“There’s always hope. I know my time is limited but the utter joy I have in each day is wrapped in the future. I didn’t expect to be here three years later. I mean, who survives 50 tumors in your liver?”

Cancer has ravaged Erin Sipe of Hickory, North Carolina. On the day before Thanksgiving in 2010, she learned she had breast cancer and the mom of two daughters, Kara and Anna, ages 9 and 6 at the time, faced rounds of chemo and a bilateral mastectomy.  She powered through that with the support of her daughters and husband, Kevin, and was declared “free and clear.” She enjoyed several years of good health, running triathlons, raising her family, and actively teaching in her church. 

But, cancer returned in 2017. With a vengeance. With no symptoms other than an occasional catch in her side, Erin was stunned to learn she had 50 tumors in her liver. More treatment ensued. Recently, she learned she has 28 tumors in her brain. She began a clinical trial in Baltimore, MD early this year, but COVID-19 slammed the door on that. Erin returned to North Carolina, where she remains in treatment there.

Despite those challenges, Erin remains strong. “Don’t waste time living in fear. Live life,” she says. “I live every day with trust and thankfulness.” 

Erin writes about her cancer journey in a blog (ErinWSipe.com) and often shares stories and hope with friends, family, and other cancer patients. “You are not alone. You are not isolated, even in a pandemic. I have an army of amazing friends and survivors,” she says, adding, “The emotional toll is difficult in this pandemic. But, you can’t put cancer on ‘pause,’ you must keep hope alive.”

She keeps a whiteboard titled “Hope Chart” at home, filled with hopes and milestones for her family. Birthdays. Holidays. Graduations. Life. “I love checking those off and adding more wishes. I’m hopeful for so many more memories to be made.”

Her faith in God is strong and prayer sustains her. “Hope is everywhere, you just have to look,” says Erin. Hope helps us heal. I live and trust and am thankful. Always.”

“Life is a season,” she adds quietly. “I remain hopeful, whatever season I am in.” 

Help remind Erin and thousands more facing cancer that Hope Isn’t Canceled by sponsoring a Hope Scarf for $30/month as part of our Hope Isn’t Canceled Sustainability Campaign.  Our goal is to send 400 Hope Scarves each month – please join us!

Having Metastatic Breast Cancer has kind of prepared me for COVID, in a weird way.  The uncertainty of it all.  What has changed for me now is I’m more dependent on other people than ever before. 

Having cancer innately makes you more aware of your health anyway.  I work from home and am used to a lower-key lifestyle. But COVID has brought on a new set of challenges. I am no longer able to go to the grocery, so I have to ask for help or have items delivered. My finances have also been impacted too. I think the financial impact could last me the better part of a year. Luckily, I’m still able to receive treatment, although I’m hyper aware of taking all precautions when going to treatment.  Any testing and scans I have to do alone. The isolation is tough, it’s just me and my daughter here – I don’t have any adults to chat with at the end of the day.

I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer 3 years ago. I had been getting regular checkups and thought I was doing all the right things. My doctor mentioned that I had dense breast tissue, but never mentioned that dense breast tissue may make it more difficult to identify any issues.  Once she did identify there was an issue the cancer had spread. It was such a whirlwind. You have to look at all your treatment options, talk to lots of doctors, and all of that. But you also have to come to terms that plans you have made as a parent, very likely won’t happen.  Graduations? Weddings? I probably won’t meet my grandkids.

Someone referred me to Lara from Hope Scarves and I was excited to see an example of someone living with Metastatic Cancer. Everything with this diagnosis was so new for me and I didn’t know what it was going to mean for me, and seeing Lara living a very full and vibrant life with MBC gave me hope. The thing about women with MBC is that we are in it for life, there’s no finish line for us.

I’ve sent Hope Scarves to other people upon a new diagnosis. It’s a tangible thing I can do. Hope Scarves has created a community of connection that helps me know she’s not the only one going through this.

I get out of bed for my kids, but I definitely find more hope in the little things. A good conversation, the sunshine, the birds singing. I find a lot of hope in the little moments. My biggest hope for the future is that my treatments keep working and I can be here for as long as I can.

Help remind Rhonda and thousands more facing cancer that Hope Isn’t Canceled by sponsoring a Hope Scarf for $30/month as part of our Hope Isn’t Canceled Sustainability Campaign.  Our goal is to send 400 Hope Scarves each month – please join us!