Meet Sheila
Sheila was diagnosed with Stage IV HER-II+ ER/PR+ breast cancer at the age of 43 in 2009. She has been living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) for nine years. She says, “I never knew that metastatic was another word for Stage IV and how important that word would become in my life.” Sheila’s platform is raising awareness about the racial disparities that exist within the African American breast cancer community.
Sheila is a 25 year Air Force decorated military veteran, receiving four Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, seven Air Force Commendation Medals and four Air Force Achievement Medals. She is a Young Advocate for Living Beyond Breast Cancer Young Women’s Initiative Program and volunteers her time on the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Helpline, offering emotional support to breast cancer patients. She is also a Consumer Reviewer for the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program, where she reviews proposals for DoD funding. Sheila also reviews METAvivor grants as a consumer reviewer. She is also involved in The Metastatic Breast Cancer Project. Sheila is an active member of the St. Louis Breast Cancer Coalition, Alternate Board Member of the National Brest Cancer Coalition, the Young Women's Breast Cancer Program at Siteman Cancer Center, and founder of SWAGG (Survivor With A Good God) an organization that provides educational resources to women during and after breast cancer treatment. She is a facilitator for Breast Cancer Recovery, an organization that provides the solitude and safe place to integrate all parts of who we are- mind, body and spirit toward healing. She is on the advisory committee for The Pink Fund, a non-profit that offers short term financial assistance to patients undergoing treatment. She’s an active member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and is a 2015 graduate of NBCC’s Project Lead Institute and also a graduate of Advanced Project Lead 2016. Sheila is featured in A Story Half Told an initiative started by Pfizer to engage patients, advocates and physicians on MB.
