How I Learned I had Metastatic Breast Cancer: April Donaldson's Story | The Patient Story
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2023
- April was diagnosed with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) at age 40. She initially found four lumps in her left breast and learned she was BRCA1+ like her mother, who passed away from ovarian cancer.
April underwent chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Just 5 months later, the cancer returned and she had to do more chemo and surgery. After finally getting radiation, April was devastated to be diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in her lungs. She has continued to battle infections, side effects, financial hardship and scanxiety.
Throughout her journey, April has leaned heavily on her faith, grace, and gratitude. She tries to focus on living life day by day, finding joy with her family, and setting future goals. April hopes sharing her story will encourage other cancer patients to have hope and know they can get through this difficult journey.
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Faith, grace and gratitude - April, you are wise beyond your years. As a fellow cancer survivor, I marvel at how articulate and thoughtful you are. I would say, "You should write a book", but you already have! Your sons are so lucky to have you as their mom. I will pray for healing for you.
My mom had metastatic breast cancer that also spread to her lungs to the point where fluid accumulated in it causing her difficulty to breath. She had procedures done to drain the fluid. But, unfortunately, in October of 2019 after one of those procedures, she had respiratory issues while we were at the hospital which led to her passing. My twin sister also passed away from cancer few years prior. My mom was my twin's caregiver while I was the caregiver of my mom. I showered them with utmost love and miss them daily! So glad you know the Lord. Cancer's a TOUGH battle! Thanks for sharing your story. Virtual hugs to you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your own experience as a cancer caregiver. You've been through so much. Sounds like you had incredibly loving relationships with both your mom and sister - glad to hear that. Sending you hugs! -Stephanie
God is with you
What was the symptoms of metastic??
Am sorry for your pain and temporary loss by God's grace, (the resurrection) I wanted to mention a book written in the 1800s called the ministry of healing by Ellen g white it is clear many doctors know that cancer is t
Of healing by Ellen g white explains so much about how cancer is transferred from animals to humans Dr. Kellogg cearl inventor did so many operations to help people. Cancer is transmitted so easily so the old testament explained how the animals were to be killed and cooked to prevent this. Today people are still not being shown the link however to prevent cancer we must eat now the diet given to man . Sounds like your family are loving Jesus and that's the greatest point, but soon and very soon will be the enforcement of the mark of the beast. I do pray you will realize God's protection over your life and that He wants you well to truly help people His way. Hope you will read the free down load book . May God continue to bless you richly ❤❤❤❤
Isaiah 41:10. Beautiful lady & family. Praying for you & your family’s strength. This is temporary and you will come through. ❤️🙏
Your faith and gratitude are very strongly rooted in this journey. Care and love are very supportive in this journey excellent mindset,too. God bless and more prayers.
Thank you April! I was blessed by your story of Faith, Grace and Gratitude! Continued Blessings of Healing to Full Health.
God Is Love and so are you!💪🏽💕
Thank you for sharing your journey. I loved your message of Faith, Grace and Gratitude. Praying for all of us with MTNBC . ❤
Beautiful lady... may she live a long life, she's in my prayers....
April you are such a positive light. May God Continue to heal you. Blessings to you and your family on this journey!
You are a beautiful soul.
I’m so sorry. I cried while watching your entire story. I’ve been caring for a family member diagnosed with a different type of cancer. Thank God she is in remission now but the side effects of chemotherapy even after it’s over is still brutal. Sending you continued prayers and love 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤❤❤…Faith, Grace & Gratitude
100% WARRIOR. BRAVE BEAUTIFUL SOUL💕
Thank you so much April for sharing your experiences fighting Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I was diagnosed with it (stage 2A) in 2021, and completed treatments in 2022. I try to take things one day at a time, but I’m always on alert for any changes with my body. I willl add you into my prayers. God bless you and your family! ❤
So glad you're on the other side of treatment! Thank you for sharing. -Stephanie
I pray you're doing well! God bless 💓
@@howdyyall4335 Thank you! As of today, I’m doing well with most of my energy back!
@@barbaramunoz8741 Praise God!
Thank you for sharing your story. I was diagnosed with stage 3 TNBC. I wish I had known about the cold therapy. I have severe chemo induced neuropathy in both feet, to the point that I can hardly walk. I am sending you so much love, light and healing energy. ♥ I love the short hair style in the photos, it looks very cute on you. I will keep you in my prayers♥
You are an amazing lady! Prayers for you and your family!
Beautiful person. Really feel for you. May all your days ahead be bright. ✨
I’m so glad you mentioned finances I never talk about that but it’s so stressful I’m on no pay now and luckily have some savings spending that I’m single so it’s so awful cancer patients should be able to get more help …. I’m so sorry you lost your house too . People don’t realise your so poorly cancer effects every part of your life you never look the same again your body is changed for ever you loose jobs money friends I hate cancer
Do you live in America? If so you can always try to apply for social security/disability
Wow! Your strength is Amazing. Wow
I'm praying for you! Your story is amazing. Cancer PTSD is real!
You're so special. May life embrace and empower you.
