Brenda resides in Mesa, Arizona and not only is she battling Metastatic Breast Cancer, but also suffering from a chronic idiopathic pain condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia, which targets the facial nerves-specifically in her jaw area. Trigeminal Neuralgia is said to be “the most painful condition that is known in the medical world” and the ailments forename is the “suicide disease”. Komen.org defines Metastatic Breast Cancer as: “Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer) is not a specific type of breast cancer, but rather the more advanced stage of breast cancer. Metastatic cancer is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body (most often the bones, lungs, or brain)”. Brenda had a radical mastectomy to remove the breast tissue but, the cancer-infected lymph nodes had already broken open and the cancer is circulating through her body…roaming and seeking a place to latch onto! Brenda’s form of breast cancer is slow growing, but VERY AGGRESSIVE, and is not receptive to chemotherapy. While cancer flows through her body, and chemotherapy NOT an option, she chooses to fight every day to keep the cancer at bay and from settling.
Brenda struggles every day, but is blessed by family, along with a solid foundation of Faith and an intense daily routine. Four times a day she consumes an array of supplements that add up to approximately 52 pills by the end of her day. Not only do the supplements help keep cancer at bay but, they are also helpful with her Trigeminal Neuralgia. She continues to fight Metastatic Breast Cancer through fresh farm eggs (from her own beloved-chickens!) and fresh veggies every day from her garden along with an assortment of organic products. Exercise also plays a role in the fight Brenda continues to conquer every day. She spends 45 minutes a day doing some sort of physical activity from at-home workouts, to weight lifting, to riding her bike to town. Natural vitamin D is something that is important to her as well, staying as healthy as well as happy, are just a couple of priorities she has in her life.
All of this is done in hopes of keeping cancer at bay and flowing through her system, so it doesn’t settle. Every day is work for her, but it’s hard to imagine not being able to watch your family grow. The lifestyle she chooses to live by, day after day, isn’t an easy one…by any means. But the alternative just isn’t an option and she has found a solution that has been working for her. A mixture of supplements, diet, exercise, a positive attitude, being surrounded by people who love her, and an unshakeable trust in God’s plan gives her the hope she needs to continue the “not so easy” lifestyle she lives. She says: Is it HARD to eat healthy, exercise, take 50+ supplements daily, get VitD from the sun, etc? YES. Is it HARD to have Cancer? YES. So…CHOOSE YOUR HARD.
HelpTeamBrenda has AWESOME t-shirts available for only $15, in which ALL proceeds go to help her, and others like her, fight the good fight everyday. Please contact our FB page and we will be delighted to get the info to you. The price of all the treatments and on-going procedures and supplements has taken a severe toll on her family’s resources. Thank you in advance for your kind donation to her GoFundMe. Anything and everything helps, including prayers for Brenda and anyone else fighting the cancer fight.
KGW Interview
Metroscope Interview
Brenda participated in the Warrior Dash in Canby, Oregon May 19 along with 42 family, friends, and supporters. And then moved on to run the Portland Spartan Sprint Aug 19 with 10 TeamBrenda supporters along side. The Movement is catching on!! Get on board!