While I hate pink-washing, I do believe in using the pink October platform to raise awareness and research dollars for #metastaticbreastcancer. Sadly, many companies exploit well-meaning shoppers and only contribute pennies for pink ribbon purchases. But a few companies do it right: S’well Bottle and Bloomingdale’s are giving 54% of the sales price of every limited edition Karma in Bloom bottle sold to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I love the design by artist Donald Robertson which cleverly combines flowers with fashionable women.
A family member got me one and I love it! It can be used for hot or cold beverages and it keeps the beverage at the right temperature for 24 hours. I especially like that it is entirely made of stainless steel so no worries about toxic chemicals leeching. #terminalbreastcancer #baldballerina#breastcancer #kissthis4mbc #thisisnotpink

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/swell-breast-cancer-awareness-karma-in-bloom-bottle-17-oz.?ID=2628071&pla_country=US&cm_mmc=Google-PLA-ADC-_-Home-NA-_-S%27well-_-814666027703USA&CAWELAID=120156070005799146&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=45837070549&CATCI=pla-357417183096&CATARGETID=120156070005752178&cadevice=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjw09zOBRCqARIsAH8XF1Z8qvj9Tkjnuu_DdB1qg4ymXr-GZpOo2Co2msSpQIauZ_byVoQ6DvkaAkgCEALw_wcB

Today is my 3rd Cancerversary. It was hard deciding which date to celebrate such an important milestone. Many choose the date of diagnosis, but my cancer had been growing long before that date.
To me, the most important date was the day I had my first chemo treatment and began taking back my body and its cells from cancer. In the process, I lost my hair, my breasts, and my energy. I learned a whole new vocabulary and underwent many new procedures and tests. I met many caring doctors, nurses, techs, and office staff who did their best to make me feel comfortable. I racked up enormous medical bills.
Three years later, my hair is back but my energy is still not back to pre-cancer levels because of the medications I take. Despite this, I am still dancing and there is no evidence of active cancer!
I am very grateful to my outstanding medical team headed by Dr. David Riseberg at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD and also to everyone who sent encouraging messages, prayers, and donations for my medical expenses. I couldn’t have done it without you.
The costs of fighting cancer are enormous – even with health insurance. It has been called the hidden side effect of cancer. In addition to things insurance doesn’t cover, deductibles and co-pays reset every January. This will give you an idea of how expensive cancer treatment is:
 

Total Cost of Treatment since diagnosis: $689,064
Cancer Drugs Cost: $523,689 (76% of total cost)
Insurance paid: $654,496
My family & donations paid: $34,568
 Before the ACA, many health insurance plans had a lifetime cap of one million dollars. While this is an enormous amount, just 3 years of treatment have used up almost 70% of that million. It is vitally important that our lawmakers do not put lifetime caps on benefits or determine that certain treatments can be excluded because they cost too much. Life is more valuable than money.
 Sadly, the health care debate has pitted healthy people against sick and disabled people. Good health is not guaranteed to anyone. Cancer does not discriminate: No one is too young; no one is too fit; no one is immune. Everyone is at risk. 
Below is a list of the procedures, treatments, and diagnostic tests I received in my 3rd treatment year. Because cancer treatment is so hard on the body, numerous diagnostic tests and scans are ordered regularly to make sure the patient can continue treatments. 
 16 maintenance infusions & blood tests
8 Xgeva injections
12 ovarian suppression injections
1 transvaginal sonogram
1 brain MRI
1 PET/CT Scan
1 CT scan
2 Echocardiograms
 I humbly ask for your support to help pay for my treatment. I have an ACA (Obamacare) plan and am very scared about what will happen in 2018. Please consider donating any amount you can; every dollar will go toward my medical expenses. 
Here is the link: www.youcaring.com/baldballerina.
Photo by Beau Pearson Photography

Leak
Leotard and Pointe Shoes by Capezio

Today Bald Ballerina celebrates her 3rd birthday!
Her life began filled with hope despite a very poor medical prognosis: stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that had spread to the sternum, spine, and pelvis; median life expectancy 2-3 years; no cure on the horizon. 
This was very hard to accept. I was only 23. I wondered how many years would I live? Would I be able to dance? If so, for how long? I wanted to live and to dance for a long time. I decided medical statistics would not determine how long I would live.   
I learned that I would need both medical and moral support to keep the cancer at bay. So I became the Bald Ballerina. She was born to share the beauty of life with others, and to tell the world that breast cancer does not discriminate: No one is too young; No one is too fit; No one is immune from breast cancer. With your help and support, Bald Ballerina’s message spread and became a social media movement.
I am very grateful to everyone who has followed my journey and supported me with encouraging messages, prayers, suggestions, and donations. I treasure and appreciate them all. With your continued support and prayers, I hope to have many, many more years of living and dancing.
Here are some of the highlights of Bald Ballerina’s 3rd year:
 ·All scans were NEAD: No Evidence of Active Disease
·Visited India and saw the Taj Mahal – a dream I’ve had since childhood
·Returned to NYC to perform with my friends at Joffrey
·Spoke on Capitol Hill about living with metastatic breast cancer for the Tigerlily Foundation
· Walked in NY Fashion Week for AnaOno and #Cancerland 
  NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt : featured in Tom Costello’s story about the high cost of drugs
· People: ‘Bald Ballerina’ Keeps Dancing
· NowThis: This Ballerina Is Dancing Her Way Through Terminal Cancer
· Glamour Magazine’s video “Every Scar Tells a Story” won Webby award
· ABC-TV People’s List : featured in Thrive Causemetics Safe Beauty Products
· Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD (my hospital) chose me for a Patient Story video   
  Dance Informa : Overcoming Obstacles; Finding Fulfillment 
· Produced my 3rd No One Can Survive Alone benefit dance concert
· Visited Salt Lake City for the 1st time and taught class for Allison DeBona ’s The artÉmotion Summer Intensive 
· Spoke about breast cancer and performed at the Dancers Care Foundation Benefit and at Starbound National Talent Competition showcase.
· Judged my 1st dance competition
· Continued teaching three nights/week at local dance studios
· Continued teaching master classes and speaking to young dancers about breast cancer
· Continued performing on a freelance basis
I can’t wait to see what is in store for the Bald Ballerina in the coming years. Thank you to everyone who has shared my journey and who made these wonderful experiences possible. I can’t begin to express how much your support means to me.