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Portland woman advocating, educating as stage four breast cancer patient

Sentinel-Standard - 10/13/2020

Oct. 13--PORTLAND -- An Ionia County woman diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer is continuing to advocate and educate others about the disease.

Katie Edick, of Portland, was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer on Oct. 13, 2016. Four years after her diagnosis, Edick continues to receive treatment, but describes herself as healthy.

Coincidentally, her diagnosis day of Oct. 13 is also Metastatic Breast Cancer Day. Metastatic patients encourage people to donate to research and take action during October, Edick said.

"As long as I'm healthy, I'll continue to educate and share my story," she said.

Edick, 44, and her husband have lived in Portland since 2004. They have two children who attend Portland Public Schools. Edick is a pediatric occupational therapist at the Ionia County Intermediate School District.

Four years ago, Edick visited her doctor for her annual visit. Edick told her doctor she was having chest pain near her breast. Her doctor told her it was time for a mammogram but because of the pain, she also ordered Edick an ultrasound.

"She didn't feel a lump -- she wasn't worried about it so I wasn't worried about it." Edick said.

After the mammogram and ultrasound, a radiologist then told Edick she had a "very angry lump" and would have to biopsy it.

"I kind of knew right then and there that I had breast cancer," Edick said.

After further tests, a PET scan showed the breast cancer was in Edick's liver and spine. Edick was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer -- making her part of the 6 percent of breast cancer patients that start out in stage four.

Because there's no cure for stage four breast cancer, it's considered a terminal diagnosis, Edick said. The typical average life expectancy is about three years.

Edick's diagnosis has changed her outlook on the disease, she said.

"When I first thought I had it, I was in that pink frame of mind: I'm going to buy everything pink, do everything pink, I was going to punch cancer in the face because I thought it was something I could win," Edick said.

"But then when you're told that it's terminal, it kind of changes your frame of reference. Now I just look at it a little differently."

Women who are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer receive some form of treatment for the rest of their life. Edick takes an oral medication every day and goes to Sparrow Ionia Hospital every three weeks to receive an infusion of chemotherapy medicine.

After her stage four diagnosis, Edick decided to move her care over to Sparrow Ionia.

"I liked the idea of being closer to home, I liked the idea of having a smaller community and I think it's one of the things that has just really helped my mental health," Edick said.

"When I go there, I know all the ladies who work and check me in, I know all the nurses really well, they know me really well and I just feel really well cared for and supported."

Edick lives by the two mantras of "choose joy" and "have faith, not fear." She is part of a Facebook group in Michigan of women who have metastatic breast cancer.

She volunteers with the organizations Hope Scarves and Little Pink Houses of Hope and started her own blog at: terminallyjoyful.com.

Edick has lost close friends to breast cancer, and said she advocates and shares their story. She's offered her contact information to Sparrow Ionia whenever a new patient is diagnosed with breast cancer and needs a resource.

"I try to take it a step above awareness and encourage people to take action -- to donate to research and to look for credible organizations to donate to, like METAvivor, and to think before they pink," Edick said.

She advised that people research if money from pink sales goes to a credible organization that supports breast cancer patients.

Every October, Edick posts on Facebook to "feel it on the first." She encourages women and men to know their breast health and talk to their doctor if they notice changes.

For those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, Edick said to just take a deep breath.

"Most of the time, you feel this urgency to get things done but cancer doesn't spread that fast," Edick said.

"You have time to get a first and second opinion and research your options. If you're too tired and overwhelmed, then find somebody who likes to research or who wants to come with you on doctor's appointments to take notes."

For those looking to support their loved ones who are affected by breast cancer, Edick said to just do what they think is kind and not ponder.

"A lot of times we're just so overwhelmed," she said. "We're exhausted, we're tired and we're scared... even just a note of encouragement is actually really helpful."

-- Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@sentinel-standard.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

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