the disease will progress, how we will respond to treatments, and what side effects we might endure. There’s also the emotional toll of facing a future where the goal shifts from curing the disease to managing it for as long as possible. For many of us, this involves a cycle of hope and despair as we navigate the ups and downs of treatments, scans, and doctor’s appointments.
Yet, amid these fears, there is also remarkable strength. Those of us living with metastatic breast cancer often find ourselves tapping into reservoirs of courage that we never knew we had. We learn to live fully in the present, to cherish moments with family and friends, and to find joy in the everyday.
It’s important that we, as a community, support those with metastatic breast cancer not just by advocating for research and better treatments, but also by acknowledging the emotional and psychological challenges they face. We must offer our compassion, our understanding, and our willingness to stand with them through the highs and lows of their journey.
So back to my first statement breast cancer isn’t always pink. The ribbon for metastatic breast cancer is green, teal and pink. Green represents renewal, hope and immortality, teal symbolizes healing and spirituality and pink signifies the metastatic cancer originated in the breast.
For those who don’t know my journey, I am happy to give you a small snippet of it. It started in June 2023 when I felt a lump in my breast. After initial testing the doctor’s thought it was small and localized. My oncologist decided we should do a PET Scan just to be sure but truly didn’t expect to find anything. Boy was everyone surprised when it was found that I had two tumors on my liver. This now changed my diagnosis from breast cancer to metastatic breast cancer and from a ”cureable” disease to a chronic illness. I am happy to share though that after going through chemotherapy and targeted treatments I am thriving and I am what they call NED – No evidence of disease! I continue to get targeted treatments every three weeks and this is my new norm. We pray everyday that my body continues to respond to these treatments and I remain NED.
Shabbat shalom to everyone and I wish us all health as we head into the new year of 5785!
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