WEBVTT

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(Inspiring music)

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(Narrator) Performances inspired by real stories of women

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with metastatic breast cancer,

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told through artistic expression.

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Tameka. 40 years old.

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Breast cancer diagnosis.

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Stage four.

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I trusted my doctor every step of the way.

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I wrote him this letter.

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My name is Sarah.

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I wrote my doctor a letter, too.

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(Together) Dear Doctor,

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After my initial breast cancer treatment,

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you found nodules in my left lung.

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You said: "Oh, we're not gonna worry about it."

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"Let's do a biopsy."

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You said, "It's probably nothing."

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"It might be nothing..."

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You said, "People get nodules all the time."

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"...but we'll take a closer look, just in case."

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You waved your hand,

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You held my hand,

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(Together) And said, "Trust me."

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So, I trusted you.

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So, we skipped a biopsy.

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We did a biopsy and caught it just in time.

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(Together) Two years later,

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I have no more evidence of cancer.

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I had pain in my left side.

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And instead of working with me to find the answer,

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you said, "I'll mail you some pills."

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That's it?

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You think my cancer is back,

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and you're gonna mail medicine to my door like,

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like pizza on a Sunday night?

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You encouraged me to get a second opinion-

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if I ever wanted one.

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You said, "You can go get a second opinion,

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but your options aren't gonna change."

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I got the second opinion.

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Results? Stage four.

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(Sad music)

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I got to ring the bell.

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I trusted my doctor,

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I let my guard down, and he gave up on me.

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To be honest, I... I didn't even send this letter.

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I didn't think it would make a difference-

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didn't want to seem angry. But I am.

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I'm angry.

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I'm hurt. I'm frustrated.

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I'm drained.

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I did speak up.

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I did try. And nothing changed.

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So what could this letter even do?

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If he wouldn't listen to my voice,

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why would he listen to my words on paper?

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I... I wrote this letter to remind myself that...

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(Together) I am my best advocate.

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I am my best advocate.

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I had to take the new search in my own hands.

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Finally, a new doctor, a new team,

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and an even stronger will to fight.

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I am my best advocate.

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I have to remember to trust myself.

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Nobody knows my body like I do.

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And nobody knows all that I've been through.

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To the new doctor who gave me options:

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You changed my story and my life.

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(Together) You listened.

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Did not dismiss me.

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Gave me input and ensured that I knew

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I was a part of the team.

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Thank you.

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(Inspiring music)

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All these unsent letters.

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Let's give voice to what's been unspoken.

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(Narrator) mBC Unspoken.

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A voice given. A story heard.