When you have a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer like I do, friends and family like to refer to me as a “fighter”. After a year and a half into this diagnosis, I don’t disagree, but I think they might be surprised at who my major foes have been.

Aside from fighting my cancer…

I fight with my frizzy, dry hair that has resulted from the medications and can be found in the drain after every shower and all over the bathroom counter.
I fight with the weight gain that has resulted from the hard shove into menopause by the medications.
I fight with the fatigue brought on by the medications.
I fight the mouth sores brought on by the medications.
I fight the ignorance of my diagnosis from the world around me.
I fight the insurance company to cover all my treatments and tests.
I fight to go to work every day, hiding my illness from everyone around me and trying to appear normal.

And compared to some others I’ve seen/heard with MBC, my foes are relatively tame. So, I think it’s OK to refer to someone with MBC as a “fighter” but just realize the depth of foes that person is most likely battling.