Cancer doesn’t discriminate... it doesn’t care if you are in your twenties, if you are making plans to get married, starting your profession as a nurse... cancer just does not care...
This week’s guest on DJ Breast Cancer is Casey Metzkes, a nurse openly discusses the impact of breast cancer at such a young age and discusses having to make fertility treatment decisions. Casey had her eggs harvested prior to chemotherapy and has one “freezer baby” as she affectionately has named.
Casey discusses self care through her cancer diagnosis and how being able to be with horses helped her mentally and emotionally. Casey discusses being able to ride horses again now and her dream of one day having a ranch where cancer survivors can connect with others and with animals.
Cancer at any age is tough, but cancer at 27 is a game changer. Casey discusses the flippant way she was told that she has breast cancer. She also talks about how this has impacted her career as a medical professional and the way she treats patients. Casey talks about being long distance from her friends and family during treatments, but how her mom traveled from Florida every few weeks to be at her side.
Casey and I met through The Breasties organization and had our own meet up this Spring with another Breast Cancer Survivor named Chasity. The three of us immediately hit it off! We love to travel, we love our families and we all have experienced changes in our lives due to breast cancer. Casey went to a support group when initially diagnosed and it was a difficult environment for her. Casey felt that the Breasties was a great source of support and positivity that she needed. Support comes in many ways, shapes and faces. If you are not happy with your support situation, I encourage people to find “their tribe”! I hope you can hear the giggles and laughter in this episode as it was truly a blessing to record this episode with Casey there with me. After the recording, we do what we do best, eat food!!!! It was a wonderful afternoon catching up with Casey, giving her a hug and sharing her story with all of you!
