Fighting Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Street car racer Lizzy Musi, 32, has revealed some uplifting news as she continues to undergo treatment for triple-negative stage 4 breast cancer.
- 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.
- Although it's not for everyone, leaning into faith, like Musi does, can help cancer warriors stay positive when times get tough.
- Tom Evans, pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church located in New York City, spoke with SurvivorNet about the importance of opening up to others, including God, after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
- "It's important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you've never prayed before, you don't know what to say, a heartfelt plea, 'God, help me, be with me,'" Pastor Evans told SurvivorNet. "You can reach out to God and you can reach out to people, your friends and family and say, 'I can't do this on my own. I need you,'
Musi, a star of the hit reality show “Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings,” has been battling stage four, or metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer since getting diagnosed earlier this year. Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of the disease because it does not have any of the main drivers of breast cancer the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and the HER2 receptor which means it doesn't respond to treatments that target those drivers.
GOD IS GOOD & amazes me everyday!!”
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On the impressions (the radiologists summary) section of her CT scan results, the key takeaways from the scan read, “Interval decrease of size of right breast and right axillary lymphadenopathy.
“Multiple hepatic metastasis again noted, most appear smaller in comparison to prior study, a few lesions are slightly larger.”
Musi also took to her Instagram story to share a photo of her supportive parents, Pat Musi and Elizabeth Musi, standing next to her as she sits in what appears to be an examining room.
“There is nothing like family! They will always pick up the pieces and support you no matter what,” she wrote.
It appears Musi has been receiving an immense amount of support also from her fans.
Replying to her Instagram post, one fan commented, “Lizzy I am a true believer in God’s healing power! … He is showing you the benefits of serving Him already, look at your results from the Dr. Remember this you said God is good! Well He is even better than you know! Love ya lizzy I have you in my prayers for a miraculous healing.”
Another comment read, “Wonderful news lizzy you have many people who are praying for you and supporting you! God bless you and remember you have many people supporting you and lifting you up!!”
“Continued prayers for healing, strength, and peace. God is great,” wrote a third fan.
RELATED: 'Proud To Support Her': Fan Of TV Race Care Driver Lizzy Musi Gets Tattoo To Encourage Her During Stage 4 Breast Cancer Fight
Lizzy Musi’s Breast Cancer Battle
Musi’s good news comes as she’s been battling stage four breast cancer since her diagnosis earlier this year.
She 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.
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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, which appears to be working, Musi is taking the antibody-drug conjugate Trodelvy (generic name sacituzumab govitecan) and immunotherapy through a clinical trial.
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, Musi shared a video clip of her racing in her stylish all-black car, from when she competed in the NPK Invitational in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Turning to Faith During a Cancer Journey
For some people, turning to faith can be a great way to keep spirits high when cancer starts taking an emotional and/or physical toll. New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans previously spoke with SurvivorNet about the importance of find ways to cope with the complex web of feelings you may be experiencing after a cancer diagnosis.
Faith Perspective: Opening Yourself Up to Others After a Cancer Diagnosis
"It's important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you've never prayed before, you don't know what to say, a heartfelt plea, 'God, help me, be with me,'" Pastor Evans previously told SurvivorNet. "You can reach out to God and you can reach out to people, your friends and family and say, 'I can't do this on my own. I need you,'
"It's in that willingness to be open and to receive that we can actually find something deeper that we never would've encountered without this hardship."
For Sharonda Vincent, faith played a huge role in helping her get through her stage 2B breast cancer battle.
"I knew that if I just put my faith and trust in God, that I would be okay," Vincent previously told SurvivorNet.
"I Had A Talk With God And I Knew I'd Be Okay"
She was diagnosed after finding a lump in her left breast the day before her thirtieth birthday with just over a month to go before her wedding. She initially felt like her concerns were dismissed by doctors, but follow-up tests confirmed Vincent's worries. “It was hard for me," she said. "I felt as if I was being punished."
Thankfully, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone replacement proved to be a successful treatment regimen for Vincent. Now, she wants others to be inspired by her story.
"If I had one piece of advice to give to someone who was newly diagnosed with breast cancer, that advice would be to not give up hope, to live every day as if it was their last day, to educate themselves," she said. "I would let them know that it's OK to cry.
"It's OK to have days where they just want to be alone… But I would just push them to live a long, happy life because breast cancer it's not the end of the world.”
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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