Quick Links
Resources
About MyBCTeam
Powered By
Meet Nina Melad | Meet Becky Caroll | Return Home
00:00:00:00 - 00:00:21:19
Nina
What I found hard was every time I had to switch a treatment. Just because it's unknown and you feel like that treatment failed, and I have to move on to something that I don't know. What I would do every time I would switch a treatment, that night in the shower, I would cry. Because I didn't want to burden my family with it,
00:00:21:21 - 00:00:31:13
Nina
but it was a way for me to let it out. That was it. The next day you move on and move forward.
00:00:31:15 - 00:00:55:04
Nina
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, my friend recommended a really good doctor. I felt a sense of relief that I was in good hands. We had conversations on what to expect and the type of treatment I was going to receive. Unfortunately, she retired in 2016. When I felt my back pain, and I was then diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
00:00:55:05 - 00:01:20:12
Nina
I was forwarded to another doctor. I'm still under her care, and I love her. She doesn’t sugarcoat things, and when I ask her questions, she’s honest and direct with me. That’s what I love about her. She was the doctor who told me leave it in her care. "Enjoy your family. Enjoy life.” I would say to others, “Do your research.”
00:01:20:14 - 00:01:46:20
Nina
You really got to search for those doctors and trust your gut. It’s usually the best choice. Since then, I had radiation to my sternum, and then I had radiation to my liver. I had radiation to my left clavicle, and I had radiation to my spine. And after three rounds of chemo, I had a PET scan and it wasn't working,
00:01:46:20 - 00:02:17:14
Nina
so I switched. I get PET scans every three months to make sure that the treatment that I'm on is working. So far, I've been on oral chemotherapy treatments and chemo infusion. My hubby was with me all my appointments at all my treatments. During those infusions, we’d have movie days. For me, it's very important to have support, and I think everybody should have at least one person that they talk to.
00:02:17:16 - 00:02:42:11
Nina
My hubby, he's been to every single doctor appointment with me, and he's there to be my backup and really listen to the doctor and ask questions, my side effects, and what to expect. My name is Nina Melad, and I live with metastatic breast cancer.
For many women, metastatic breast cancer is a chronic disease that can be managed with long-term treatment. MyBCTeam member Nina spoke with us about the twists and turns of her treatment journey.
Nina has been married to her husband, Stan, for 26 years. Her son, Matthew, is 23 and recently graduated from college. Her daughter, Sabrina, is 19 and currently studying abroad in Japan. She also has a fur baby, a Dandie Dinmont terrier named Emmitt.
New treatment options are extending life for people with metastatic breast cancer. If one type of treatment doesn’t work well for you, or stops working after a while, there are other treatments to try. Like many women, Nina had to try several types of treatment to find the ones that would help slow the growth of her breast cancer.
“I originally started with oral treatments in 2020,” she said. “The oral treatments weren’t working, and I started my chemo infusions. But then after three rounds of that chemo, I had a PET scan, and it wasn’t working, so I switched. So far I’ve been on five oral chemotherapy treatments.”
“I like the treatment that I’m on,” she added. “The current chemo treatment I’m on right now, the actual infusion is only five minutes.”
The treatment journey for metastatic breast cancer can bring emotional hardship as well as physical side effects.
Nina said, “What I found hard for me was every time I had to switch a treatment, you feel like that treatment failed. I have to move on to something that I don’t know. Every time I would switch a treatment, that night in the shower, I would cry because I didn’t want to burden my family with it. But it was a way for me to let it out. The next day you move on and move forward. I don’t dwell on it, but I give myself that time to cry.”
“In March of 2018, I had radiation to my sternum, and then in May of 2018 and June of 2019, I had radiation to my liver,” Nina said. “In August of 2020, I had radiation to my left clavicle. And then in February of 2022, I had radiation to my spine.”
Apart from chemo and medication regimens to slow the growth of tumors, radiation can help shrink tumors and relieve pain with metastatic breast cancer.
MyBCTeam is the social network for people with breast cancer and their loved ones. On MyBCTeam, more than 69,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with breast cancer.
Have you tried different treatments for metastatic breast cancer? How did you deal with your feelings when it became clear it was time to switch? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
More Videos
In this video, Nina shares her top tips for traveling safely and comfortably with metastatic breast cancer.
Two years after successfully completing breast cancer treatment, Nina started feeling back pain.
Don’t miss the latest news, tips and treatment options.
Privacy Policy
Kelly Crumrin
is a senior editor at MyHealthTeam and leads the creation of content that educates and empowers people with chronic illnesses.
Learn more about her here.
We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.
You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.