Meet Heidi Punke Brown

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heidi Punke Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Heidi, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I come from a long line of resilient women. The value of hard work is ingrained in my DNA. I come from farm women who did it all – vegetable gardening, food preservation, animal husbandry, and sewing the family clothing, to name a few. My mother did all that while also owning her own business. So when I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2019, I knew I had much internal strength from which to draw – generations of strength. My resilience allows me to take one more step over and over, through 87 chemo treatments and counting. My people do what needs to be done – and I am not going to break that tradition.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

In July 2019 I found a lump in my right breast. I had 9 years of annual mammograms up to that point, so surely this was not a big deal, right? On July 24, 2019 I was told it was a cancerous tumor and had already spread to my bones and liver (innumerable masses). The next day I learned it has also spread to my adrenal gland. In November 2020 we discovered it had also spread to my brain. As of this writing I have had 87 chemo treatments, radiation to my adrenal gland and shoulder, 3 rounds of gamma knife to my brain and, recently, 5 rounds of SRS to the newest brain tumor (my 12th).

I did not know that I had extremely dense breast tissue. I did not learn that until I already had Metastatic Breast Cancer. I did not know that I should have been receiving additional testing each year since mammograms are not effective in detecting cancer in dense breast tissue. In order to work through the anger I have towards the health care system, I work with My Density Matters to spread awareness of breast density. I hope that in telling my story, I can help other women find breast cancer at an earlier stage, when it is highly treatable.

I had not heard of Metastatic Breast Cancer until I was diagnosed. I share my story to spread awareness of this disease and to help raise money for #LightUpMBC to fund research specifically for MBC. Funding metastatic breast cancer research is my only hope for staying alive. I am currently on a treatment that did not exist when I was diagnosed 5 years ago.

I am married to my highschool sweetheart, Dave. We live on a farm in East Central Illinois that has been in my family for 4 generations. We have 3 children – Ross, Darrin, and Haley. When I was diagnosed with MBC, my middle had just graduated high school and my youngest was still in high school. I have survived long enough (5 years) to see them all into their early 20s and for that I am grateful. But it is not nearly enough.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First, assuming the attitude of a life long learner is the key to never remaining stagnant in life. I always assume there is more for me to learn on any topic and I am eager to research and ask questions. I read medical journals and attend conferences to learn more about metastatic breast cancer. I want to be an informed member of my medical team. Second, developing the habit of reading has helped me in so many ways. Reading helps me learn, but also gives me insight into other perspectives. I grew up before the internet so I spent my childhood breakfasts reading cereal boxes! Reading for pleasure has taken me around the world, out of this world, and allowed me to time travel. Reading lets me learn about cancer and treatment. Reading makes me a better and happier person – and no technology is needed. Finally, a sense of humor will get you through much of what life throws at you. My paternal grandmother had many trials in her life. Her mother died when she was young so she helped raise her younger siblings. She was widowed early in life, with children still home to raise. She told me often that you can laugh about things or cry about things – but laughing is so much more fun.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Every day 117 people in the United States die of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), also known as Stage 4, where the breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Only 2% – 5% of funds raised for breast cancer research is focused on research for the already metastisized patient. I am currently on a treatment that did not exist when I was diagnosed with MBC five years ago. Raising awareness of the need for more research for MBC, as well as raising funds, is critical for the survival of many people, including me.

I am also working with My Density Matters to teach women to know their breast density and what tests are needed if you have dense breast tissue. I wish I had known. I wish my doctors had known. I was so angry when I was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, even though I had annual mammograms for nine years. The only way for me to work past that anger is to make sure that my story does not happen to anyone else.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bluehavanaheidi.com
• Instagram: Heidi_Punke_Brown
• Facebook: Heidi Punke Brown

Image Credits

Mark Anthony (for superhero photo)