I am so sorry for all of the health challenges your family has faced, but what a beautiful testimony of a strong family facing it together. I am truly praying for complete restoration of your health. May God's grace and mercy cover you and your family. 🙏🙏❤
Thank you for sharing. Many people will be helped by seeing this video. And thank you for mentioning the financial hardships that many of us dx with a cancer have also suffered, despite being insured. I wish you and your lovely family all the best.
I’m sorry to hear your story you’ve had it rough sending you much love I have breast cancer that has returned spread to all my lymph nodes and skin … got scan anxiety at the moment app fri as found another lump … I’ve had chemo twice it’s so rough . Thank you for sharing ❤❤
I'm praying for you xxx
Thank you for sharing your story.
Faith, grace and gratitude. Amen.
What a beautiful Soul you are! Many Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you for sharing your journey! God bless!
What an amazing woman you are. Thank you for being real and for sharing openly. I am praying for you and your family.
Bless you April! Sharing your story will help so many people. 💗
Thank you for your story and for all the important information. I’m so glad that there are such good treatment options nowadays and hopefully they will be effective for you. I’m sure new meds are right around the corner as well. You are doing all the right things April so there is a lot of hope for your healing. I would love to read your book. You are a woman of so many talents!!. God bless you and your family❤
Sending you healing light April ❤
You are such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your story. May the Lord bless you and continue to give you strength and peace. You and your family will be in my prayers
Thank you for sharing ❤
Thank you much for story. My thoughts and prayers is you all.
I have through cancer twice and I love your message💖🙏🏼😊🥰
I pray for peace and comfort always! God bless ❤
You are absolutely lovely, I can tell what a genuine and lovely person you are and I expect you are a great Mum and Wife too. As a fellow breast cancer sufferer and, so far - a survivor, I am with you in so much of your video. I congratulate you on doing a video that is not All Singing and Dancing, with dogs and lights and special effects that turns out to be about 4 videos all saying the same thing. Some people think it is good to film themselves crying in the car!!! It is all for effect and hitting that button. You, however, have just said it
how it is, the bottom line, no frills, no histrionics, no bells and whistles. Oh also, some people use their cancer diagnosis to illustrate......'look how beautiful my home is, aren't I just so lucky'. Ridiculous. Thank you for your honest, down to earth and simple account of your diagnosis and troubles. You are truly lovely, it shines out in your voice and words. I wish you every bit of good luck with you illness. Don't let it beat you xxxxxxx
You explained your experience in such a relatable way. Thank you! Wishing you all the best
Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you health and happiness.❤
You explain things so well your such a lovely person … and love 💕 your positive attitude ❤❤❤
April Blessings to you and your family.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2022, I had a bilateral mastectomy in January without reconstruction.
I have been fighting infection for 2 and a half years from an inguinal hernia scar even had two more surgeries one being a month after having had MRSA to remove tissue in July 2023.
I'm still having infection or just open an wound to this day.
My plastic surgeon cancelled my revision surgery last month to remove access tissue from seromas that were not drained, to put some of my tissue where the mastectomy surgeon took away fascia and it is adhered to my chest limiting range of motion and tightening my pictorial muscle because of infection on going in that area.
Think I will be rescheduled for the surgery at the end of October although it worries me and the surgeon going into surgery with ongoing infection.
I also have lymphedema and extreme myofascial tightness, I have to wear compression shirts, I have to have my myofascial release PT and lymphedema OT.
You don't speak of any lymphedema or myofascial did you not get any of that?
I'm so happy for you that you have family and friends that can help you through this most of my friends and family don't speak to me after getting my cancer diagnosis kind of like they think they can catch it I don't understand why this happens.
I have my husband and son thank God.
I pray that your health continues to be well, that you live a long happy life get to be with your children as they grow and hold, grandbabies and great grandbabies with your husband.
❤
Contact me anytime. Lisa
You’re going through you own struggles and still find the kindness to pray for someone else. I’m going to pray for you❤.
❤️
Thank you for sharing your story April! May God touch you and heal you completely, you are a true Faith warrior! Continue to be strong in the Lord! You are His and dearly loved!
Thank you for sharing your story and strength with us. I was diagnosed July 10, 2023 Stage 3A triple positive BC and I will have surgery in 2 weeks. Please keep fighting the good fight and stay close to God on this journey. Don't lose hope, treatment options are advancing at a remarkable speed and many pink sisters are living much longer with mets. God bless you and your beautiful family.
I am praying for you for complete healing🙏You seem like such a positive, strong woman. I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and am having surgery soon. Thank you for telling your story and being such an inspiration ❤
May God continue to hold and bless you. 👩🔬
April, thank you for sharing your story of faith, perseverance and gratitude. All I kept saying was "Amen sister!" as I listen to your trials and testimony. Faith in God is such a powerful force in keeping us above the "raging river" of life. I honestly don't know how someone dealing with such adversity gets through it without the help of prayer and faith in God.
I have just finished a year of treatments of chemo and targeted therapy for invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast. My cancer was HER2+ so I had double complete mastectomies a year ago prior to start of chemo. I just loved your advice regarding scan-xiety. It totally makes sense, nothing has changed that day other than the fact you have new information. Thank you for that!
