When Lindsey Gritton was in her third trimester of her second pregnancy, she found a lump on the inside of her armpit. The symptom was initially misdiagnosed as a clogged breast duct, but after pursuing a second opinion, she was confronted with the diagnosis of stage-four metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Gritton had two breast tumors and more than a dozen tumors in her liver, which was shutting down. Her cancer had also spread to her lymph nodes. Acting quickly, she was induced to deliver her baby at 37 weeks, and then started chemotherapy a week later. Determined to survive her disease so she would be there for both of her daughters, Sailor (now 3 years old) and Savannah (now 1), Gritton has adopted a brave, positive, and proactive outlook — a powerful inspiration to many other women living with breast cancer.
Gritton is now a passionate advocate for women with MBC, which is a terminal disease and is not curable — even with multiple rounds of treatment. While an estimated 140,000 people in the United States have MBC, living with a diagnosis can feel very isolating.
One way Gritton extends and receives support is through the Every Day for MBC community, which is sponsored by Seagen. Every Day for MBC is a place for people living with MBC to come together and have their voices heard — sharing the raw truth of living with MBC, without filters, every day.
In conversation with Good Housekeeping, Gritton discussed her journey with the condition and what she hopes others will learn from it. This is her story, in her own words.
MBC Can Happen With No Warning
I was late into my third trimester when I found the lump. I was alarmed, so I went to my ob-gyn. At first I was told it was nothing to worry about, but I had a feeling that I needed to get an ultrasound. It didn’t feel normal.
After a closer inspection, my doctor told me the lump was likely malignant. Doctors usually rate a malignancy on a one-through-five scale, and this one was a five. So they were pretty positive it was breast cancer. This was confirmed after they biopsied the lump. That’s when I was told I had stage-four MBC.
The first oncologist I saw told me that I had six months to live, that they could try to slow the cancer down, but it was taking over my liver. My liver numbers were not good at that time. Since that timeline was so definitive, I sought out multiple opinions. I found another oncologist who never gave me a prognosis. We just focused on moving forward and having a good outcome.
I knew nothing about breast cancer or MBC before I was diagnosed. I had no family history of breast cancer. I’d had genetic testing done, and there was nothing to suggest I was at risk. I always ate a healthy diet; I was always in the gym. I never knew about breast self-exams or anything like that, because I never thought it would happen to me — I was young and healthy.
Determination Is Power
The survival statistics for stage-four breast cancer are frightening. The percentage of people who survive five years after diagnosis is around 30 percent. But I have to be in that 30 percent.
Even with the statistics being so bad, I have to survive this for my kids. I’m determined to do whatever it takes to be here as long as I can be for them. There are big steps and little steps to take. After diagnosis, I committed to eating as healthily as possible. I cut all sugar out of my diet. I took all kinds of supplements. I did chemotherapy every three weeks for six months, and immunotherapy on top of that.
It’s Important To Lean On Others
I have a great support system. My husband’s a super-positive person. I also have my parents and my brother and my husband’s parents and his siblings. We had a ton of help when I was going through chemo, which was really helpful and nice. Everyone was praying for me.
I also have a really close friend who was diagnosed with the exact same thing as me, and she’s been in remission for years. She’s a big inspiration. We video-chat all the time. She’s really helped me get through this as well. Additionally, connecting with women through Every Day for MBC has brought me peace and strength. It’s helpful to not feel alone at times.
Optimism Is Everything
I’ve shared my story on Every Day for MBC, and in turn I see other people thriving with MBC. Adding positivity is my goal, you know? Hopefully I can be an inspiration to some people out there who are struggling with this. Because I’m happy. I have a pretty busy life! I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my husband is a business owner. We have lots of animals — goats, tortoises, dogs, cats, a chicken coop. We’re hoping to get some horses soon!
Remember, Your Life Is Now
If I could go back and change one thing, I would focus on living in the moment from the beginning and not being so afraid. Not worrying about the future. My message to other women with MBC is to make sure you enjoy the time you have every day. Live every day to the fullest.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer and are looking for support, you can follow Every Day for MBC to hear more from Gritton and others in the community.