MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2022 - 23

ANGEL ADVOCATES Bone Health
not the average arthritis
or bone pain patient. So,
when I go in for pain and
I get an X-ray and there
are no signs of arthritis,
I don't get the help that I
need. I am currently still
searching for the right
remedy. " To ease her mind,
Marquita continues to take
Vitamin D3, Collagen,
Glucosamine Chondroitin
MSM, and a Hyaluronic
Acid Joint supplement.
Marquita is an advocate
across multiple platforms
including being a Tigerlily
ANGEL Advocate. To
help others, she instructs
them on the importance of
weightlifting, stretching,
acupuncture ,
t a king
vitamins, and eat ing
healthy. She encourages
her audience to choose
MARQUITA GOODLUCK'S
STORY
Marquita was diagnosed at 35 with stage II
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) and has
undergone treatments for five years.
After treatment, Marquita expected life
to return to some sense of normalcy. As
the years passed since her treatment, she
felt like life was getting back to normal
and that she had a handle on her health.
Far from her imagination was the idea
that her post-treatment plan, consisting
of medical treatments for 10 years and
monthly shots in the belly, would cause
chronic pain. Marquita has been on these
medications for five years now.
Marquita's cancer treatment plan is essentially
working; however, her estrogen
is depleted, and she feels severe bone and
joint pain. The pain is constant but random
in the sense that it moves to different
locations in her body. Not only is the pain
bothersome, but it greatly affects her quality
of life. She frequently cancels events
or activities with family due to the pain.
" Aside from the pain, what hurts most is
the lonely feeling of advocating for your
health. Although I have a great oncologist,
I have had to visit many different doctors
with different specialties to seek help.
It's frustrating, because of course, I am
certain foods or vitamins that can aid
in better health. Having an advocate
like Marquita can be life changing and
lifesaving by helping others find their
voice. " I use my voice to tell patients
to never leave a doctor's office in pain
without a solution. I have yet to find the
correct remedy for my bone/joint pain,
but I make sure that I am comfortable. I
refuse to miss out on life or be in pain. So,
I stand up for myself and require the most
out of the doctors I see. I am also willing
to see any specialty doctor until I fix this
problem. I am determined to create an
effective team. "
The impact cancer has on our body can
be far reaching and long-lasting. As a
leader in the ANGEL Advocacy community,
Marquita is activating the army of
ANGELS standing together to do more,
to be more, and to advocate for necessary
changes that will improve health outcomes
for patients before, during, and after
cancer treatments. " I wish that I knew
beforehand some of the real-life issues
that would affect me after treatment. Bone
and joint pain seem to be common issues
among survivors, so I think it's crucial
that doctors steer us in the right direction
after treatment. It would be great if doctors
could provide a list of common doctors
you may need to see after treatment. We
need a survivor's toolkit because surviving
is just as hard as treatment. "
BREAST CANCER, BONE
HEALTH, AND PATIENT
SELF-ADVOCACY
The conversations of breast cancer and
bone health are rarely discussed with
patients until the issue has grown severe,
like in Kiana's case. There is an urgent need
for primary care physicians and oncologists
to speak with their patients about
bone health before starting cancer treatment.
There is a need for more advocacy,
education, resources and even a " survivor
toolkit " as recommended by Marquita.
Everyone recognizes the seriousness
of detecting breast cancer early and beginning
a holistic treatment plan right
away. However, bone health should not
be left off the table for discussion.
Individuals diagnosed with breast
cancer should be well-informed of the
short- and long-term effects of cancer
treatment. When individuals are armed
with this knowledge, they can bring it to
the attention of their medical providers.
In addition, there is the need for complimentary
therapies to help improve bone
health, as well as the complications and
side effects that impact our bones during
and after treatment.
Tigerlily Foundation is committed to
mobilizing our community of young
women, caregivers, and loved ones that
have been impacted by breast cancer to
transform lives. We recognize that we
must Advocate Now to Grow, Empower
& Lead through the ANGEL Advocacy
Program. Tigerlily ANGEL Advocates
are making a powerful impact in our
breast cancer communities locally, nationally,
and globally. l
Sources
Amgen; " Know Your Bones, " Amgen, October 8, 2018. https://www.amgen.com/stories/2018/10/know-your-bones. Accessed March 19, 2022.
Tigerlily Foundation; " My Life Glossary, " Tigerlily Foundation, n.d. https://www.tigerlilyfoundation.org/breast-cancer-toolkit/my-life-glossary/.
Accessed March 19, 2022.
MY LIFE MATTERS
SPRING 2022
23

https://www.amgen.com/stories/2018/10/know-your-bones https://www.tigerlilyfoundation.org/breast-cancer-toolkit/my-life-glossary/

MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2022