A Quality Life: Cathy's Breast Cancer Story

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Cathy, 62, has always loved jogging and doing step aerobics, but her true passion is tending to the flowers in her garden. “I just love being outside and getting my hands in the dirt,” says Cathy, born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Cathy will be the first to tell you that gardening takes both patience and the willingness to start anew when a flower doesn’t grow like she’d hoped. “It’s okay when something doesn’t go your way out there. It’s all about adapting and moving forward,” says Cathy. Cathy has had to apply those same principles to her own life as well. A diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer in 2012—the second time she had been diagnosed with this illness—halted her active and productive life. She faced an uphill climb of difficult chemotherapy regiments and an uncertain future. After dealing with painful symptoms from the chemotherapy and the stress of managing the ups and downs of her battle for over four years, she asked for better care from her medical professionals. She was referred to palliative care who now work every day to get her back to her active life. This is Cathy’s story. Hosted by Dan Altano