Meet this Week’s Metastatic Breast Cancer Hero: Maggie the ‘Bald Ballerina’

We hear so many comments about what someone “should look like” while they are in treatment for breast cancer. Does it make it easier to avoid a hard conversation? Or that awkward silence when the word “cancer” comes up?  It is easier to know that a person is in treatment when they have lost their hair or their skin tone is “a little off”.  But patients that have been living with metastatic breast cancer may not show obvious signs of the disease.  Try to be considerate before you speak.  It’s better to ask questions than to make assumptions about people.  And we think that’s good advice on any day, cancer or no cancer!

“Before you judge folks who appear “healthy” for using disability “perks”, remember they may have a medical condition that you cannot see. Every one of us would gladly give up those perks to be 100% healthy.” – Maggie (@baldballerina)

Not all illnesses are visible . While I love looking and feeling healthy, the reality is that I still have terminal breast cancer; I am still in treatment; and I could go from healthy to needing chemo or surgery or radiation in the blink of an eye. Before you judge folks who appear “healthy” for using disability “perks”, remember they may have a medical condition that you cannot see. Every one of us would gladly give up those perks to be 100% healthy. #metastaticbreastcancer #terminalbreastcancer #breastcancer #baldballerina #awareness @holtz_photography

A post shared by Maggie K (@baldballerina) on Apr 23, 2017 at 7:41am PDT

Marcela Shine

Marcela Shine is Founder of Avanzar Ventures, Business Manager of The Tutu Project and an advisor to the Carey Foundation. Her company, Avanzar Ventures, has been supporting the project by providing operational, social media and technical implementation strategy since the inception of the project.