Courage and strength: Living with stage IV breast cancer

Algerina Perna 7 Comments Maryland, Q&A, The Baltimore Sun Metastatic Breast Cancer, METAvivor, stage IV

In September 2012, I photographed a group of women diagnosed with terminal stage IV breast cancer. Kay, Gretchen, CJ, Cece and Sally, as well as other members of METAvivor Research and Support, often held informal gatherings. A non-profit organization, METAvivor provides support to patients, raises awareness, and awards annual research grants for stage IV breast cancer. Many of its members form close friendships in the process of sharing their struggles and triumphs.

As I photographed these women, I was struck by their energy, joyful demeanor and dedication in helping others with the same diagnosis. I wondered how these ladies live with the possibility of death so close at hand while at the same time not only managing the painful and debilitating effects of the disease and its treatment. What gives them the courage to carry on with such grace? Has their philosophy of life changed? Their view of death? Here are their answers.

Oct 12, 2012

The Sisterhood of the Stage 4 Pants

Algerina Perna 1 Comment Maryland, Nation, The Baltimore Sun Ann Brashares, breast cancer, jeans, Kelly Lange, metastasized, METAvivor, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, state IV

16 photos

Many people are familiar with the movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” based on the book series by Ann Brashares. One pair of jeans shared by four young women is a means of keeping the friends connected as they each make their way from teenagers through young adulthood.

The “Stage 4 Traveling Pants” is a sisterhood of a different kind. These sisters span the globe. The pants they share, metaphorically, is a diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer. Stage IV means that the breast cancer has metastasized or spread throughout other parts of their body. Their individual circumstances and journeys merge in their struggle against the terminal stage of this disease.