'I thought my battle was over': Mother-of-two with terminal cancer shares her heartbreaking diagnosis story in poignant video to educate others about the disease

  • Holley Kitchen, from Cedar Park, Texas, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer when she was only 39-years-old
  • A year after she had double mastectomy, chemo and radiation therapy, she was told that she has metastatic stage four breast cancer
  • The now-42-year-old was given 26 months to live when she was re-diagnosed 

A mother-of-two who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer has taken the internet by storm by sharing her story and highlighting the harrowing statistics associated with the disease in a video created to educate others about her ongoing battle.

Holley Kitchen, from Cedar Park, Texas, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer when she was only 39-years-old, but, after a year of treatment, including a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation therapy, she thought she had overcome the disease and was cancer-free. However, she was soon told that she had developed metastatic stage four breast cancer, which means the cancer cells in her breast tissue had spread to her spine and bones.

Now, in a video posted to her Facebook page, in which she remains silent, choosing to ‘speak’ through a series of notecards and images, 42-year-old Holley reveals her shock and devastation at the terminal diagnosis, explaining that, after the first year of treatment, she thought ‘her battle was over’. 

Sharing her story: Holley Rothell Kitchen (pictured), from Cedar Park, Texas, created a video to educate others about metastatic breast cancer after she was diagnosed with the terminal disease
Sharing her story: Holley Rothell Kitchen (pictured), from Cedar Park, Texas, created a video to educate others about metastatic breast cancer after she was diagnosed with the terminal disease

Sharing her story: Holley Kitchen (pictured), from Cedar Park, Texas, created a video to educate others about metastatic breast cancer after she was diagnosed with the terminal disease 

The clip begins with Holley revealing that she has metastatic cancer, noting that there is no cure for the disease, which kills 40,000 people per year.

She explains on her cue cards that only six to 10 per cent of people are initially diagnosed has having metastatic breast cancer, however, 30 per cent of those who are initially diagnosed as being in the early stages of cancer are later re-diagnosed as metastatic, even if, like Holley, they thought they had already overcome the disease through treatment.

'My treatment will never, ever, ever... ever... ever... end, until my journey on earth is over,' Holley says on a series of cards.

She also reveals that she was only given 26 months to live after her re-diagnosis. 

Terrifying truth: The 42-year-old, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at 39, was told she had 26 months to live after she was re-diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which kills 40,000 people annaually
Terrifying truth: The 42-year-old, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at 39, was told she had 26 months to live after she was re-diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which kills 40,000 people annaually

Terrifying truth: The 42-year-old, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at 39, was told she had 26 months to live after she was re-diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which kills 40,000 people annually

Never ending battle: The mother-of-two reminds viewers that she will need treatment until her 'journey on earth is over'
Never ending battle: The mother-of-two reminds viewers that she will need treatment until her 'journey on earth is over'
Never ending battle: The mother-of-two reminds viewers that she will need treatment until her 'journey on earth is over'

Never ending battle: The mother-of-two reminds viewers that she will need treatment until her 'journey on earth is over'

Holley notes that 'people don't like to talk about metastatic cancer because it is frightening' - adding, that when they do talk to her about her terminal illness, they often say the wrong thing. 

In her series of flashcards is a list of things that a 'metastatic patient does not want to hear', including: 'You will beat this.'

According to Holley, telling people who are battling the disease that they 'look so healthy' or that they are 'too young' isn't helpful - and neither is asking if they have tried a certain 'cure'. 

Holley also hates when people tell her to 'keep fighting'.

'I fight every single day,' she explains before holding up photos of her two sons and her husband. 

Won't give up: Holley says she fights every day so she can spend more time with her two sons (pictured)
Won't give up: Holley says she fights every day so she can spend more time with her two sons and her husband (pictured)

Won't give up: Holley says she fights every day so she can spend more time with her two sons (L and R) and her husband (R) 

Stating the truth: She explains that she only wants to educate people because before she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer she thought 'no boobs equaled no breast cancer
Stating the truth: She explains that she only wants to educate people because before she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer she thought 'no boobs equaled no breast cancer

Stating the truth: She explains that she only wants to educate people because before she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer she thought 'no boobs equaled no breast cancer'

She reminds people that sometimes it is okay to say nothing or they can say they are praying for someone if they are actually doing it. 

'My mission is not to shame anyone, just educate everyone,' she says.

Holley also notes while shaking her head that before she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer she didn't know any of the facts she had just held up. She admits that she thought 'no boobs equaled no breast cancer'.

At the end of the clip, Holley, who calls herself a 'cancer lifer,' asks viewers to empower and educate others by sharing her video.

Charity fashion show: Holley joined more than 65 breast cancer survivors on Saturday to model 'art bras' (pictured) in order to raise money for  the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas

Charity fashion show: Holley joined more than 65 breast cancer survivors on Saturday to model 'art bras' (pictured) in order to raise money for the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas

Family day: Holley and her husband were photographed with their two sons as they smiled with Mickey Mouse in May

Family day: Holley and her husband were photographed with their two sons as they smiled with Mickey Mouse in May

Loving couple: Holley and her husband can be seen smiling happily together 

Loving couple: Holley and her husband can be seen smiling happily together 

And more than 1.5 million people so far have done just that while thousands thanked her for the video. 

Rachel Chavez-Cancel wrote: 'You are such an amazing inspiration, Holley. Wow! You are just wow! I could not fight back the tears once you showed a picture of your boys. 

'Thank you for sharing your "script". May your journey and story live on forever and your legacy be shared with many. You have left such an imprint on my life that will be cherished for many, many years to come. You are just "Wow"!'

On Saturday, Holley joined more than 65 breast cancer survivors as they modeled 'art bras' to raise money for the local nonprofit, the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. 

And 11 months ago, one of Holley's friends started a GoFundMe page for her in hopes of raising $25,000 to help her with her medical bills. She has received $10,690 dollars so far and more people are starting to donate after her video has become an internet sensation. 

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