Bald Ballerina's 6th Birthday
Today Bald Ballerina celebrates her 6th 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.
Over the past 6 years, I learned that I would need both medical and moral support to keep the cancer at bay. Becoming the Bald Ballerina helped me find that support. It also helped spread my message that cancer does not discriminate: No one is too young; No one is too fit; No one is immune from breast cancer.
On this 6th Birthday, cancer is again active in my body just as when Bald Ballerina was born on June 24, 2014. I am just as hopeful now as when I was first diagnosed. Many new medical treatments have come on the market since 2014, including genomic testing of tumor DNA which identified that my cancer had mutated since initial diagnosis. In March, I began PIQRAY, a new drug specifically developed for that mutation. I believe it is working and I feel much better than I did on my old treatments.
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 6th year.
• The 100%: Maggie’s Story a film about my cancer survivorship was nominated for an Emmy Award.
• Got Momma Mia, my emotional support dog.
• Began showing Momma Mia at AKC dog shows and earning championship points.
• AKC Family Dog magazine print & online story: Momma Mia and Her Bald Ballerina
• Appeared in
SHAPE
Magazine for the Novartis 2019 #KissThis4MBC campaign
•
Condé Nast
&
Allure
produced a video about me: My Life In 6 Photos
• Performed at Baubles & Bow Ties Gala benefit in Charlotte, NC
• Became a
Gaynor Minden
artist
• Visited
Disneyland
thanks to Live n Leap and dined at Club 33 in Disneyland
• Spoke at BCRF ‘s 1st Virtual Hot Pink Evening
• Worked with
The Pink Agenda
on #OurNewNewNormal social media campaign addressing how COVID-19 impacts cancer patients
• Spoke about breast cancer and performed at
Starbound National Talent Competition
Finals at Foxwoods, Atlantic City, and Orlando
• Produced my 6th No One Can Survive Alone benefit dance concert which was a sellout.
• Continued teaching at local dance studios and judging dance competitions
• Continued teaching master classes and speaking to young dancers about breast cancer
• Taught ballet on Zoom for
Dancers Care Foundation
and Instagram Live for
Gaynor Minden
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.