Determined 61-Year-Old Mom From Boston With Metastatic Breast Cancer Rents Billboard in Times Square to Help Her Daughter Find a Husband

That is why Beth had a 47-foot-by-25-foot billboard of her daughter go up in Times Square.

"Date my daughter," reads the billboard, which is accompanied by a photo of Molly and her dating profile URL on Wingman. There is also a small photo of Beth displaying on the billboard with the words, "I'm Molly's wingman and her mom."

"I would like to see my daughter well-settled," Beth tells The New York Post. "Considering that I have serious health issues, there is urgency."

Beth's Breast Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment

It was 2004 when Beth received the heartbreaking news that she in fact had breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, which helped.

However, in June 2020, Beth and her family were told that Beth's cancer was back, and this time, it was metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic, or stage 4, cancer means that the disease has spread to other parts of the body. For Beth, the cancer had spread extensively to her bones.

Hormone Therapies for Breast Cancer: CDK 4/6 Inhibitors

This time around, Beth is taking a drug called palbociclib (brand name: Ibrance), which is a CDK 4/6 inhibitor. Ibrance is one of three CDK 4/6 inhibitors available, in addition to ribociclib (brand name: Kisqali) and abemaciclib (brand name: Verzenio).

These drugs target specific proteins known as the cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6, abbreviated as CDK4/6, which is why they are referred to as targeted therapies they target specific proteins.

These drugs are primarily used in women with hormone-receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer, as well as metastatic breast cancer. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ibrance to treat these types of breast cancer in March 2017.) When they are combined with other hormone therapy, many women can have up to two years of their cancer not getting any worse. That is why Beth is taking Ibrance in hopes that it will keep the cancer from spreading further for at least two more years.

If you have one of these types of breast cancer and think CDK 4/6 inhibitors could be the right treatment for you, make sure to talk to your doctor.

'A Good Man for My Daughter to Love'

Beth knows her clock is ticking, that is why she created her daughter's dating profile on Wingman, attempting to find "a good man for my daughter to love," she says.

Molly is completely on board with her mother's strategy and plan. Some of Beth's friends have told her that "their daughters would kill them if they did what I did." But Molly, a self-described "easygoing" person, says she appreciates her mom's input.

Metastatic Breast Cancer: You Are Not a Statistic

"It casts a wider net," Molly tells The New York Post. "I want someone who adores me and someone I adore as well. I want someone who adds to my life. If this broadcasts that, it will all be worth it."

"It is only fair," Beth adds, "since Molly acted as my wingman, escorting me to various (breast cancer) oncology appointments."

"I'm letting my mom have the fun of filtering through profiles and responses," Molly says. "I value a relationship like that of my parents, where they talk things over and reach for high degrees of kindness."

Molly, we wish you the best of luck!

Being the Child of a Sick Parent

Being the child of a sick parent is hard. There is no sugar coating it.

"Family responsibility as parents age and become ill is complex," Dr. Marianna Strongin, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy Psychology, writes in her SurvivorNet column.

"Self-talk such as, 'This feels hard because it is hard' is really important," she adds. "It allows us to acknowledge the situation we are in while also leaving room for self kindness and acceptance. Having this kind of compassion for yourself will give you the strength to manage this incredibly difficult scenario."

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.