Your honest reflection, positive attitude and your acknowledging the need grieve and cry when needed will be a blessing to so many facing the difficulties of dealing with their cancer diagnoses.
God bless and keep smiling that beautiful smile!
.... By the way, you rocked the bald look, I'm only a little jealous!😘
You are an amazing young woman...I will pray for you & your beautiful family... a lovely person both on the inside & the outside...May you enjoy a long & healthy life w/ all your loved ones & especially God by your side...Godspeed my precious child...🙏💗🙏
Thank you for sharing about how you deal with updates as 'getting information' and that you don't let them impact your attitude regarding how you feel that day or throw you off course. I recently got some test results that are concerning and I felt pretty stressed. I am going to try to look at the info as just information. I think this will be really helpful in controlling my anxiety about them.
So glad that hearing from April was helpful! You are definitely not alone when it comes to anxiety, especially around test results. I remember scanxiety well. -Stephanie
You look truly well!
God forevermore continues to strengthen you and your family. Prayers are the key to the kingdom, and faith unlocks the door.
God Bless you and keep you safe xx stay positive xx
Thank you for sharing. Any environmental factors that might have contributed to the diagnosis?
Prayers for continued strenght and healing.
🙏➕🙏➕😍
Prayers ❤
❤❤❤ you are amazing
ThxU for sharing ❤🙌🏾💞
I've just lost my mom by cancer a week ago 😥 she was also diagnosed with triple negative in 2017 and then the cancer back in her colon also on her right ovarium she always have the spirit to fight but give up at the end
You’re so lovely and explained everything so well …. Sending you loads of ❤and strength I had triple negative at 32 had all the treatments it’s awful then luckily stayed clear for 12 years sadly it’s returned this time estrogen and progesterone positive and has spread to all lymph nodes and skin just finished all the treatments and I’m on targeted therapy and hormone therapy cancer just sucks but know your not a lone and your doing so well …. You’re so right mental emotional and financially awful …. I have to work I can only manage part time I’m single … same good job I had some savings but it’s gone on cancer 😢
Haven't had cancer, but very long history of digestive problems and now have an ileostomy and have to wear a bag over my stoma as I no longer have my large intestine. I can relate to the PTSD from medical care and all the trauma and pain it causes in every facet of your life and your loved ones. I hate going to the doctor anymore because, what are they going to find this time, or what are they going to remove. I'm like, I'm running out of organs here!! God bless you and there is power in the Blood!
You Rock, Period!❤❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are an exceptionally beautiful woman! Brave and strong as well. Thank you for your story!
Your children are beautiful. Your husband is amazing. I know you are fighting so hard each day to be there for them, and they appreciate it. I have heart problems, and I try not to think about them every minute. I love that you allow yourself sadness
I love you such an inspiring woman ❤❤❤❤
I worked with a young lady 32 years old who had a double mastectomy for the same type of cancer! They were talking about a total hysterectomy! She left the job and I lost touch with her!
Thanks for sharing your story April. Do you have an IG page or another social media page that we can continue to follow your journey?
🙏 ❤ 🙏
To You & All
TMH YAH Loves you 🙏🏾💙
My Lord!!
The ice gloves would actually stop the chemo getting to that area so could miss cancer cells 😮
Breast cancer would not have metastasized to her toes or fingers.
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I’m so sorry you had to sell your house ….
❤️🙏🙏🙏🫂
Stage 4 stories are the most entertaining & interesting to listen to 🥰
You cant say it is "entertaining" .We talk about other's people health.I hope they will get better and videos help me learn about something new.
It's very insensitive to say that these stories are entertaining.
@californiadoll6273 - ‘Entertaining’..🤨 Really? If this is your kind of entertainment then you have very ‘serious’ issues. 🤦🏾
@@deborahbizzell1989Exactly 👍🏾
A Sick twisted comment 🙄 Get off the Tube 👋🏾
The annoying thing about these stories is too much unnecessary personal info. People want to here symptoms so as to compare from different accounts, not all your intricate stuff. No that's not "mean" to say. If you can't do these accounts in an unselfish manner don't do them. Time is an important factor for those with current cancer. Be unselfishly mindful of that You don't HAVE TO tell your story, you know, but IF you do, just be aware.
It’s the patient’s story, as indicated by the title. I wish you well on your journey ❤️
@@deborahmirelli3715 I answer to God. His will be done. Don't need your "generosity". God has it. Yes it's the 'patients story'. I'm just suggesting they be unselfish about it. Tell the potential next patient in angst, what it's like in detail. They don't need your drama as they will have their own. Think higher. Higher self.
@@truthseeker243 rude, your not researching in the right places.
@@deborahmirelli3715 What research? Still confused are you? I don't answer to you.
@@deborahmirelli3715 I stated my point of view clearly. It is RUDE of you to still harass me a week later over it. Don't agree? MOVE ON. Get over it.
Thank u so much for sharing pray God grant u n everyone suffering cancer ease and cured with long happy healthy life and permanent cancer free Ameeen 🙏🏽❤️♥️❤️🥀🥀🥀🥀🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