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Adriamycin (doxorubicin) Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Patient Stories Radiation Therapy Taxol (paclitaxel) Treatments

Francina’s Stage 2B Breast Cancer Story

Francina’s Stage 2B Breast Cancer Story

Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
Edited by: Chris Sanchez

Francina is a breast cancer survivor, a mother of 2, and a grandmother of 4. She enjoys traveling, going on cruises, and spending time with family and friends. Francina is an advocate for cancer awareness, working with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Sister to Sister Alliance to educate communities on cancer prevention and the importance of early detection.

Francina discovered her breast cancer during a routine mammogram. After further tests, she was informed that the mass was cancerous. Despite the shock, she remained calm and turned to her faith, vowing to use her journey to bring glory to God. Her treatment journey included two surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, and thanks to biomarker testing, she received a treatment tailored to her specific cancer type. After going through these challenges, she is now cancer-free, and has been so for 6 and a half years.

Throughout her journey, Francina relied on her faith, support from family, and her church community. She credits her strength and positive mindset for helping her fight cancer, as well as the help of a close friend who accompanied her through treatment and recovery. She emphasizes the importance of self-breast exams, early detection, and knowing one’s family medical history.


  • Name: Francina B.
  • Diagnosis:
    • Breast Cancer
  • Staging:
    • Stage 2B
  • Initial Symptoms:
    • None
  • Treatments:
    • Surgery: lumpectomy; removal of cancerous sentinel nodes
    • Chemotherapy: doxorubicin, paclitaxel
    • Radiation

AbbVie
Genmab
Karyopharm Therapeutics logo

Thank you to Abbvie, Genmab, and Karyopharm for their support of our patient education program! The Patient Story retains full editorial control over all content.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider for treatment decisions.



I’m enjoying life.

You know, God has given me another chance and the opportunities afforded me not only enable me to use my voice, but also to enjoy life.

And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Introduction

My name is Francina. I’m a breast cancer survivor. I am a mother of two, a daughter and a son and a Nana of 4. 2 boys and 2 girls. I am one who loves to travel. I love going on cruises. And I also love spending time with my family and friends. 

I’m also an advocate with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and also I’m with Sister to Sister Alliance, a support group. We go out into the communities and events like health fairs to empower, to equip, and to enlighten men and women about cancer.

I’m enjoying life. You know, God has given me another chance and the opportunities afforded me enable me not only to use my voice, but also to enjoy life. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Pre-diagnosis

Initial Symptoms

Well, I didn’t experience any symptoms. It was my annual routine mammogram, and maybe about a few days, maybe a week later, I got a phone call from my doctor. 

They needed to do another mammogram and also ultrasound because they had seen a mass.

They wasn’t really sure what it was, but they were concerned. 

Diagnosis

So I went and I got my mammogram done. I got my ultrasound done, and I was on my way to the gym.

As soon as I get to the gym, I get a phone call from my doctor that the mass was cancerous. 

And she said, I’m going to set you up with other doctors, you pick what you want and go from there.

… you don’t hear everything that’s being said because you’re still trying to figure out them 3 words. “I have cancer.”

Reaction to the Diagnosis

And so I’m sitting in my car and so I call my pastor and I call her aunt. 

And after that I said, you know what, God? Because I never questioned Him. I never asked Him why. I said, If I’m going to carry this, it’s going to be to Your glory. 

I said, I’m not going to call my children yet because I know they’re going to have many questions. So let me go, wait and see and talk to my doctor, you know, get information so that I can share with them. 

My concern was having to go home and tell my husband. So I went into the gym and I worked out. I went home and my husband was in the bedroom, and I went and told him, and immediately it was negativity. You know, you go there thinking the worst. And so I had to throw my hand up and said, I don’t receive that. And I walked out the room. And so it was a process. 

I had a friend that I went to talk to. I used to take care of her son for 2 and a half years, and he had passed away. So I went to her, you know, and let her know what was going on. And she’s a godsend.

I thought that her son was my reason. No, it was her because she went with me through my whole cancer journey from day 1: treatments, surgery, changing my bandages. I mean, the whole bit. And even took notes that I didn’t even know she had taken. 

Because, you know, when you go to see your doctor and they tell you that you have cancer, you know, your mind is all over the place. And you don’t hear everything that’s being said because you’re still trying to figure out them 3 words: I have cancer. 

Treatment

Options

So my surgeon was very compassionate. He explained everything to me until I understood. He gave me options. 

Then he said, you go home and you pray about it, and you come back and let me know what your decision is. 

Lumpectomy and biopsy

So I elected to have a lumpectomy done. 

And in the process of having the lumpectomy done they found in my sentinel nodes that I had 3 cancerous cells. That means it was outside of the mass. 

And so 2 weeks later, I had to have another surgery where they had to go into my armpit. And you have 3 tiers where they took out 2 tiers of cancers.

And it was clear. Clear margin. So the cancer had not spread. So that was a blessing. 

So then I had to have a biopsy done so they would know what type of cancer I had.

Chemotherapy and radiation

So in the process of finding out what type of cancer I had, I was able to get a treatment that was tailor-made for my specific cancer. So I had the first round. 

I had 4 rounds of chemo every 2 weeks, and then I had to have 12 rounds of another chemo. 

The first chemo was doxorubicin, what we call Red Devil. That’s really a powerful, potent treatment. 

And then I had paclitaxel, which was for 3 months.

After that, I had either 32 or 33 rounds of radiation. 

And from there I was cancer-free. That was 6 and a half years ago. 

Being Cancer-Free

And it was due to biomarker testing that at the time I did not know I had it done. I just found out the early part of this year. And it was that that contributed to the type of treatment that I needed for my specific cancer, which worked. 

And like I said, to God be all the glory because I am cancer-free. I am healed.

And the moment when the doctor pulled me in and said, hey, your scans are clear. Oh, I mean, I was ecstatic, but I already knew because I had a conversation with God, you know, and he gave me 3 words as well. And his 3 words was: I got you. And when God said he got you, he got you. 

So I never was stressed or worried about my cancer journey at all. 

“I had people”

You know, everybody says something different, but it was just the stress mentally, you know, physically and emotionally of going through and the challenges that I had because of it.

I had to stop working, I was no longer able to work. And so in the process, I exhausted my savings. And so I had no health, no health care.

And so I applied for assistance, but I didn’t qualify, and I had no income.

But I had people. 

My social worker was awesome. And she connected me to organizations as well as my niece, because I had a sister that passed away from breast cancer in 2015. So she wasn’t as fortunate.

So I used my voice on behalf of her as well as those that are next to me, but also coming behind me. 

Advice Francina Wants to Share

Get tested

So based on my experience, I now advocate testing. 

You know, we have to advocate. We have to stop being silent, being quiet, and to let people know cancer does not have to be a death sentence. 

Early detection is key. And so, you know, you want to make a point of people to go ahead and get their screenings done. And those that are not old enough to have mammograms to do self-breast exams monthly. 

So I’m about educating and giving information, you know, sharing my story, my journey so that I can help others along the way.

And my advocacy has also extended to me urging my daughter to get tested too. And she does get tested, every 6 months. And I also have a sister on my father’s side who also gets tested. 

My niece also gets tested because it was her mother that passed away, and I’m her aunt. So, you know, you got to look at that connection. So they all are proactive in getting their screenings. They get MRIs and do self-breast exams as well. I have 2 granddaughters I’m trying to teach about doing self-breast checks. 

When we go to health fairs, there are a lot of young adults that are not old enough to get mammograms, don’t know how to do self-breast exams, don’t even know about it. So I’ve asked them, you know, when you go get your physicals, do you talk to your physician? They say, no. 

I said, when you go, you ask them to not only perform it, but to show you how to do it yourself, because a lot of times people find those lumps themselves. Also, they’ll be the first to see a change in their body. 

So they need to know what to look for. So we like to educate and give information so they are aware.

Link with support groups

Connecting with support groups helped, surrounding myself with positive people. And also learning from them about people who beat cancer. Not just seeing the success, but gathering information from them. 

But it was also inspiring to see patients who are now 5 years, 10 years, 20 years cancer free. You know, that was the stuff that gave me something to push forward to. 

That can help you through your journey, because there are a lot of people that have already been through what we’re going through so they can help us.

You know, they can be an encouragement and inspiration to us and also be there to support us.

Cancer doesn’t have me.

I’m going to be in control.

It’s not going to take me. 

Develop a positive mindset

And also having a positive mindset was so important. 

Cancer doesn’t have me. I’m going to be in control. It’s not going to take me. 

I’m going to enjoy my life, you know, and do some of the things that maybe I wouldn’t have normally do. 

But, you know, just to be an inspiration and encouragement to other people that listen, you can fight this, you can beat this, you can overcome this. You can still have quality of life. 

Put your mind to do the things that you want to do, and surround yourself with positive people. Get connected to support groups.

Lean on family and friends 

It was so amazing to be supported by my church family, their prayers, having them rally around you and cheer you on. 

Plus the support from my family was so heartening. Because when I did finally tell my children, my daughter looked at me. Mom, she said, you know, you’re a strong woman, you’re going to beat this. 

My son wanted to run and come to his mama. You know, but they all know that their mama is a fighter.

I’m not one to give up. I’m not one to quit. So I’m going to push. I’m going to press. 

But my daughter, every time I look around, she was leaving Maryland, coming to see about her mama. If I didn’t sound right on the phone, she was there. 

So, like I said, my family means a lot, because they see me doing my journey. But it also helps them too, as we’re creating memories and also leaving legacies that they can follow and continue with.

Be aware of any family history

Another key thing that I tell people is, know your family history. 

See, when I was growing up you didn’t ask questions as a child. So now all your matriarchs and the patriarchs are no longer here.

You know, you don’t have the information. So it has to start from me with educating my children and my grandkids. 

And I’m seeing me when I’m going through and understanding what I do and why I do it.

So with their support and the support of my friends, you know, I’m I believe I’m making a difference.

Learn about biomarkers and why they matter

I also wanted to talk a little bit about biomarkers and their importance. Basically, they get a sample from your tumor and they test it, you know, and then and it determines the type of cancer that you have.

Well, I’m still learning about biomarker testing, but what it did for me was it was able to target the type of cancer that I had. So a lot of people are not aware that they’ve had it done because, you know, you didn’t hear of it. Even my doctors, they didn’t tell me anything about biomarker testing. 

It was my advocacy group that was discussing it because it’s something that we’re trying to get out there trying to talk with our lawmakers. Making that a policy. We’re not there yet. So we’re trying to get petitions and we’re educating, you know, our lawmakers. With personal stories. 

That’s something that we could bring to the table when it comes to insurance companies, because right now, a lot of insurance companies will not pay for it because they feel that it’s experimental. But when you got these positive outcomes from people who have had it done to me, you know that makes it makes a difference.

So now they can go back and see, okay, what treatment would be best to combat this type of cancer. And so for me, that’s what they did.

So the regimen that I was on, even though it was hard, it was something that did what it needed to do. And that’s why I am cancer-free because it was targeted for my specific cancer. 

It’s cost effective because, if you really don’t know what you what you’re dealing with, you don’t really know what type of treatment is best for that. You’re trying different regimens and it puts a lot of stress and strain on the patient. 

But if you’re a doctor and you know something is targeted that this is going to work for this type of cancer, if you use this type of treatment, this medication, then, okay, you’re saving your patient, but you’re also giving that that person quality of life and also extending their life.

I want everybody to be advocates for themselves.

Because who knows your body better than you do? 

Advocate for others—and yourself

Let me finish by sharing the most important efforts in the work I’m doing with the American Cancer Society when it comes to the black and African American community. 

Bringing about awareness, equipping them, empowering them to get out there and to do what they need to do for themselves. Leading by example. Sharing my story with them and letting them know. 

Again, cancer is not a death sentence. Early detection is key. We must get out there and do our screenings, and also do our monthly breast exams, and not allow fear to keep you from getting the care.

Because everybody deserves to have some type of quality care.

I want everybody to be advocates for themselves. Because who knows your body better than you do? 

And sometimes you go to doctors and you tell them things are going on and they push you off. And my thing is, if you go to a doctor and they cannot do what you’re asking or requiring them to do, go somewhere else where somebody will. 

Because there are people that have been diagnosed and they’re already stage 3. Stage 4. Whereas if they would have had it done initially, they may have caught it earlier. 

So we have to also be advocates for ourselves. We deserve to have care. We deserve to be listened to and to be understood.

AbbVie
Genmab
Karyopharm Therapeutics logo

Special thanks again to Abbvie, Genmab, and Karyopharm for their support of our patient education program! The Patient Story retains full editorial control over all content.


Thank you for sharing your story, Francina!

Inspired by Francina's story?

Share your story, too!


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Initial Symptoms: None
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Symptoms: Back and leg pain, lump in breast



Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, CDK4/6 inhibitors

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Symptom: Lump found during self breast exam

Treatments: TC chemotherapy; lumpectomy, double mastectomy, reconstruction; Tamoxifen

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Symptoms: None; caught by delayed mammogram

Treatments: Double mastectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, hormone therapy Tamoxifen
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Symptom: Lump in right breast

Treatments: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, double mastectomy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy
Caitlin

Caitlin J., IDC, Stage 2B, ER/PR+



Symptom: Lump found on breast

Treatments: Lumpectomy, AC/T chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy (Lupron & Anastrozole)

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Symptom: Lump in breast

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Categories
Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Lung Cancer Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient Stories Radiation Therapy Treatments

Ashley’s Stage 4 Lung Cancer Story

Ashley’s Stage 4 Lung Cancer Story

Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
Edited by: Chris Sanchez

Ashley, a 36-year-old mother of two, living in Northern California, shares her experience of being diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer.

