“I believe I have a dream team of doctors and nurses,” says Florence Potter, who is being treated for advanced breast cancer at the BMC Breast Cancer Program.
Florence learned she had cancer in April 2021, after having a mammogram and biopsy. She met with Dr. Lauren Oshry at BMC, who explained the cancer wasn’t only in her breast. It had spread to her lungs, bones, lymph nodes, and spine.
Although this was hard news, Florence learned there are many effective treatments for the type of breast cancer she has, estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. This type of cancer responds well to hormone therapy, as well as many recently approved targeted therapies.
Dr. Oshry started Florence on two oral medications that controlled her cancer for almost three years. But when her cancer became active again, Dr. Oshry started her on an injection every three months in addition to an oral medicine that targeted her specific type of breast cancer.
“With the new pills, I wasn’t able to taste my food, and I started losing weight,” says Florence. So, three months ago, Dr. Oshry switched Florence to a different oral medicine. “Now I’m happy because I can eat and enjoy my food. I have some pain in my bones, but I’m doing fine. I am feeling blessed."
Florence attributes her feeling of well-being not only to her care team, but also to her outlook on life. “I have an attitude of gratitude, and that's what’s gotten me where I am today. I have 31 years of sobriety, and I take one day at a time. I have peace today within myself."
Something else that has helped Florence through her journey with breast cancer is writing. She journals every day, a practice she started while a resident at Rosie’s Place in 2009, and continued when she became a counselor there. She says writing has helped her get through many hard times in her life, including her addiction and the death of her son four years ago. “I have 10 books that I use for meditation, and I read those meditations out loud, and then I write. That's what I do daily. It keeps me focused. That's my communion. I just write.”