Micila’s Story
Milica has been living with breast cancer for more than a decade.
Diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2014 and later with metastatic breast cancer in 2023, she has spent years navigating treatments, transitions, and the uncertainty that comes with a chronic cancer diagnosis. Yet through it all, she has found strength in family, community, and the simple moments that make life beautiful.
For Milica, some of life's greatest joys are spending time with her husband, Zak, their children Marina and Oliver, and their beloved Siberian Husky, Zeus. She also finds comfort in yoga, Tai Chi, friendships, and everyday moments that might otherwise go unnoticed—a hummingbird that visits her backyard, or the sunset streaming through her son's bedroom window.
When her cancer progressed in 2023, she faced one of the most difficult chapters of her journey.
"The feelings of despair, hopelessness, and missing out on my life were very strong," she recalls.
Over time, however, she learned to recognize those feelings and developed tools to navigate them. She leaned on the support of family and friends, while continuing to focus on the people and moments that bring meaning to her life.
Milica first discovered Be Well in 2020 through UC San Diego Health while searching for a new yoga community during the pandemic. What began as a virtual yoga class quickly became an essential part of her care.
"My first Be Well class felt like coming home to a friend I hadn't seen in years," she says.
Over the years, Be Well has been there through treatment changes, surgeries, injuries, and milestones. When she broke her foot, she received personalized guidance on how to continue practicing yoga safely. Before undergoing surgery, she attended a Be Well retreat that provided both physical and emotional support, as well as valuable wisdom from others who had walked a similar path.
What stands out most to Milica is the extraordinary level of care she experiences within the Be Well community.
"There is no judgment and no need to explain much," she says. "We just get it."
Today, Be Well remains an important part of her life—not simply as a yoga program, but as a source of strength, connection, and healing.
For Milica, survivorship means embracing life exactly as it is.
It means being present for every moment—the joyful ones, the difficult ones, and everything in between.
"This is my life," she says, "and I want to be here for all of it."
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