Fighting Metastatic Breast Cancer
- “Street Outlaws” reality TV star Lizzy Musi, 32, has continued to receive support from fans as she undergoes treatment for triple-negative stage 4 breast cancer.
- Musi, who recently offered some insight into how she’s being treated, shared a heartwarming post on Instagram from one of her fans who got a tattoo in support of her recent health battle.
- Stage 4, also known as metastatic, breast cancer means that your cancer has now spread to distant areas of the body. Even though there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, doctors have many options to treat this stage advanced stage of breast cancer.
- For more info on advanced breast cancer treatments, visit SurvivorNet's "Breast Cancer: Later Stage” page.
- Having support amid a cancer battle is hugely beneficial. According to New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik, receiving the diagnosis "can be a very overwhelming experience" that requires finding support outside of your usual circles.
As 32-year-old Musi fights triple-negative breast cancerone of the most aggressive forms of the diseasea devout fan decided to get the famed racer’s logo on her arm.
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In response to the post, Musi commented saying, “It looks soo awesome!! Especially with the leopard print!!”
The Musi fan then replied, “@lizzymusi glad you love it!! I remember in an interview you said you liked cheetah print so I wanted to incorporate that with the black and gold.”
RELATED: Learning to Accept Yourself A Huge Part of Living With Cancer
More recently, it appears Instagram user @sadiehawkinsday has added to her tattoo, which Musi took to her Instagram story to compliment.
Musi reshared the photo uploaded to @sadiehawkinsday’s Instagram story, to share the exciting news with her other fans, writing, “You’re amazing thank you for the support.”
In the image, the supportive fan revealed her tattoo, more colorful than before, explaining, “Updated Tattoo! Had to support my girl @lizzymusic in her fight.”
Now the ink has been completed with the word “Bonnie” underneath Musi’s initials (in reference to the star’s Bonnie Camaro), a pink ribbon representing breast cancer awareness, and a red splatter surrounding it.
Lizzy Musi’s Breast Cancer Battle
The fan’s support comes as Musi has been battling stage four breast cancer since her diagnosis earlier this year.
Musi, known as a regular race car driver on the Discovery Channel reality TV show “Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings,” took to social media in April to reveal her cancer news.
“Hey Everyone, I haven't been able to have much time to post due to an unexpected life change,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “A few days ago I have been diagnosed with Triple Negative Stage 4 Breast Cancer that has moved to my lymph nodes to my liver.”
Her cancer journey began when she found "a marble-sized lump" in her breast after breast augmentation surgery. After visiting a doctor who wasn't too concerned about the lump, she decided to make another appointment when the spot grew to the size of a Cutie's brand clementine just a month later.
Eventually, that led to her diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer.
“I kinda felt numb, I didn't know how really to act,” she said of first hearing her diagnosis. "I was in disbelief, honestly. I didn't cry which is weird.”
Triple-negative breast cancer means it does not have any of the main drivers of breast cancer the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and the HER2 receptor. Consequently, the cancer doesn't respond to treatments that target them, making it difficult to treat.
As for the treatment she’s undergoing, Musi is taking the antibody-drug conjugate Trodelvy (generic name sacituzumab govitecan) and immunotherapy through a clinical trial.
Expert Resources on Triple-Negative Breast cancers
- What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer?
- Chemo for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
- Chemo Plus Immunotherapy for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, New Drug Trodelvy Extends Life
- Immunotherapy and Triple Negative Breast Cancer
- How to Treat Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Keytruda Shows Promising Boost in Survival
- Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatments To Consider
The First Immunotherapy Approved For Breast Cancer Hope For Triple Negative Breast Cancer
As a result, she's suffered from hair loss as a result of her treatments, however, her spirits have remained high.
“Racing honestly is the only thing that's giving me my motivation right now,” Musi said in a video she shared in May.
More recently, as seen in Musi’s latest post featuring a video clip of her racing in her stylish all-black car, the TV personality competed in the NPK Invitational in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Seeking Support During a Cancer Journey
Having support amid a cancer battle is hugely beneficial. According to New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik, receiving the diagnosis "can be a very overwhelming experience" that requires finding support outside of your usual circles.
Seeking Support: The First 3 Things to Do After a Cancer Diagnosis
“Some people don't need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet.
“But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional.”
Dr. Plutchik recommends the following three steps for anyone who just found out they had cancer.
- Seek additional support if you need it. This might mean speaking to a mental health professional or finding a support group to join.
- If needed, find a mental health professional who has experience helping people dealing with things like cancer.
- Make sure your care team stays connected. Your care team may include your friends, loved ones, therapist and doctors.
Overall, know you're not alone and there are many people out there for you to be vulnerable with should you choose to open up about your cancer diagnosis.
A great example of support is in the case of Tracy White, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer for the first time when she was 40 years old and was diagnosed again when she was 44. Even though she didn't want to admit it, White quickly realized she needed the support of those around her to help her to fight the disease.
Finding the Support You Need to Heal During Cancer Treatment
White was accustomed to a very fast-paced life, she had worked as a marketing executive for 20 years before her diagnosis. She commuted two hours a day, worked as hard as she possibly could, and was content being completely independent.
That all changed after her diagnosis. First off, White realized she would have to slow down a bit. After that, for one of the first times in her life, she had to ask for help and the social support that she needed.
“All of the medical costs, as well as the alternative treatments, were piling up because I was very proud and independent and I didn't ever want to ask for money,” White told SurvivorNet.
“My support group at work was astonishing. The management team rallied around me. My team rallied around me. My bosses rallied around me. They even started a GoFundMe because they didn't know what to do and they wanted to help.”
White explained that having that kind of social support made a huge difference in her healing process.
Talking About Cancer Diagnosis in Social Situations
Plenty of people who have undergone cancer treatment will tell you that openly discussing their condition has eased some of the stress associated with it, but this doesn't work for everyone. Since cancer treatment is not a one size fits all approach, and it affects everyone different mentally, not everyone feels comfortable sharing what they are going through with others in social situations.
Do I Need to Share My Cancer Diagnosis in Social Situations?
Some people want to share their experiences as much as they can and others don't want to tell anyone. Both of these approaches and everything in between (maybe you only want to tell a few close friends about your diagnosis), are valid.
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” Dr. Plutchik explains in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet. “How much information they should share and with whom they should share the information … everybody is different.”
Dr. Plutchik added that some share the information widely, with family, friends, and beyond and feel comfortable doing so.
She said, “Other people are much more private about it. And there is no one right way to handle this diagnosis.
"People should do what feels right to them. Going through a cancer diagnosis, through treatment, is often a very long process. And then if you also include after treatment ends where a person is in a kind of state of limbo, waiting to see if they are clear and get their scans. It may be three months or six months into the future. People are still dealing with uncertainty at that point."”
Dr. Plutchik also stressed that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What can I do if I am uncomfortable talking about my diagnosis?
- If I feel that I need support beyond friends and loved ones, what are my options?
- What can I do if I feel anxiety around my diagnosis?
- How much do I need to disclose to my place of employment?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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