Elena's Story: The Perpetual Outlier: Managing MBC With a Heart Defect

I would never forget the phone call I received at nearly 5pm on Friday, March 18th, 2022. On the other line was the doctor that had performed my breast biopsy, quickly and swiftly letting me know that I was diagnosed with stage IV terminal breast cancer and that someone would be in touch with me sometime next week. It was the longest and most traumatizing 2 minute phone call of my life. I was just discharged from the hospital for spinal fractures and now we knew why they were there. At the time, I was also pregnant with my third child, a daughter, and was not sure what to do.

The next almost 3 years went by quickly and also traumatically. I endured a spinal reconstruction surgery, which my daughter did not survive. I went on treatment, and joined amazing support groups such as Breastcancer.org in order to fill my life with the support and guidance that I needed. This would lead me to becoming a metastatic breast cancer (MBC) mentor through Project Life, allowing me to help others on their own journeys.

My own MBC journey is a bit more complicated than it appears. I was born in Russia with a congenital heart defect known as Tetrology of Fallot and at that time, I was given only 3 months to live. I went on to have multiple heart surgeries as a child, but nothing that could repair my heart concerns. When I was 7 years old, my mom won a lottery that took a handful of kids from struggling countries and brought them to America to operate on them with hopes of fixing any medical ailments that they might have.

Although my Tetrology of Fallot was repaired, my heart developed other complexities and by 2019, I required a pulmonary valve replacement with the knowledge that I would have to have my heart operated on every 10 years. When building my MBC treatment team, I knew that I had to do so with my heart issues in mind. As a result, I am now also being followed by an Oncology Cardiologist and a Congenital Heart Defect Specialist. With MBC and a congenital heart defect, I sometimes feel as though I am a walking time bomb but I have been beating the odds nonetheless.

I have two young boys at home and a loving husband who has seen it all with me. For them, for myself, I have no choice but to continue fighting for my life with hopes that eventually both of my life-changing ailments will be nothing more than chronic illnesses.

Here is to hoping and here's to all of you who took the time to read my story!