Shelley Southey

Living with MBC

Beyond Pink: My Own Path Through Stage 4

Most breast cancer stories begin with, “I was diagnosed in…” but I prefer to talk about where I am now. I’m currently on a medication called Ribociclib and have been on this treatment for almost five years. Altogether, my journey with breast cancer spans a decade. Like so many women, I never thought it would come back. I wasn’t mentally prepared, nor was I educated enough to understand the likelihood of a recurrence.

When we discovered the cancer had returned and spread to my lungs, I was incredibly fortunate that my oncologist suggested Ribociclib. My world did a 360 when I received the stage 4 diagnosis, and I’ve never been the same since. But I’m grateful the medication has worked—my condition is stable, and recent scans show no visible signs of active cancer.

However, this journey hasn’t come without loss. I’ve lost many friends to this disease, including my best friend, who passed away in December 2023. It’s difficult to stay mentally strong when you witness the lives of loved ones being cut short by the same illness you’re fighting every day. It’s not easy, but I’m incredibly fortunate to have a strong support system and a phenomenal psychologist who helps me navigate the emotional toll.

I’ve been through seven surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and now I’m on a lifelong medication regimen—as long as it keeps working. Although the treatment has been life-saving, it comes with side effects, and I still undergo scans four times a year, along with blood tests every three months. I try to live a “normal” life, but this is my new normal, and I’m deeply grateful for the fact that I’m still here. My body has endured so much, yet I’m okay. Every day, I’m thankful, and every day, I pray for a real cure because this disease takes far too many precious lives.