Clinical Talk: My Breast Cancer Progression, Disease Symptoms, & End-of-Life Choices

PLEASE NOTE: I've rearranged and condensed the original discussion for your listening benefit, and I've used an AI voice to read the edited transcript in order to protect my practitioner's privacy. My only regret is that you don't hear her gentle phrasing, understanding, and compassion. This is also why my reactions don't always align with the spoken word. With so many sound bits and video clips to manage, I apologize for the misaligned glitches.

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This video is a tough one for me, and for Tim. It's the perfect summation of my entire cancer journey, current fears, making informed decisions, and finding peace in knowing what’s ahead while trying to grasp that I may not be able to control everything despite my best intentions.

In this candid and compassionate conversation from July 22*, my medical practitioner and I discuss the realities of living with late-stage breast cancer that has metastasized to my lungs, ovaries, spine, and abdomen. I learn what to expect physically, how to mentally and logistically prepare, and the options available when balancing quality of life with treatment choices.

BE AWARE:

Sensitive topics include the intricacies and risks of the bowel obstruction process (including explicit details of bodily functions). We also discuss what medical procedures I can advocate for within hospice care while still focusing on comfort over treatment. And, we address the hurdles of traveling from my remote hometown of Haines, Alaska, with only a limited care clinic, to a Death with Dignity state for End-of-Life medication. If you believe only God decides, this video may not be for you.

I share my experience because I wish I had access to what real-life dealing with cancer and death is like before ending up here myself. And I want to pay it forward after listening to those who help guide me, too. (Thank you,    / ⁨@francinehascancer⁩   .)

#CancerJourney #OncologyCare #PalliativeCare #EndOfLifePlanning #DeathWithDignity #HospiceCare #CancerAwareness #Stage4Cancer #CancerSupport #AdvancedCancer #PatientEmpowerment #QualityOfLife #CancerEducation #LifeWithCancer #MedicalConversations