Lisa was only 27 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She agreed to do a Survivor Spotlight. I was thrilled because she is a long term survivor of metastatic breast cancer. We need to hear more positive stories about women living with mets, instead of sticking our head in the sand and just listening to all the hype on television about how breast cancer is so easily cured.

What about the women who can't just go on with their normal lives because they have been diagnosed with a recurrence? -- a disease that will probably keep them on some sort of treatment for the rest of their lives. It would be better if the treatments had no side effects but we know that is not the case for many of the treatments available. Lisa has had many challenges in the last nine years. Here is her story.

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

I was doing regular monthly self exams and found a pea-sized lump in my right breast. I was only 27, but I took it seriously. I went to a doctor and she sent me for a mammogram. Due to my age and no family history of breast cancer my doctor and I didn't suspect the mammogram would be anything out of the norm. However, the results showed microcalcifications in the right breast. I then had an excisional biopsy that concluded it was indeed breast cancer. I had a 1.1cm tumor with 2/6 nodes positive with micrometastases. ER+/PR+ and Her2Neu+.

What types of breast cancer treatments were recommended?

I received 4 rounds of Adriamycin and Cytoxin followed by 4 rounds of Taxol.

I was ER+/PR+ and was given Tamoxifen. However, I recurred to the lymph nodes a year after finishing treatment. I had a complete lymph node dissection and radiation along with CMF followed by Herceptin for a year. Right after finishing Herceptin, I found I had metastases to 2 bones. In actuality one bone met was evident a year prior, but was not conclusive due to its very small size.

I have had many treatments in the metastatic setting; too numerous to list. I have had all of the hormonal therapies; of which none worked. I have had at least 7 different chemotherapy treatments, and all of them had helped but only for a short amount of time, 6 months or less. I continue to take Herceptin; having been on since 2000. I also take Tykerb with the Herceptin. For now I am in between chemos. I just had progression on Abraxane after 6 months.

This year I also found I had one brain metastasis. That was treated with Gamma Knife. I will continue to be monitored very closely with brain MRI's.

How did you research breast cancer and breast cancer treatments?

I did a lot of research online. In fact, I think I did too much. I was in nursing school when I was diagnosed so I already had a good idea what I was dealing with. The extra research I did online was overkill. I would read too many horrible stories about super-aggressive cancer and made myself sick with worry.

How did you tell your family? My family actually told ME! My surgeon told my mom and dad as they waited for me to recuperate after my biopsy. This was in 1998. I doubt he would do that today with the privacy acts we have. I wasn't angry with the surgeon, but he did overstep his boundaries.

Are you involved with any breast cancer support groups, fundraisers or breast cancer organizations?

I post on the YSC board and have met some wonderful women on there. Most of my support comes from an online yahoo message board called the "Boobees". We all met on YSC and decided to form a smaller group. Not only are we online buddies but we have had a few face to face meetings with 15+ women. I just returned from one of the girls' weddings in Jamaica with 13 other survivors from that group. It was very special for all of us to celebrate her happy occasion. We are a very close knit group and have been so for over 3 years.

What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer?

Listen to your doctors, but also be proactive in your care. Research what is important to YOUR particular diagnosis. Try not to obsess about others stories. You are unique and so is your cancer.

What advice would your give the family members and friends of someone diagnosed with breast cancer?

Most of the time a cancer survivor just wants to vent. We aren't looking for answers. We need to be heard. Just sit back and listen. DO NOT offer any "magical cures". They don't exist. And PLEASE don't tell us there is a cure for cancer but the government won't let us have it. Save your conspiracy theories and write to the sci-fi channel.

Also, one of the worst things to say to a cancer survivor is that he or she caused their cancer because of some idiotic reason. I have heard them all. DO NOT buy into the "reasons" for your cancer. You have it, now deal with it. No sense in going backwards. Look ahead!

As a breast cancer survivor, what thoughts do you have on surviving breast cancer and being a breast cancer survivor?

Being a stage IV breast cancer survivor is much different than someone who had breast cancer. I have cancer. I have to deal with it every day. I have weekly oncology appointments, monthly scans, and blood work. It's difficult, but it's manageable. There are treatments out there that can prolong life. I have been doing it for 9 years and I am still able to live rather normally. It's what they call a "new normal". When people tell me," I don't know how you do it" my thought is "I don't know how NOT to do it". It's my life and I don't know any other.

Name three breast cancer books you would recommend: I don't read a lot about breast cancer. I will read articles online and research studies as they come available through the NBCC or YSC.

Name other breast cancer related resources that you recommend:

I highly recommend the YSC for young survivors.