I’m living proof Stage IV Breast Cancer is not the final act in my life. It’s been one year since my shocking news of the reoccurrence and I’ve learned a lot about myself and how others react (or don’t react in some cases).

Four tips to surviving Stage IV BRCA.

1) Face it head on. Find out what will be the course of treatment. In my case, a change of my oral drug; radiation to zap out the bone cancer; monthly IV treatments (not chemo thankfully), and having my ovaries removed. There’s more here, but let’s not get bogged down with medical jargon and procedures. The treatment is just a medical process, a cold reality, but it is what it is.

2) Have a sense of humor. I found the cancer has allowed me to exercise certain liberties. For example, why worry about eating that chocolate bar, it’s not going to give me cancer; I already have it! Now if you didn’t laugh at that, then so much for my career change to comedy. But you get the idea that you need to check your priorities in life.

3) Don’t use cancer as a crutch. I still go to work; I still produce and still continue to climb the corporate ladder. Work is a priority, but not quite the same as before the diagnosis. Prior to my cancer diagnosis, I was a maniac, work-a-holic, type A, who didn’t stop until the job was done. Post-diagnosis, the job will still be finished and done professionally; it’s just not with a rectum rocket lit on fire. I decided to work smarter. Wow, why did it take cancer to come to that realization? Duh! Ok, maybe I’ve slacked off on the household chores. So is that using cancer as a crutch to forgo housework? Heck no, I’ve just decided I’d rather spend some of my free time with my hubby and dog rather than a vacuum and mop. I’ve allowed myself not to stress about how the house looks; I’m at peace and much happier believe it or not.

4) Don’t make a bucket list. What if you make a list, complete it, then what? Have you ever watched the movies where the person finishes their list right before the end? I don’t want to go through the remainder of my life checking off items on a list. Instead shift your priorities. Why wait until you have some dreaded, life changing disease or illness to write down what you always wanted to do with your life? Don’t misunderstand, there are places, people and things I want to see and do before I kick the bucket, and I now have to be cognizant of my time. Instead of a list, my priorities have shifted post-diagnosis.

•Work is a priority, but perhaps not the job. I’m taking steps for a career change and that feels good.

•When I walk the dog, I notice the neighborhood, and the people (I stop to visit now). I’m not in a rush to have the dog trot around the block, do her business so I can hurriedly run back to the computer to do more email/work. Not only is the dog happier now that the walk is longer and more leisurely, I am too.

•I’ve started dreaming again. Not R.E.M. dreaming, but rather about the priorities in my life that will make the most sense. You’ll have to determine your own direction, but take the time to do it.

• I recently bought a bike to ride. I don’t enjoy the exercise part, but that just a benefit. What I enjoy about the bike ride is the cool breeze on my back and the peace of the ride.

It’s the simple things in life that now make me happy. Go find what makes your happy. Go live. Go laugh. Go love.