Profile: Linda Johnston

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Linda Johnston.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)?

Personally, I have little to no physical effects since being diagnosed w/ MBC in 2015. So it is frustrating and unbelievable that stage IV is "written off" as a terminal diagnosis vs a chronic illness. I hope that the MBC project will affect a change in that point of view. Also I think the stage IV diagnosis is an automatic huge mental stress/burden that further hinders quality of life.

Q2. Please tell us what being a part of the MBCproject means to you.

That I am doing something positive to affect the research and attention to MBC

Q3. If you'd like to share, please tell us how it felt when you were diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

That I would become sick, debilitated and sure to die. It was overwhelming and I felt like throwing up.

Q4. In a few words, can you please share with us your hopes for the future of metastatic breast cancer?

That the various stages of progression are recognized as unique and everyone is not treated like they are just biding their time. I've learned that many women have very slow progression and can and do live long lives with MBC. More treatments need to be discovered to delay progression and prolong the quality of life. Ultimately a cure for cancer is a cure for MBC.