Ep 67:Surviving and Thriving: Janice's Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer Story - The Patient From Hell Podcast

Janice Cowden, a retired nurse and dedicated patient advocate, shares her incredible journey with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). After being successfully treated for stage 1 breast cancer in 2011, she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic TNBC five years later. Now, eight years with no evidence of disease (NED), Janice reflects on the uncertainty that comes with this status and how she found purpose in advocacy. She opens up about the challenges of losing friends in the cancer community and the strength she gains from supporting others. Plus, in a rapid-fire Q&A, she breaks down key medical terms and diagnoses to help listeners stay informed.

Clarification Note: In the rapid-fire Q&A, Janice references disease-free survival (DFS). DFS is defined as the time from random assignment in a clinical trial to cancer recurrence or death from any cause (Gutman SI, Piper M, Grant MD, et al., 2013).

About Our Guest

After being diagnosed with stage 4 TNBC in 2016—five years after her early-stage diagnosis—Janice became a passionate patient advocate. She completed training through Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s (LBBC) Hear My Voice Outreach program in 2017 and has since worked tirelessly to support others facing metastatic breast cancer.

Janice actively engages in scientific research and patient advocacy through organizations such as PCDI, GRASP, and Project Life MBC. She is a trained peer support volunteer and founded an international online support group for newly diagnosed MBC patients. She also serves on the Board of Directors for METAvivor Research and Support Inc. and is an Advisory Board member for Project Life MBC. Additionally, she is an individual member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance.

Outside of advocacy, Janice enjoys traveling, reading, outdoor activities, and spending time with her husband, two adult children, and three grandchildren.

Key Moments

9 minutes:
“We don’t use the word ‘cured’ or ‘remission.’ We simply say I have no evidence of disease. It’s rare for my subtype to progress at this point, but I know others who have had a recurrence even after 10 years.”

22 minutes:
“I never realized that up to 30% of early-stage breast cancer patients may experience a metastatic recurrence. Oncologists often don’t discuss this, possibly to avoid fear—but I believe it’s critical information.”

50 minutes:
“Losing members of this community is heartbreaking, but I keep advocating because I owe it to them. Continuing their legacy through my work is how I honor them.”