Back in October, I wrote a post about rediscovering who Kim is.

I thought I should give you an update.

Over the years, I have shared my story on this blog and on a more individual level as friends have asked if I would be willing to speak to someone they know who has been recently diagnosed with cancer (mostly breast cancer, but others as well). I have not exactly stood on the rooftops and shared my story, but have been happy to share when asked.

Now I’m being asked, prodded, urged (insert any suitable synonym here) to share my story and be an advocate.

This spring, I was selected, alongside many other fabulous women, to be part of the class of 2025 Hear My Voice Advocates representing Living Beyond Breast Cancer (lbbc.org). We are a cohort of 31 women who are all living with Metastatic Breast Cancer.

The LBBC provided us with phenomenal training and support for using our Voices to advocate for not just LBBC, but women (and men) going through either a new breast cancer diagnosis or others, like me, who have been told, “You have metastatic (also called stage 4 or secondary) breast cancer.”

We learned a lot over 4 days of training. We learned about LBBC and their mission; we learned they have a $7 million budget for this year, half of which comes from donations; we learned the difference between personal, community, organizational, media, scientific, policy, and legislative advocacy. All of which play a vital role in helping make the world a better place for those living with a breast cancer diagnosis. I’m thankful some feel very strongly about advocating for policy, legislation, and even scientific changes. Those are not my strengths; my advocacy is more focused on the personal, community, and social levels

While all of the training and exercises were very helpful, two of the exercises have stuck with me.

For one of our exercises we were tasked with creating an LBBC Elevator Pitch. This was an interesting exercise and made me stop and ask myself who I am and why I am doing this. My elevator pitch – still needs some refining, but for helping to raise funds for LBBC, I think it hits close to the mark:

Hi, my name is Kim Builta. I have been living with stage 4 or metastatic breast cancer for more than 14 years. I call myself an MBC Unicorn since the average life expectancy when I was diagnosed was about 36 months. I am a daughter, a mother, a widow, and I am 1 of the 1 in 8 women diagnosed with Breast Cancer and 1 of the approximately 150,000 living with metastatic breast cancer. I did not know anything or have a community when I was first diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, and even less when I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer is more than just a pretty pink ribbon. My kids were 5 and 8 when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 in 2003 and have lived most of their lives under an umbrella of fear, wondering if the next progression will be the last. I wish more women (and men) could have a sense of community as well as have access to trusted information. That is why I’m asking you to donate to the LBBC as we share a common vision.

Kim Builta, MBC Unicorn

On the last day of training we were tasked with creating our first Advocacy Project – How will you advocate in your local community?

Although this was an exercise to get our minds to think of ways to advocate, I was met with support by the other participants in the cohort, and I decided to move forward with my idea.

  • My main focus for advocating this year is fundraising by creating a monthly goal for walking and asking for donations. Much like when my kids were younger, on the swim team, and the team would raise funds by getting pledges for swimming laps.
  • I set a goal to walk 15 miles in April, and I asked people to donate via my fundraising page for LBBC.
  • I posted pictures of my walks on my Instagram and Facebook feeds with #walkwithKim4MBC to encourage people to follow my progress and perhaps even join me for a walk.
  • I was encouraged when friends, and even people I haven’t seen in years (since high school), reached out and wanted to join me on my walks.
  • We are now closing in on the end of June, and I have continued to walk (sometimes on the treadmill, because it is HOT in Texas right now). My goal for June is 20 miles, and I will meet that goal!!
  • After 14 years of treatment for MBC, a hip that isn’t exactly put together according to the manufacturer’s guidelines (2017), a broken femur (2021), and a broken tibia (2023), walking can be a challenge. But it has been amazing to read and hear the support I have received, all because I posted a picture of myself out walking.
Pain\r of Kizik shoes, purple cane, Living Beyond Breast Cancer Hat, Headphones
Tools of the Walking Trade: Kizik shoes with lift for leg differential due to hip, Garmin Watch to track all of those miles, Living Beyond Breast Cancer Hat to keep the sun and sweat out of my eyes, Shockz headphones for music or podcasts, HurryCane to keep me balanced and moving in the right direction

Have I learned or discovered anything about Kim in the last couple of months?

YES.

I have learned that I do not like being referred to as strong or resilient or even as an inspiration. Those words have connotations for me that suggest I cannot be vulnerable. While the words are often said with good intentions, I have days when being strong may be nothing more than getting out of bed in the morning. Remember, no one raised their hand and asked to live with Metastatic Breast Cancer. So instead of telling me I’m brave, or strong or resilient, maybe just say “I’ve been thinking of you,” or if you are a praying person, “You’ve been in my prayers.”

I have learned that while I don’t think of my story as being “all that special”, I have heard from others, and am finally taking heed, that I should be sharing more of my story. When you are the one living it, it is hard to see that others may find it helpful to hear. I have begun sharing more with the MBC community on Instagram (feel free to follow me @builtalife ).

AI Generated Immunity Idol for Breast Cancer
Immunity Idol for Breast Cancer (AI generated)

I recently finished watching Season 48 of Survivor. I am reminding myself daily that NOT sharing my story would be equivalent to being on Survivor, having an Immuniy Idol in my pocket, and getting voted off because I didn’t use it. So now I will use my voice and my story to advocate for myself, for others living with metastatic breast cancer, for living a life full of joy and adventure with the occasional days off to rest and recuperate before getting back out there and doing it all again.