Nita's cancer story began on October 13, 2016, when Dr. Nikki Gautreaux at Lane Regional Medical Center detected an anomaly. A same-day ultrasound led to a biopsy, revealing stage 3 invasive lobular breast cancer. With characteristic humor, Nita named her tumor "Penelope" and threw a "Bye Bye Bad Penny" party before her mastectomy on November 16th.

However, during surgery, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to her liver and spine. "When they told me, I imagined that I was lit up like an Operation game," Nita recalls. Her diagnosis was upgraded to stage 4, or as she quips, "I've already made it to level 4."

Despite the grim news, Nita chose to focus on moving forward. "Avoid the woulda, coulda, shouldas," she advises. This resilience led her to re-establish the Zachary Farmers Market five years ago, giving her a weekly goal and a reason to look forward to each new day.

"People sometimes say they're on a cancer journey or cancer trip, but journeys and trips are fun things," Nita explains. "I say this is a chapter of my life that's become a volume. Many volumes, in fact." She documents her experiences on Facebook under "GG's Chapters," sharing both triumphs and setbacks with her community.

Nita's story highlights a critical issue in breast cancer research. While 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and 40% of those will eventually reach stage 4, only 2-3% of breast cancer research funding goes to stage 4 research. Organizations like METavivor, which dedicates 100% of its funds to stage 4 research, are working to change this disparity.

Despite her diagnosis, Nita remains active, regularly hiking with her daughter and grandson in Colorado. She wears a necklace gifted by a fellow stage 4 cancer patient that reads "not today," embodying her fighting spirit. Another motto she lives by is "suck it up, buttercup."

Nita's openness about her diagnosis stems from a personal tragedy. Her mother passed away from colon cancer when Nita was 21, having kept her illness secret until the final two weeks. This experience motivated Nita to be transparent about her own health struggles.

Recently, Nita learned that her cancer has potentially reignited, with a concerning spot on her spine detected in a CT scan. As she awaits further tests, she remains philosophical, "We'll find out soon what 'page 2' of this chapter looks like."

For others facing similar challenges, Nita offers simple yet powerful advice: "Get your regular check-ups. Don't ignore things because life is too busy. Stay on top of your health."