Breast Cancer Stories
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. While cases of breast cancer are most commonly carcinomas, less common types include Paget’s disease, inflammatory and connective tissue.
Survivors share their breast cancer stories on:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) – a form of cancer where abnormal cells begin growing in the lining of the milk ducts and invade breast tissue beyond the walls of the ducts.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) – a noninvasive form of breast cancer where cancer cells start in the lining of a breast duct and have not spread to surrounding tissues
- IDC & DCIS – a combination of both forms of breast cancer.
- Previvor BRCA2 – A mutation that indicates a high risk of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Patient Stories
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stories
Amelia L., IDC, Stage 1, ER/PR+, HER2-
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer.
1st Symptoms: Lump found during self breast exam
Treatment: TC chemotherapy; lumpectomy, double mastectomy, reconstruction; Tamoxifen
Rachel Y., IDC, Stage 1B
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. Stage 1B.
1st Symptoms: None, caught by delayed mammogram
Treatment: Double mastectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, hormone therapy Tamoxifen
Rach D., IDC, Stage 2, Triple Positive
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer.
1st Symptoms: Lump in right breast
Treatment: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, double mastectomy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy
Caitlin J., IDC, Stage 2B, ER/PR Positive
Cancer Details: ER/PR positive = estrogen and progesterone receptor positive
1st Symptoms: Lump found on breast
Treatment: Lumpectomy, AC/T chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy (Lupron and Anastrozole)
Joy R., IDC, Stage 2, Triple Negative
Cancer details: Triple negative doesn’t have any receptors commonly found in breast cancer making it harder to treat
1st Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: Chemo, double mastectomy, hysterectomy
Callie M., IDC, Stage 2B, Grade 2, ER+
Cancer Details: ER positive = estrogen receptor positive
1st Symptoms: Dimpling/lump found on breast
Treatment: Mastectomy, AC/T chemotherapy, hysterectomy, reconstruction
Monica H., IDC, Stage 2B
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer.
1st Symptoms: Tightness and lump in left breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery
Stefanie H., IDC, Triple Positive, Stage 3
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. Triple positive = positive for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR)
1st Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: chemotherapy, lumpectomy, radiation
Doreen D., IDC, Stage 2A, Triple Positive
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. Triple positive = positive for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR)
1st Symptoms: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (TCHP), lumpectomy, radiation
Melissa H., Stage 2B, Triple Negative
Cancer details: Triple negative doesn’t have any receptors commonly found in breast cancer making it harder to treat
1st Symptoms: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Mastectomy, chemotherapy, 2nd mastectomy
Genoa M., Stage 2, HER2-Positive
Cancer details: HER2-positive tends to be more aggressive than HER2-negative cases
1st Symptoms: Nausea
Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation
Andrea A., IDC, Stage 2B/3, ER+
Cancer details: Found cancer while pregnant
1st Symptoms: Divot in breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery
Stephanie J., Stage 3, Triple Negative, BRCA1+
Cancer details: Triple negative doesn’t have any receptors commonly found in breast cancer
1st Symptoms: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, surgery
Renee N., IDC, Stage 3, HER2+
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer.
