The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, among many other things. As women worldwide celebrate the ringing of the bell, survivorship and their battles of varying stages, Freda Sexton is in a battle she never anticipated.

Oakdale native and longtime Oakdale Joint Unified School District employee, Sexton is in her second battle with breast cancer, except this one seems a bit more aggressive.

First diagnosed in 2015, Sexton learned she had Stage 2, HR+ Metastatic Carcinoma breast cancer. News that would prompt her into a life of chemotherapy, as well as a mastectomy and reconstruction.

“You know, I didn’t listen to my oncologist, I wanted to rush, rush, rush,” she said of her initial diagnosis and her decision to have both surgeries not only early, but at the same time.

As a result, the survivor suffered complications from the surgery, which resulted in a pause in her chemotherapy treatment and close to a year on antibiotics to fight the internal infection.

Yet in spite of the difficulties, in late 2016, Sexton got news that all cancer patients strive for, no evidence of disease, also known as NED Status.

For the mother of three, grandmother and outdoor enthusiast, all seemed good and life continued as it had prior to hearing the words no one hopes to face.

That is until the start of 2025.

Earlier this year after experiencing ongoing shoulder pain, Sexton went to an orthopedist, indicating she was having shoulder pain. A bone spur was discovered, which was treated with a cortisone shot.

Following a conversation where she mentioned the extent of pain to her doctor, an MRI was ordered. During the test the surgical clamps from her mastectomy surgery were discovered, so she was sent to back to her breast surgeon.

Meeting with her breast surgeon and prior to scheduling a procedure for the clamp removal, “knots” were discovered around her collarbone area during an exam.

Additional testing would show that the cancer had returned, it was now in her bones and the “knots” were cancer in her lymph nodes.

“It’s in my bones. It’s everywhere,” Sexton shared of her recent diagnosis.

Her Stage 2 breast cancer from 2015 has now metastasized to her bones and some lymph nodes resulting in a Stage 4 diagnosis. There would be no surgery.

“I heard her say Stage 4 Metastatic breast cancer and it didn’t dawn on me,” Sexton said of first hearing the diagnosis confiding that it was news which she did not want to accept initially.

To battle the recurrence, she received five doses of radiation to the two areas which are the most painful, her lower back and her collarbone. Additionally, she takes oral chemotherapy ongoing, as well as Kisqali, a cancer medication used with other treatments in advance stage breast cancer to treat hormone receptor-positive cancer.

“The medications are ongoing until it doesn’t work anymore,” she said of her most recent diagnosis.

Yet, Sexton experienced a hiccup early on, which many cancer patients know all too well – the cost of medication. When she was first contacted by her pharmacy to fill the prescription of Kisqali, she was told her co-pay for the months’ worth of medicine would be $5,000.

“I told them to put it back on the shelf, because there was no way I could pay that,” she shared.

Two hours on a phone call later, Sexton was able to join a program, which now makes her co-pay around $10 a month. She takes the Kisqali three weeks out of the month and gets one week recovery.

“This week has been really good and I’m just afraid what next week’s going to bring and I can’t think that way,” she said of adjusting to how she felt and her new normal.

Sexton is currently not working so that she may focus on her overall health and rest as needed. She shared she now rests more than anything else, which has been an adjustment.

“I get tired easily,” she said.

Her new daily routine is to get up first thing in the morning and try to get things done and then she’s down for the day. The treatment, however, and rest, along with listening to her body, are helping.

“The lesions have shrunk quite a bit, especially in the neck area, in the lymph nodes,” she said. “They’ve all gone down. So there has been progress and it’s stabilizing,”

But stable doesn’t mean finished.

“I want it to be done and it’s never going to be done,” she shared candidly, noting that her current diagnosis is “chronic,” which means treatment will be ongoing. “My family is very supportive.”

Her family isn’t the only support she’s been fortunate enough to receive. In mid-September, Sexton was the nominee/recipient of the Helping One Woman (HOW) Oakdale Benefit Dinner.

“Thank God for the dinner, because I put that money back just in case I have to pay for health care,” she said of the proceeds from the event.

Of the many anticipatory worries she faces, Sexton worries about her insurance and continuing to have decent coverage. A worry which her social worker has indicated she’ll be able to help her with if that comes about.

“That’s what scares me, what really scares me is that something won’t be covered by my insurance,” she said.

The nomination for the benefit dinner both touched Sexton personally, as well as gave her peace so that she no longer worries as much about that expense.

“It makes me feel special,” she said of the nomination and sold-out crowd that gathered to support her. “Growing up in this town, I never really was involved in much. So, when they nominated me for the dinner, the outpour of the community was overwhelming. Then I realized, I do know a lot of people and they do care for you and you cared for them at one time. It was so awesome, to feel that special for that night. It was so beautiful and it helped with the stress.”

Not only has the recent diagnosis shown Sexton how much she’s loved and supported, it’s taught her some lessons as well.

“It has taught me to wake up every day and just keep going,” Sexton said. “Keep going for my kids and grandkids.”

Ten years later from her initial diagnosis, the survivor shared she’s completely different this time around.

“2015 was tough, but not as tough as this time,” she said, “because I know it’s in there. I know it can change at any time, if the medication stops working,”

However, not to be confused, Sexton is still living as many moments and making as many memories as she can. Most importantly, she’s not done fighting.

“It has settled me down,” she shared of her current battle and how it’s changed her. “It makes me say, you don’t have to do dishes tonight if you’re tired. Just leave it alone. No one cares.”

Having the community turn out to support her both warmed her heart and fueled her fight.

“Freda is not as strong as people think at times,” she continued. “I always act like a tough cookie, but I’m not that tough. I have my moments, but I never give up.”

As testament to that, Sexton does her best to make the most of the good days and keep her spirits up.

“I keep myself busy,” she said of her daily routine. “Cancer goes away when I’m busy working in the yard or I’m cleaning the house, whatever. It goes away.”

And of all the lessons she’s learned in this past year, Sexton shared a number of things, including why she continues the battle.

“I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of leaving my family,” she stated candidly.

She also offered some sound advice.

“Check your boobs,” she said with a big smile. “If your body is screaming at you, get checked. Don’t put it off. People do that and I did that for a long time.”