Lesley Life On Purpose

Having some fun with the beans. Koa is busy throwing axes in the background.

One of the “BEST” things I get to experience as a full time MBC patient advocate, (and yes, this is my livelihood) is meet the most incredible people who become my friends. I was in San Francisco this week at headquarters for a conference for breast cancer organizations. Pictured here is the ceo of . She’s an early stage ally who has built an amazing community for all cancers to find healing and restoration through service in other countries and also supporting those through their novel programming locally in the US. She is inspiring and I have learned so much from her. She helped me get my start with . If it wasn’t for her strategic wisdom, there would be no Project Life. To the far left is another ally from the early stage community. She is the CEO of and a beautiful authentic soul. As someone living with an MBC diagnosis and serving the community that I love so much, I surround myself with powerful women like these two. We may not talk all the time but I know that if I called or texted them, they would be there to support the stage IV community. I am so grateful.

What a privilege it was to speak to the public affairs department at Gilead Sciences] with my inspirational friend and my new Canadian friend, CJ, the founder and CEO of . The team at Gilead is just simply amazing. They are new to the oncology space but have been bringing breakthroughs for HIV for decades. We got a standing ovation which brought tears to our eyes. If my story can help pharma understand what it means to live with MBC (daily not just October) and to listen to us from the creation of any type of campaign, research development, and to be our Ally’s, I have done my job. I told them, we in the MBC advocacy community are a small bunch but a mighty one. Alex, far left mentioned “disrupters” and I responded with yes… we are. And we will follow up if you don’t come through. My MBC community deserves to be heard and I think the three of us made that clear today. And if there is one thing I walked away with is that … I want to live 24 years like my friend Terlisa. The more I get to know her and everything she’s been through… oh my goodness I just love her to bits. To Gilead Sciences] .. your team is amazing and I can’t wait to see what comes down the pipeline with your new vision to help those with mTNBC. .

My guests this weekend. Two Frenchie pups. They are rescues. saved these sisters but unfortunately their 3 siblings died from parvovirus and other complications. They have been such a delight. And yes, they are in my dishwasher, cause why not?

Right now 2023 looks really good. I’ve been of off treatment for two months and I’m feeling really GOOD. But a new systemic treatment starts soon. Oral chemo. My tumor markers have doubled, and my shoulder is a “ muddled mess” according to my radiation oncologist. Plus I have 3 broken ribs from metastasis. But no pain currently. Go figure. Making decisions is weary. And I wish I could just live in this space of feeling well.

🪘 Drumming Circle. We left it all in the fire.