Meet Cate North
I created Stage 4 Living as a resource for people dealing with advanced cancer. Cancer has been a part of my life, on and off, for more than 20 years. Since 2016, I have been living with MBC–metastatic breast cancer–yet I am fortunate to have treatment options that are extending my life and enhancing my prognosis. I want to use that time in small service to other people with MBC or anyone with advanced cancer of any kind.
Principles of Stage 4 Living
Stay in the game
Choose to be present and stay engaged as best you can, adapting to rule changes and curve balls that come your way.
Lighten your load
Determine what matters and let go of excess baggage to manage your burdens and live with greater ease and grace.
Honor the journey
Cancer is a struggle for millions of people, young and old. As with any struggle, we ease the pain when we bear witness to the experience.
About the lotus flower
Rooted in mud, the lotus flower submerges every night into murky water and re-blossoms the next day in pristine condition. As Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us in the title of one of his books, No Mud, No Lotus. Whether it’s cancer or something else, we all have to deal with mud and muck. The choice is ours to emerge as beautifully and unscathed as possible. (Image source: Pixabay)
Latest blog posts
Nobody likes to think about dying, even though it’s something we all face eventually. For those of us with advanced cancer or any other life-threatening condition, “eventually” is closer than we want. Yet that awareness can inspire us to make the most of every precious day we have with heightened clarity and meaning.
Memento Vivere
Memento Vivere—Remember to live. Intentionally, not simply going through the motions.
As writer Anthony Doerr says in All the Light We Cannot See, Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever.