06/16/2026
"Hearing the words 'metastatic breast cancer' sent me into shockâand it did the same to my wife, my mom, my siblings, and everyone who loved me. We all felt helpless.
I couldnât stop the negative thoughts and questions from flooding in: Was I going to die? Would I see my boys grow up, get to coach their soccer games, sit in the audience at school plays, and take photos before their first high school dance? Would my wife be able to do all of this alone?
But after a few months of feeling like everything was lost, I realized I had a choice about how to walk through this. I wanted to show my sons what it means to be a warrior and what resilience looks like, and to get back up no matter how hard you get knocked down."
Meet our friend, pilot, and Stage 4 breast cancer thriver Lisa. At 38 years old, she was diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer after a routine mammogram and underwent a double mastectomy soon after. A few years later, after a routine 6-month checkup, Lisa learned that the cancer had returned and spread to her bones. This news came while expecting her second son and also resulted in being permanently grounded from flying.
After a few months of despair, Lisa made a choice to show her sons what it means to be a warrior and what resilience looks like. She found hope in taking control of what she could, taking whatever opportunities presented themselves - including attending NBCF Partner Casting for Recovery's specialized fly-fishing retreat for metastatic patients. She recalls:
"Attending the metastatic retreat turned out to be one of the most meaningful weekends of my life. The setting was breathtaking, and I learned a skill I had always thought about trying. But what stayed with me most were the women I met. Talking with other metastatic women who truly understood the weight of this diagnosis brought a kind of validation and healing I didnât even realize I needed. There is something powerful about not having to explain yourself, and about being seen without pity.
This has been a journey no one would chooseâzero out of five stars, two thumbs down. Suffering through what has felt like an endless string of life changes has been devastating. Nearly two years after my metastatic diagnosis, I still have hard days, and the possibility that things could shift again is always in the back of my mind. But, I choose to live while I am still here. I donât want to let fear rule my life."
Read Lisa's full story on her blog post here: www.nationalbreastcancer.org/blog/flying-through-the-storm-lisas-story-of-survival-and-strength-with-metastatic-breast-cancer/
