Episode 4: "Stage 4 Thriver" - Cindee Turns Metastatic Cancer into the Ultimate Family Road Trip

Thriving with Stage four metastatic breast cancer

What happens when a 37-year-old mom of three discovers that "clogged milk duct" is stage four metastatic breast cancer spread to her spine, sternum, and pelvis? Most people would prepare for the worst. Cindee Yandow bought plane tickets to France.

Three days post-surgery, she showed up to her eldest son's high school graduation with drains in her pockets because she'd told the scheduling nurse: "I will do this surgery only if I can go to his graduation." When her oncologist said they'd treat her cancer "like diabetes—maintain it," something clicked. She had two choices: be sad or "freaking go." She chose go.

That decision launched the most ambitious family bonding project in cancer history: hitting all 50 states with her kids, sister, brother, and rotating cast of nieces and nephews. Nine people, one RV, seventeen states down. Her travel planning strategy? Find the cheapest flight, pick states that make a loop, and keep going until somebody starts crying.

From jet skiing 60 miles to Catalina Island (with cellulitis) to posting "Who wants to go to France this weekend?" on Wednesday and boarding a plane Thursday, Cindee embodies living with stage four as a chronic condition, not a death sentence. Five years later, she's celebrating "no evidence of disease" while playing soccer four days a week and booking cruises through 2025.

Her advice for the newly diagnosed: "You're at the worst point because there's so much unknown. Take it day by day. I have two options—I could be sad, or we're just gonna freaking go."

Key moment: When people ask how she plans trips so far in advance with stage four cancer: "If I'm just sitting here waiting for something to go wrong, I might be here for a minute."