Welcome
Dear Thrivers, Survivors, and Their Loved Ones,
Welcome to PinkSTARS. This platform was created to honor my wife, Jill, and her incredible resilience as a Metastatic Breast Cancer survivor and thriver. I’ve watched her navigate this relentless journey with strength and determination, and we’ve learned so much about the importance of advocating for care—not just for the person fighting cancer but for the entire family that supports them.
Cancer doesn’t just change the life of the person diagnosed; it impacts everyone around them. From the moment Jill’s journey began, we realized how critical it is to be informed, prepared, and ready to advocate. This site is our way of sharing what we’ve learned along the way, breaking down the scientific research and innovations, and empowering others to take control of their care and advocate for themselves and their families.
PinkSTARS goal is to simplify the complexities of cancer treatment. From chemotherapy to radiation, immunotherapy, and groundbreaking clinical trials, the science of today offers so much hope.
But it’s also overwhelming. Jill often said that the medical jargon felt like a second language—This platform exists: to translate the latest medical advancements and innovations into clear, actionable information you can discuss with your healthcare team.
As a family, we learned the value of self-advocacy early on. Jill’s persistence in asking for answers and demanding thorough care is the reason she is here today. Self-advocacy means being unafraid to ask hard questions, researching treatments, and standing your ground when something doesn’t feel right. It’s about recognizing that your voice matters and that you have the right to be an active participant in your care.
But this journey isn’t something anyone should face alone. Advocacy extends beyond the individual. As a spouse, I’ve seen how critical it is for family members to step up. Whether it’s attending appointments, asking the questions Jill couldn’t, or simply being there during the darkest moments, advocacy is a team effort. Your loved ones are your strongest allies, and together, you can push for the best possible care.
I’ve witnessed Jill endure so much as a 3 time Breast Cancer Survivor over the last 16 years fighting. Her journey started out with stg3 age 29, then stg3 age 36, and stg4 age 37. Throughout her journey she had over 10 types of chemotherapy, 58 daily radiation sessions 45 mins each, high-photon radiation to the pelvis, and countless appointments —and yet, she remains hopeful.
The science we’ve seen develop over the years gives us that hope. It feels like we are on the brink of a new era, where cancer can be treated more like a chronic condition—manageable, less invasive, and with better outcomes.
PinkSTARS is a space for empowerment, education, and connection. If you’re here as a patient, caregiver, spouse, or family member, I hope you find something that helps you navigate this journey. Whether it’s understanding the latest treatment options, learning how to advocate for yourself or a loved one, or simply finding hope in shared experiences, this platform is for you.
As a Non-Profit we welcome your donations and purchases. We have such cute designs Jill created to speak to the survivor or thriver in your life. We then take these resource and proved retreats, class, content, and research to breast cancer survivors. Mental Health is always difficult especially when your diagnosed with cancer. As a Survivor I (Jill) personally know that mental health is the dark monster that seems to never leave. We understand the crisis and that providers don’t seem too concerned. We advocate for all survivors getting them treatments that actually work and bring light back into survivor’s lives. It is personal for me as a battle I fight daily. I look forward to providing classes/retreats to help trivers return to themselves for free.
Cancer is a battle no one chooses, but together, we can rise above it. I’m honored to share Jill’s story and our journey with you. Please feel free to reach out with your thoughts or subscribe for updates. This is a labor of love, and every person it helps makes it worthwhile. Please won’t you support mental health in breast cancer survivors?
With strength, love, and solidarity,
Jill and her Family
PinkSTARSAllStars@gmail.com
Meet the Team
PinkSTAR- Survivorship support Through Advocacy and Research
The Audacity of Self Advocacy
Jill’s unique perspective comes from her personal experience as a 3x Breast Cancer survivor. She is committed to using her remaining years to make a positive impact on the cancer community. This Non-Profit is her way of giving back to her cancer family. Her fight for patients’ rights and her determination to raise awareness about the Mental Health challenges cancer patients face drives everything she does.
