Nicole Taylor, a member of the country trio Taylor Red, stayed active with CrossFit while being treated for stage three breast cancer. She died on September 28, aged 35, after the disease returned as stage four.

Her triplet sisters, Nika and Natalie Taylor, announced her death in a video on Monday, November 2. They described the cancer as an aggressive type and said the stage four diagnosis came as a big shock.

Staying Active Through Chemotherapy

Nicole was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2022. She continued CrossFit during chemotherapy, initially responded well to treatment and was declared to have no evidence of disease, meaning no cancer could be detected through the examinations and tests performed.

Stage III breast cancer is considered locally advanced. It may involve extensive spread to nearby lymph nodes, the skin or the chest wall, but has not spread to distant organs. It typically requires a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and targeted therapy.

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When the Cancer Returned

Nine months later, Nicole was told the cancer had returned as stage four and that she had around three months to live. If treatments worked, her doctor did not know how long she might live afterwards.

Nicole lived around a year after that prognosis, well beyond the three months she was given. She tried not to live in fear, remained hopeful and kept travelling and working.

Nicole said she had so much peace in that time, for which her sisters are thankful. They are still processing the loss but know she is no longer suffering.

What Stage Four Means

Stage four, also called metastatic breast cancer, has spread to distant organs such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain. The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 20 to 30 per cent of women initially diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer eventually develop metastatic disease. The risk varies according to factors including cancer subtype and treatment.

Stage four most commonly spreads to the bones, followed by the lungs. Symptoms can include bone pain, a chronic cough and shortness of breath.

The National Cancer Institute's SEER data show a five-year relative survival rate of 33.8 per cent for distant breast cancer and 87.5 per cent for regional disease, in which cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or structures but not distant organs.

Stage four is not curable but is usually treatable, and it can go into remission. Outcomes vary widely, with some women living one to two years after diagnosis and others 10 years or more.

Exercise in Cancer Care

A 2026 study published in JAMA Network Open used observational data to model exercise strategies among breast cancer survivors, drawing on the CHALLENGE trial. It found that increasing moderate aerobic exercise by 120 minutes a week was associated with a 2.4-percentage-point lower estimated 10-year risk of breast cancer-specific death. The researchers said further randomised trials are needed to confirm the findings.

Studies also show regular exercise is linked to a lower risk of recurrence, though doctors do not fully understand why. Exercise can also ease fatigue, pain, depression and anxiety, improve sleep and strengthen bones during treatment.

The American Cancer Society and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend that people with a history of cancer do 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise weekly. They also advise resistance and flexibility exercise at least two days a week.

The college says such exercise is safe during and after breast cancer treatment with precautions and low intensity. Patients are advised to get their doctor's approval first and seek supervised support for new swelling or worsening pain.

Tailored CrossFit for Survivors

The CAPABLE study at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute offers cancer survivors tailored CrossFit training. Results published in 2023 showed reductions in body weight, BMI and body fat, alongside improvements in blood sugar markers and self-reported quality of life among participants.

The 12-week programme was designed for cancer survivors aged 18 and older, including some who were still undergoing treatment. Study creator Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, PhD, said participants report doing things they could not before, such as picking up grandchildren.

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