1st Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy, radiation
Shari S., Stage 4, Metastatic, Triple Positive
Cancer details: Triple positive = positive for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR)
1st Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
Erin C., IDC, Triple Negative, Stage 2B/4 Metastatic
Cancer details: Triple negative doesn’t have any receptors commonly found in breast cancer making it harder to treat
1st Symptoms: Pain in breast
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
Margaret A., IDC & DCIS, Stage 2B
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. DCIS means cancer has not spread into surrounding breast tissue
1st Symptoms: Pain in left breast, left nipple inverting
Treatment: Double mastectomy, chemo (AC-T), Radiation
Abigail J., Stage 4, Metastatic
Cancer Details: HER2-low, node negative, PIK3CA mutation
1st Symptoms: Back and leg pain, lump in breast
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, CDK4/6 inhibitors
Bethany W., Stage 2, ER+
Symptoms: Lump in breast and armpit
Treatment: Chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation
Bethany W., Stage 4 Metastatic
Symptoms: Lower back pain
Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation, maintenance treatment
Lainie J., Stage 2 Breast Cancer
Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation
Cynthia J., IDC, Stage 2B Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Stage 2B Breast Cancer Symptoms: Architectural distortion on mammogram Treatment: Double mastectomy, radiation
Nikki M., Stage 3 HER2+ Inflammatory Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer Symptoms: Centralized pain around the nipple, inverted nipple, swollen breast, differences in nipple color, warm-feeling breast Treatment: Chemotherapy, single mastectomy, radiotherapy
Triple Negative (TNB) Stories
April D., Metastatic Triple Negative, BRCA1+
Symptoms: Four lumps on the side of the left breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy (carboplatin, paclitaxel doxorubicin, surgery (double mastectomy), radiation (proton therapy), PARP inhibitors
Kelly T., Stage 3C, Triple Negative
Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes on the neck, high white blood count
Treatment: Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, carboplatin, capecitabine), surgery (nipple-sparing, skin-sparing double mastectomy), radiation, hormone therapy (tamoxifen)
Lucy E., Grade 3, Triple Negative, BRCA1
Cancer Details: Found lump shortly after testing positive for BRCA1
1st Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, double mastectomy
Melissa H., Stage 2B, Triple Negative
Cancer details: Triple negative doesn’t have any receptors commonly found in breast cancer making it harder to treat
1st Symptoms: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Mastectomy, chemotherapy, 2nd mastectomy
Melissa B., Stage 1 Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Stage 1 Triple Negative Breast Cancer Symptoms: Pea-sized lumpTreatment: Chemotherapy, surgeries
Stephanie J., Stage 3, Triple Negative, BRCA1+
Cancer details: Triple negative doesn’t have any receptors commonly found in breast cancer
1st Symptoms: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, surgery
Susan S., Recurrent Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Breast Cancer Symptoms: Lump, twisted and caved-in nipple Treatment: Double mastectomy, radiation, lumpectomy, chemo
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Stories
Margaret A., IDC & DCIS, Stage 2B
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. DCIS means cancer has not spread into surrounding breast tissue
1st Symptoms: Pain in left breast, left nipple inverting
Treatment: Double mastectomy, chemo (AC-T), Radiation
Alison R., Partially Differentiated DCIS, Stage 4 Metastatic
Cancer details: Triple positive = positive for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR)
1st Symptoms: Lump in underarm/breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, targeted therapy
IDC & DCIS Stories
Natalie W., Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Stage 0, ER+; Paget’s Disease
Cancer Details: Only 1-4% of breast cancer cases also includes Paget’s
1st Symptoms: 2cm lump found in right breast
Treatment: Lumpectomy, double subcutaneous mastectomy, hormone therapy
Cancer Details: Only 1-4% of breast cancer cases also includes Paget’s
1st Symptoms: 2cm lump found in right breast
Treatment: Lumpectomy, double subcutaneous mastectomy, hormone therapy
Margaret A., IDC & DCIS, Stage 2B
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. DCIS means cancer has not spread into surrounding breast tissue
1st Symptoms: Pain in left breast, left nipple inverting
Treatment: Double mastectomy, chemo (AC-T), Radiation
Tina C., Ductal & Lobular Carcinoma in Situ, Stage 3A, ER+
Cancer details: Both ductal and lobular, estrogen receptor positive. Different than breast cancer Tina’s mom was diagnosed w/ twice.
1st Symptoms: Sunken in nipple of right breast
Treatment: Double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy
Cancer details: Both ductal and lobular, estrogen receptor positive. Different than breast cancer Tina’s mom was diagnosed w/ twice.
1st Symptoms: Sunken in nipple of right breast
Treatment: Double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy
Cat L., IDC & DCIS, Stage 2B
Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. DCIS means cancer has not spread into surrounding breast tissue
1st Symptoms: Pain in left breast radiating from lump
Treatment: Bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy
Previvor BRCA2 Stories
Erika S., BRCA2 Mutation
Cancer Details: Previvor
1st Symptoms: Family history of breast cancer, no physical symptoms
Treatment: Preventative double mastectomy, direct implant reconstruction
...
Breast Cancer Resources
Breast Cancer Oncologists & Experts
Doug Blayney, MD
Oncologist: Specializing in breast cancer | HER2, Estrogen+, Triple Negative, Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy
Experience: 30+ years
Institution: Stanford Medical
Dr. Fayanju, MD, MA Role: Chief, Division of Breast Surgery Focus: Breast Cancer Provider: Penn Medicine
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