A Note from Jane - Sharing the Love
This Giving Tuesday, we are spotlighting another amazing customer who has graciously shared her story with Breast Cancer. We want to honor her by sharing her story with everyone. She leads with courage and confidence, something we admire. We have sold out of our Love Courage Strength Collection with a donation totaling over $13,000 to Breast Cancer Alliance. Thank you all for shopping and wearing this collection with pride.
Xx Janie
Cheri, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. We are honored. Could you tell us a little more about yourself?
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my story with you and with the Jane Win community! My name is Cheri Henderson, and I live along the beautiful shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota with my supportive partner, Brent. We enjoy adventuring up the north shore of Lake Superior and out west with our teardrop camper and our fishing rods. Hiking and fishing in majestic places are passions we share, and we actively work to be outdoors as much as possible. I also love spending my time with family and friends, collecting rocks, taking pictures, writing, and focusing on my healing and wellness. I currently am receiving chemotherapy treatments once every five weeks and continue to get scans every three months to monitor, adjust, and treat the cancer. It has taken me some time to accept this reality, and now that I have — I work very intentionally to balance my quality of life with these treatments. I’ve learned to manage the side effects and am constantly exploring and researching new and innovative ways to most optimally support my body and mind. It is by using an integrative, metabolic, and holistic approach to healing that I continually move forward and live my best life right now.
You are courageously battling Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer and were first diagnosed at age 39. Can you share more about your diagnosis and journey the past few years?
I was first diagnosed with Stage IIIA Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (ER+, PR+, HER 2-) at age 39, just four months shy of my 40th birthday. I found the lump myself and took immediate action. A cancer diagnosis was certainly not in my plans for my 40th year, but it came just the same. I was hurtled into treatments — the cancer was aggressive and so were we. I endured IV chemotherapies, surgeries, chemotherapy pills, radiation, and hormone therapies over the course of the next couple of years. The cancer continued to grow, and so did the corresponding list of treatments. Two years later, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (ER+, PR+, HER 2-low) at 41 years old when the cancer spread to one of my ribs. I had more surgeries, more chemotherapy, and more radiation. When I was facing further progression of this disease in October 2022, a new IV chemotherapy drug became available and FDA approved in August of the same year. Research and funding made this possible for me, and I have been on this same life-saving medicine ever since. I had radiation again earlier this year, but am still on this drug which is today, keeping the cancer stable and at bay. Despite the tough side effects, surgical scars, and chronic pain of the last six years, I have found hope and light in even the darkest of places. I have found empowerment through advocating for myself, through connecting with the amazing resources available in the breast cancer community, through using food as medicine, and through finding joy in simple ways that work together to intentionally ignite my health and healing.
You said that you are "thriving" with cancer, tell us more about what that means.
To me, thriving with cancer is truly a state of mind — I am living and thriving with Metastatic Breast Cancer. With a lot of internal and mindful work, I’m learning how to live my life with cancer by my side. It isn’t going away, so I’ve learned to make peace with this reality and not resist what already is. This doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult or painful both physically and mentally at times — it just means I’m accepting that I am doing everything possible to keep myself stable and healthy. I have joy today, and can find true moments of healing along the way. Even in the darkest of times on this cancer road, my people lift me up, and give me so much support it brings tears to my eyes at how kind, loving, and generous humans can be. I have an amazing village and I’ve found a home in the breast cancer community — getting inspiration from other incredible women living and healing from this disease. The resources I’ve found over the years have kept me thriving in every part of my story, and I wouldn’t be here as healthy as I am today (even living with cancer) if it wasn’t for individual people making a difference every day to move the needle forward in progress, research, and outreach.
We love that you look at nature and the seasons are your 'teachers', how does that give you inspiration as you are going through your journey?
This is such a great question! I do look to nature and the seasons as my teachers on how to live. In the last six years, I observed the outside world for guidance on how to put one foot in front of the other. For me, inspiration has always come from Lake Superior and from nature in general. When I lost my hair in the spring, I took walks every day I could and saw the tiniest of flowers emerging from the frozen ground, showing me hope and perseverance. As I had surgeries and radiation in the summer months, the warmth of the sun reflecting sparkles of light refracting on the water bringing me strength and peace. With more surgeries and drug changes in the fall, the colorful burst of leaves and their inevitable descent back to the earth teaching me about vibrancy and the impermanence of all things. Winter displays the need for gentle rest and regrouping — taking much needed time for slowing down and gathering energy to use for healing. I look to nature and see versions of myself in the different landscapes. Scars are like tree branches, strong and reverent. New hair growth is like the individual bloom of a flower pushing through the ground, reaching for the light. Radiation markings similar to the burned bark on the forest floor, making room for something else to grow and thrive. Nature is a mirror and showers me with guidance and inspiration in every season.
Your perspective on your experience living and thriving with Breast Cancer is inspiring. Your first Jane Win coin was HOPE – What does that pendant mean to you?
Thank you so much! As I feel so connected to nature and to healing, the Jane Win HOPE coin symbolizes a stunning reflection of the seasons and how a person can transform and grow through anything and come out stronger and more empowered on the other side. The spring tulips, summer sunflowers, fall mums, and winter snowdrops depict the cyclical nature of the seasons and how time marches onward. I’ve learned through my experience that everything is temporary, and the seasons give me comfort. Ultimately, HOPE is a part of everything the light touches, and I find a lot of grounding and inspiration from this expression embodied in this very meaningful coin.
The FREE coin pendant with the beautiful butterfly is also a gorgeous symbol of transformation and metamorphosis. To me, this coin reminds me of all I have endured but also encourages me to look beyond my current circumstances to see all that is ahead. I have the freedom to spread my wings and fly to new places and new beginnings. The strength and freedom that comes with change is powerful, and I love that I can wear jewelry that speaks to and represents such symbolism in my everyday life.
I pair both the HOPE and the FREE coin pendants with my chunky chain and knot chain from Jane Win at all occasions — ranging from special events and daily wear to treatment days. Wearing unique jewelry that inspires from an authentic woman-led company is truly an honor, and I’m reminded of all of my milestone moments (and those yet to come). In creating my own personal ‘neck mess,” I am showing on the outside how I feel on the inside — full of HOPE and FREE!
Thank you, Cheri, so much for sharing your story with our community. Please take a moment to explore the resources below for more information about Metastatic Breast Cancer. Together, we can spread awareness and support those affected.
RESOURCES
Radical Remission and Radical Hope by Dr. Kelly A. Turner and Tracy White
The Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Dr. Nasha Winters and Jess Higgins Kelley
Laura Lummer (The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach)
Better Than Before Breast Cancer (podcast and programs)
Wildfire Magazine (Magazine for and by people “too young” for breast cancer)
Magazine, Writing Community, Workshops
The Burn Podcast
Metavivor (Organization for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research, Support, Awareness)
