I first met Emily Hunt in 2021 through Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Hear My Voice Advocacy Training. Since then, she has counseled me on treatment decisions, danced with me at LBBC’s Butterfly Ball, and modeled with me for Alexis Bittar (more on that later!).
It is an honor and privilege to feature Emily’s thoughtfulness, strength, and radiance here on Overexpressed Asks. Thank you, Emily for all that you do for the MBC community.
Emily with Walter (Boston Terrier) and Bauer (Old Handsome Mutt)
Emily lives in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania with her husband, 11-year old daughter and 2 dogs. She graduated with a BS from Villanova University. She worked for over 23 years in the pharmaceutical industry as a clinical project manager and portfolio director. She was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2013 and MBC in 2018. She is a 2021 graduate of Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Hear My Voice Advocacy Training. She loves watching sports (especially U12 girls soccer and Villanova basketball), reading, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
Using a metaphor or simile, describe your MBC journey.
My MBC journey is like a roller coaster. But not just the obvious twists and turns and ups and downs. I’m thinking of that slow climb at the beginning of a big coaster….up and up and up and you have a feeling of dread but don’t know exactly when you’re at the top until all of a sudden you’re plunging towards the ground at full speed. MBC is definitely full of all the twists and turns and also you never know when the ground will fall out beneath you. It’s terrifying but somehow makes you feel alive at the same time.
Using words and phrases, describe what it is like to live with MBC.
Mentally exhausting. Keeping up with appointments, treatments, side effects, medications, scans. Answering the same questions from well meaning friends who just don’t understand MBC. Putting on a brave face when you don’t feel like talking about it.
What is one word/idea used in describing MBC that you appreciate? In two sentences, describe why.
I like terminology around being an “MBC thriver” or “living with MBC”. I don’t like being labeled as an “MBC patient”. I am more than my MBC and most days I’m just a person, I don’t always want to be thought of as a patient.
What is one MBC word/idea that you would like to see changed? In two sentences, describe why this change is so important.
The idea that MBC is an automatic death sentence. Old data suggest that the median survival after an MBC diagnosis is only 3 years but we know that lots of people are living much longer – 5, 10 or 20 years or more! We need more data so that newly diagnosed patients can educate themselves on what is to come.
What would you like people to stop saying or doing after they find out you have MBC? Or what would like to say to people who do not know what MBC means?
I hope this doesn’t sound ungrateful, but I struggle when people say “I’m sorry.” It’s hard for me to respond to that other than to say “thanks” and that feels awkward. Also, you didn’t do a darn thing to cause my MBC so there is nothing to be sorry about.
If you don’t know what MBC means, please just ask. I’m always happy to answer sincere questions and educate someone about MBC. One of the biggest things people don’t understand about MBC is that treatment is likely forever. They are always asking “how long is this treatment for?” thinking that I will be done with a chemo regimen and then move on. But they don’t realize I want to stay on a treatment for as long as possible because that means it’s working.
What do you know now that you did not know when you were first diagnosed?
That coming face to face with your own mortality can actually make you realize how many awesome things you have in your life. It’s OK to be introspective and think about your life and the world and your place in it.
Also, I did not know that MBC community is filled with some of the most awe-inspiring people I have had the privilege to meet.
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