I was diagnosed with aggressive triple negative breast cancer at age 37 in June of 2022. I then underwent six months of chemotherapy, including the dreaded “red devil” chemo, followed by a double mastectomy. Because I did not have a complete response to treatment, I then went through six weeks of radiation followed by six months of oral chemotherapy. Also in the mix was an immunotherapy treatment as well as monthly hormone-suppressing shots in hopes of keeping my fertility. I then started on a new treatment drug, and am being monitored extremely closely due to my strong family history and the initial aggressive and fast-growing nature of my cancer.

Lauren’s LifeList:

1. A trip to celebrate her birthday and honeymoon

I was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma at 23 years old in January of 2022 along with a genetic mutation called Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which was passed down from my father. My dad passed away from cancer when I was 11 and my family didn’t know about this mutation until my diagnosis. 

I had abdominal surgery in December of 2021 to remove a mass that I had discovered in my pelvic area a couple of months prior. I was about to enter my last semester of college and, thankfully, I was able to still graduate while undergoing surgery recovery and intense chemotherapy. My doctors didn’t give me much hope of remission after this chemotherapy failed and I proceeded to do a clinical trial drug and low-dose chemo in July of 2022. My condition continued to worsen and I came off the drug in January of 2023. Surgery seemed to be the only option left and, after getting turned down by five different surgeons around the country, I finally found one who would operate on me in California. I had my second abdominal surgery in February of 2023 and around 50 tumors (99% of them) were removed. After this surgery, my subtype of sarcoma was finally identified as myxoid pleomorphic liposarcoma. Since I had residual disease and tumors that started to reoccur I began a different chemo in August of 2023. This chemo wound up not working after five cycles and my situation started deteriorating rapidly so I had a semi-urgent surgery this past December. This was my third abdominal surgery and my surgeon removed a 22 pound tumor along with other tumors in my abdomen. It was a long recovery with some mild complications but I am now doing so much better. I am currently six months post-op and on a new chemotherapy that I started in March. I recently found out this chemo has shrunk all of the tumors and I have been tolerating it very well. Overall I feel really good right now and I am so grateful!

Carissa’s LifeList:

1. A trip

At the age of 39, I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. I felt a lump for several months near my armpit and when I received surgery for the removal, the cancer was found. I am currently going through treatment and am planning to have surgery in the near future as well. 

Miranda’s LifeList:

1. A family trip

In the fall of 2023, I noticed my right tonsil started growing pretty large. I thought it was a weird thing, but didn’t think too much about it, until January of 2024 when it got so big I started having trouble swallowing. I saw two ENTs who assured me it was normal and not suspicious, and I was told the tonsil had to come out. In March, I underwent a tonsillectomy, and the surgeon agreed that my tonsil looked benign, and most likely was caused by an infection, but they would still send the tonsil to pathology as a routine procedure.

A week and a half later, I noticed a new test result in my inbox with many words that didn’t resonate with the doctor’s assurances that everything was fine – especially the phrase “B-cell neoplasm.” Less than a week later, at the age of 39, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. My world was turned upside down! I couldn’t believe it, I kept saying over and over again that I couldn’t have cancer because I felt fine. Unfortunately, it was true – the next thing I knew my world was filled with things like PET scans, fertility preservation, and plans for chemo.

I am currently undergoing chemo and have now completed three rounds. Based on my latest PET scan, which (thankfully!) showed tremendous progress, the plan is to have one more round of full chemo, followed by two rounds of immunotherapy. Chemo has been tough, especially dealing with nausea and fatigue, but I feel grateful that it is doing the job it needs to do.

One of my chemo drugs is nicknamed “The Red Devil,” because it’s bright red and has harsh side effects. Because it looks like Kool-Aid, I like to visualize the Kool-Aid man busting through my cancer cells like he does walls, yelling “Oh yeah!” every time he destroys another cancer cell.

Laura’s LifeList:

1. An arcade machine
   
   
   

I was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in October of 2022 at 19 years old. I completed 6 rounds of chemo between October of 2022 and April of 2023 and went into remission in April of 2023. Unfortunately, in February of 2024, I found out that I had relapsed and my cancer was back. I have since completed three more rounds of chemo and I am currently waiting to complete my bone marrow transplant in late July.

Chloe’s LifeList:

1. New iPhone

I was enrolled in my second year of college when I started experiencing pain all around my body that I couldn’t explain. I went to the ER and that’s when they found the tumors in my abdominal and surrounding areas. That is when I was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at 20. I have since gone through fourteen rounds of chemo, but I am likely going to have to do more.

Charlie’s LifeList:

1. New golf clubs

I was diagnosed with metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma in April of 2021 at 34 years old. In May of 2021, I started chemotherapy. I tried not to focus on long-term side effects. I just focused on getting through one day at a time. My breast cancer is aggressive – but so am I! In June of 2022, I underwent surgery for a right breast mastectomy, followed by a liver resection and the removal of the lymph nodes under my right arm. I then started what was supposed to be 30 rounds of radiation, but just a few sessions in, everything stopped. In August of 2022, breast cancer touched my brain. I had to stop radiation and everything associated with my breast cancer treatment to focus on my brain. I had a craniotomy and five rounds of radiation to my brain. The surgery, treatments, and recovery hit me hard. I could hardly walk without assistance and I lost a significant amount of weight. I suddenly felt much older than I was. In March of 2023 I began a new chemotherapy drug.

Metastatic breast cancer is a roller coaster. Because there is no cure I will be in some form of treatment for the rest of my life. And those treatments come with difficult side effects. The constant reminders of the effects of metastatic breast cancer can be a whole other beast to deal with. I decided in the beginning that I wasn’t giving up. I’d be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t treat my diagnosis as aggressively as possible so I could have a greater chance at life. I’m taking care of myself every day so that I can be the best me.

Ashley’s LifeList:

1. Stay at a hotel with a spa experience

2. PlayStation 5

I am 31 and was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer in October of 2023. This news came only 16 months after my son was born, which made coming to terms with my diagnosis even more difficult. Since my diagnosis, I have completed six months of aggressive chemotherapy and have had two surgeries. Currently, I am undergoing a 30 round radiation treatment, and am continuing to take shots and medication.

Amy’s LifeList:

1. Family trip with husband and son

Cancer has been a major part of my life because so many of my closest relatives have been affected by it, including my brother, grandfather, and mother. After my own lengthy health ordeal, I finally found the source of my own health issues- stage IV pancreatic cancer. I’ve had pancreatic cancer return twice and have also dealt with three kinds of skin cancer and thyroid cancer.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve had a Whipple procedure, radiation, and many rounds of chemo, but it looks like we aren’t going to ever really beat it. Surgery and radiation aren’t options anymore because the tumors are too numerous, so our plan going forward is chemo infusions every other week – indefinitely. My medical team and I are always looking for new drugs and trials, but we’re on the last known chemo drug that has proven effective against this kind of cancer. I don’t plan on giving up anytime soon but there are certainly days where that seems like a reasonable option.

I was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome that required open heart surgery at one week of age. I have had a total of six heart surgeries and am followed closely by my cardiologist. In March of 2024 I thought I had a sinus infection but was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma. I’m 21 and just finished chemo. I have an MRI soon and then radiation.

David’s LifeList:

1. A PS5.
2. Tickets to a Broncos game.
3. Meet some of the Broncos players.