For years, caring for others was simply part of who Melanie Sisk was.
As a nurse, she spent her career supporting patients through some of life's most difficult moments. Then, after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, Melanie suddenly found herself on the other side of healthcare, becoming a patient herself.
That transition was not easy.
"Being a caregiver was such an important part of my identity," she said. "When I could no longer work, I started looking for ways to continue helping others."
Today, Melanie has found that purpose through advocacy, education and peer support, helping women living with metastatic breast cancer navigate a journey she once faced herself.
From Nurse to Patient
Melanie has been receiving care through Atrium Health for years and has developed a close relationship with her oncologist, Dr. Douglas, who has been her physician for nearly six years.
As both a former nurse and a longtime patient, Melanie brings a unique perspective to the patient-provider relationship. She says the connection she has built with her care team goes beyond what many people think of as a typical clinical relationship.
Throughout her cancer journey, Melanie found support not only through medical care, but also through the compassion, trust and understanding she experienced from those caring for her.
Finding Purpose Through Advocacy
In the years following her diagnosis, Melanie became increasingly involved in the metastatic breast cancer community.
After receiving support from other patients during some of her most challenging moments, she felt called to give back.
She began sharing her experience openly on social media, using her platform to connect with other women living with metastatic breast cancer, provide encouragement and share resources.
Her advocacy efforts soon expanded beyond online support. Melanie completed formal training through several national organizations, including Living Beyond Breast Cancer's Hear My Voice advocacy program and Project Life mentor training, because she wanted to ensure she could support others in the most meaningful and responsible way possible.
Today, she serves as a mentor through Project Life, volunteers with METAvivor, participates in the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance and helps raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer on both local and national levels.
Building Community in the Piedmont Triad
One of Melanie's most meaningful accomplishments has been founding Piedmont Triad METsters, a peer-support community for women living with metastatic breast cancer.
When she was diagnosed, she found therapists, social workers and other valuable resources available. What she struggled to find was a local community of people who truly understood what it meant to live with metastatic disease.
"Cancer can be incredibly isolating," Melanie said. "Even when you have supportive family and friends, there is something powerful about talking with someone who is walking the same path."
That belief inspired her to create a space where women with metastatic breast cancer could connect, share experiences and support one another.
Working alongside Cancer Services, Melanie helped establish dedicated support opportunities specifically for metastatic breast cancer patients, who often face unique challenges that differ from those experienced by people with early-stage disease.
The group provides both emotional support and practical resources, while also creating opportunities for friendship and connection beyond formal meetings.
Making Sure No One Faces Cancer Alone
Melanie's advocacy extends beyond conversation.
She has helped develop resource kits for newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer patients that include educational materials, support information and connections to trusted organizations. Through partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations, those resources help patients find support when they are ready.
Her goal is simple: ensure that no one living with metastatic breast cancer feels alone.
What began as her own search for understanding has grown into a network of support that continues to impact women throughout the Piedmont Triad and beyond.
While metastatic breast cancer changed the course of Melanie's life, it did not change her calling to care for others.
Today, she may no longer work at the bedside, but through advocacy, mentorship and the community she has built, Melanie continues to make a difference in the lives of patients every day.
