Michelle Audoin talks about the impact cancer research has had on her life, as part of OICR’s ‘Cancer Research Changed My Life’ campaign.

It’s easy to feel powerless when you’re diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

My diagnosis in 2017 was especially complex. My breast cancer had already spread by the time it was detected, and doctors also found a second primary cancer in my thyroid.

As a result, my treatment options were limited and my family’s future was unclear.

I was devastated, angry and frustrated, but I was also determined to stand up and take control of my future as much as possible.

And cancer research helped give me that power.

I started attending research conferences, spoke to scientists, and got a better understanding of the science behind cancer research and treatments. Over the years, I have also participated in research studies that continue to shape my knowledge and perspective.

An OICR-supported clinical trial that explored using genome sequencing to guide cancer treatment gave me insights about my cancer’s unique biology, and the treatments that might work best against it. Another study, focusing on quality of life, helped solidify my personal priorities around my treatment preferences.

Living with metastatic breast cancer means that I live with a disease that currently has no cure. I am on treatment for life, with the goal of slowing or stopping the progression of the disease, while minimizing life-limiting side effects.

Informed by my experiences with research, I recognize that my personal priority is to access oral treatments that I can take at home, rather than as an IV infusion at the hospital. I was able to communicate that priority to my healthcare team and ultimately maintain my quality of life and engage fully as a mom.

While cancer research has certainly changed my life, it also motivates me to want to help others. That’s why I raised my hand to become a patient partner in cancer research.

Through patient partnership, I’ve been able to shape research studies to make sure they address the priorities of cancer patients and advocate for improvements. This is especially meaningful as a Black woman, because people like me have too often been marginalized and underrepresented in cancer research.

My involvement in cancer research has also connected me with an inspiring community of scientists, advocates and diverse individuals affected by a cancer diagnosis. Working with them and learning from them gives me a window into what’s possible in the future.

Innovative blood tests called ‘liquid biopsies’ may soon spare people like me from the endless scans, and catch disease progression before symptoms affect my quality of life. And the rapid advancement of targeted therapies could mean even better treatment options are on the horizon.

This knowledge changes the way I look at my own experience with cancer. It also gives me hope that research, treatments and survivorship will continue to improve as my kids get older.

Michelle Audoin lives with Stage 4 breast cancer and advocates for the unmet needs of undersupported communities in the cancer care space, with a focus on health equity and the patient voice. She is involved in many cancer organizations and awareness campaigns, and loves to speak to healthcare agencies and on panels about her own experiences navigating cancer as a Black woman. Michelle comes from an education background and is a mom.