The 15 years of treatment and care have left her with PTSD—an emotional toll that she continues to manage daily. This blog serves as a platform to share her struggles and to highlight the systemic issues within the medical industry. Jill has fought tirelessly for patients to be treated with dignity, but she has also seen how patients can become just another number within the medical system. Her goal is to change that. Throughout her journey, Jill has witnessed firsthand the challenges of working within a hospital system. She joined her hospital’s board and served for years, hoping to make a difference. However, despite her best efforts, she encountered countless roadblocks. Simple requests to improve patient care were met with indifference, and the campaigns she worked on to help patients resulted in little to no change. Her experience is a reminder of how hard it can be to make meaningful change in large institutions. But we are not giving up.
We believe in the need for a movement where patients are seen as human beings—not just as medical records. Hospitals and doctors must understand that they are in a customer service role, with the patient’s well-being as their number one priority. As an advocate, Jill is tireless in her efforts to demand better care and to ensure that patients' voices are heard.
It is not a secret that Jill struggles with her Mental Health it has been an issue for a long time especially following the first time she got cancer. Making her way through the system she fights and pushes back on providers notions of “CHEMO Brain”. She wants to bring real research that can provide actual change in the mental health of patients so they can thrive and be happy through the rest of their lives. Mental Health is really important and we are here to fund research, classes, retreats to help patients return to themselves and find joy again.
We want to create a space where patients can speak up and feel supported. If you’re experiencing challenges with your care, don’t hesitate to reach out. Jill is more than happy to offer guidance, share advice, or simply listen.
This blog is a space for open conversations about healthcare/mental health, and we are here to help you navigate the journey with compassion, clarity, and hope. Science and research are the foundation of progress in cancer treatment, and Jill is deeply passionate about the breakthroughs that are happening every day. She’s excited about the future of healthcare and the possibility of more manageable treatments and fewer barriers for cancer patients. Jill believes that knowledge is power, and she is committed to sharing her hope for the future with fellow survivors and thrivers.
Please remember to always advocate for yourself, ask questions, and make sure your medical team is providing you with the support and information you need to live your best life. Push back if you're not getting what you need. It took Jill years of pushing to get the treatment she deserves and our goal is to prevent you and your family from having to do the same.
Subscribe to get information on all breast cancer innovations and new research/clinical trials. In an easy to read and understand format so you can see if these can positively impact your treatment plan.
Feel free to reach out at PinkStarAllStars@gmail.com for more information or to share your thoughts. Your experiences matter, and together, we can work toward a better future for all cancer patients.
All opinions expressed on this website are based on personal experience and patients should not make any changes to their treatment plans without speaking to their providers first.
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Other Services to help
Cancer Support
Advocacy Assistance
Dealing with the medial system as a whole is complicated and difficult. Understanding your rights as a patient and making sure your voice is heard by your provider is something very personal to Jill as she struggled for decades not being heard. If you are having issues let us know and we can see what options are open to us. We can be there with you even by phone in the doctors office if you need a friend for support. We can talk directly with your provider and hospital system to help smooth things along or even how to deal with a denial from an insurance provider. Reach out there are things we can do to make it better. Let's Go!! Healthy and Happy !!
Retreats- Classes
We hope to have enough funds to provide donation based in person retreats and classes. On a wide variety of subjects everything from Magic mushrooms, meditations, alternative health options and self love. All our groups offer a safe and supportive environment for people to connect with others who understand what they're going through. Join me to share your experiences, ask questions, and receive support.
Your mental health is a top priority for us!
Reiki- Healing
Mary our Reiki Master is a 2x breast Cancer who has had stg4 cancer for more than a decade. Mary has been doing Reiki for 30 years and loves to give Reiki to other fellow survivors. If you have never had Reiki before it is a gentle, non-invasive form of energy healing that can help reduce stress, pain, and anxiety. We are here to help you find peace and relaxation during this challenging time.
