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Marissa is a “GenXer” living as a “flattie” with metastatic breast cancer since March 2014. An avid thrifter and vintage lover, she also enjoys reading, stress baking and roller skating. She lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart and rescued mini schnauzer.
A person living with metastatic breast cancer shares a poem regarding how her life changed in an instant, and how she continues to push forward even though her disease is extensive.
I was only aged 38.
I thought my life was going just great.
Until one day I found a lump,
A hard, round cancerous bump.
Which led to hospital beds
And way too many meds.
My life became countless pills
And endless bills.
As the chemo slowly drips,
I have my moment to come to grips,
With the new reality I am facing,
The future for which I am now embracing.
No lashes, no brows, no hair,
Thanks, chemo, now I’m bare.
Nothing makeup or wigs can’t hide,
Only you know yourself inside.
I will not let appointments and IV poles
Interfere with my life’s goals.
I am moving ahead.
I refuse to spend my days in bed.
I will not mope,
For I have hope,
To live another day and to continue to keep my cancer at bay.
Writing to get these words off my chest,
As I rid this tumor from my breast.
I’m in a place of healing,
not concealing.
Hearing of tumors tends to spread rumors.
All my sharing
appears to help with how I’m faring,
From the pain that I have felt
with the cards I’ve been dealt.
They say you don’t look sick,
as the cancer clock continues to tick.
Slash, poison, burn. Treat, scan, repeat.
I will not give in to defeat.
It’s spread to my liver, my lung,
For me, no bell will ever be rung.
Treatment for life,
Living with a disease that is rife.
Although my scarring
May be marring,
I’m still here.
I’ve survived another year.
We need a cure,
That's one thing I know for sure.
All the lives lost,
It must be stopped at all costs.
My outlook continues to remain bright,
What other choice do I have but to finish this fight.
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