Lucy’s Story

Lucy Fleming diagnosis came in a moment that could not have felt more surreal.

She was out to dinner with friends on a Saturday night when she received the results of her PET scan. What she read changed everything.

“Devastation,” she shared. “I received the PET scan results showing a metastatic mass in my liver… Once I read the report I fainted onto my best friend, who tried his best to comfort me.”

In an instant, a normal evening became the moment her life split into before and after.

Just weeks earlier, Lucy had been doing everything right. She had been getting annual mammograms since turning 40, and every single one had been normal—until December 2024. That mammogram led to further testing, and in January 2025, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. By the time it was found, it had already spread to her liver.

Like so many women, Lucy had trusted the screening process. Looking back, she reflects on how different things might have been with more advanced imaging.

“I wish that the screening for dense breasts is MRIs,” she said. “My breast cancer would have been found sooner. I would have advocated for one if I’d known there was even a small chance I had cancer.”

In the midst of such a life-altering diagnosis, support became everything.

Her sister, who lives in Australia, immediately came to New York and stayed with her during that first month—one of the most overwhelming and uncertain periods of her life. It was a reminder of just how powerful it is to not have to face those early days alone.

Lucy also found strength in her care team. Working at Memorial Sloan Kettering, she already knew her oncologist—a relationship that became a steady and reassuring presence as she began treatment.

“She’s been amazing,” Lucy shared.

And while the word “metastatic” carries a weight that is difficult to put into words, Lucy has also found moments of unexpected relief along the way.

“That there are so many options for treatment,” she said. “I’ve been surprised how easy targeted therapy has been and my response to it.”

It’s a perspective that speaks to both the advancements in treatment and the importance of hope—even when the diagnosis feels overwhelming.

In those early days, when everything felt heavy and uncertain, it wasn’t grand gestures that made the biggest difference. It was presence.

“Just kept me company while I lay devastated on my couch watching mindless reality shows,” she said, reflecting on what helped most.

Sometimes, support looks like simply sitting beside someone in their hardest moments, asking for nothing in return.

Lucy also recognizes that a diagnosis like this doesn’t just impact the person going through it—it affects everyone around them.

“Cancer brings up so many complicated emotions for people,” she shared. “And being close to someone navigating a cancer diagnosis will also take a toll on you. Make sure you also take care of yourself.”

It’s a reminder that support systems need support, too—that caring for someone else starts with also caring for yourself.

As she moves through her first year with this diagnosis, Lucy is choosing to focus on something powerful: her own strength.

“It’s my first year being diagnosed with breast cancer and I want to celebrate my strength.”

And through everything she has experienced, her message to others remains simple, but deeply meaningful:

“Things will get better and there is always hope.”

Lucy’s story is one of shock, resilience, and perspective—but above all, it is a reminder that even in the most unexpected and difficult moments, hope can still find its way in.