Ashley had initially experienced trouble swallowing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in her body. Prior to her diagnosis, she dealt with repeated misdiagnoses and medical gaslighting. Specialists brushed off her symptoms as due to work stress or anxiety, or misdiagnosed her with conditions like asthma, pneumonia, and long COVID. It wasn’t until a trip to the emergency room, where doctors discovered blood clots and conducted a CT scan, that her lung cancer was revealed. It took Ashley by surprise; she had no history of smoking and was otherwise healthy and very active and athletic.

Ashley reflects on the biases in healthcare, particularly against people who don’t fit traditional risk profiles for lung cancer. She explains how her healthy appearance and lack of smoking history contributed to doctors dismissing her symptoms for over a year. She believes that this is a systemic issue in healthcare, not just individual doctors’ fault. This is why she advocates for the importance of self-advocacy and trusting one’s body.

After her diagnosis, Ashley underwent chemotherapy, radiation, surgery to remove one lung, and immunotherapy treatments. She notes the importance of biomarkers in determining treatment for lung cancer. She does not have any biomarkers, which limited her options to immunotherapy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Her experience included serious side effects, including liver failure from immunotherapy. She had to stop immunotherapy and explored other treatment options, including clinical trials and further radiation therapy.

Ashley emphasizes the need for patients to advocate for themselves and seek second opinions. She shares her experience with various doctors, particularly the importance of one doctor making eye contact and truly listening to her concerns, which helped her feel validated.

Ashley’s journey has taught her the value of mental health support, palliative care, and integrative services, such as physical therapy and nutrition. She highlights the importance of having a support system, both in terms of healthcare providers and loved ones, to navigate the complexities of cancer treatment. Despite the challenges, Ashley remains proactive in managing her care and encourages others to stay informed and engaged in their treatment.


  • Name:
    • Ashley V.
  • Diagnosis:
    • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Staging:
    • Stage 4
  • Initial Symptoms:
    • Trouble swallowing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Fatigue
    • Loss of appetite
    • Chest pain
    • Swelling in her body
  • Treatment:
    • Surgery (removal of lung)
    • Chemotherapy
    • Immunotherapy
    • Radiation

This interview has been edited for clarity. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider for treatment decisions.


Thank you for sharing your story, Ashley!

Inspired by Ashley's story?

Share your story, too!


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Yovana P., Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma (IMA) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Stage 1B



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Symptoms: Two bouts of severe pneumonia despite full health
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Symptoms: Respiratory problems
Treatment: Chemotherapy (cisplatin & pemetrexed), surgery (lobectomy), microwave ablation, SBRT radiation

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Symptoms: None; unrelated chest CT scan revealed lung mass & enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes
Treatment: Chemoradiation

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Categories
FAQ Lung Cancer

Biomarker Testing

Biomarker Testing

You may have heard your care team mention the possibility of biomarker testing when trying to develop a plan of action for diagnosis or a potential diagnosis of cancer. While biomarker testing has been around since the 1950s, it’s not a term you come across often if you aren’t in the medical field. 

Biomarker testing is an effective tool for doctors to help identify targeted therapies for driver mutations or issues with the immune system for cancer patients. 

In this article, we will help you better understand what biomarker testing is and answer any questions that you may have about biomarker testing. This way you can make an informed decision about what is best for you and your body. 

What is Biomarker Testing?

Biomarker testing, also known as molecular or genomic testing, is the use of a laboratory test to measure biomarkers found in your bodily fluids or tissue. A biomarker is a biological molecule found in any bodily fluid that may indicate a sign of abnormality as in a disease or a condition. 

Doctors are able to use the tissue of a tumor to test for abnormalities in its DNA and levels of specific proteins in the tumor in order to identify what is causing the tumor to grow. In turn, they can then apply targeted therapy that will help remove the cancerous cells without damaging healthy cells. 

Why is Biomarker Testing Useful for Cancer Patients?

Biomarker testing is a great tool for cancer patients because it allows your care team to diagnose the type of cancer. This in turn can help your doctor determine the best treatment plan.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), biomarker testing can also be used to identify genes the may lead to cancer or see how your treatment plan is progressing. 

“It’s helped us on three different occasions not only with diagnosis, but on each time that he had progression of his cancer, the liquid biopsy was able to say, here’s the mutation, here’s the new mutation, and here’s the direction the clear plot path that you need to take for survival.”

Read more about Rhonda’s success with Biomarkers

When Should I Consider Biomarker Testing?

The National Institutes of Health recommends biomarker testing for all patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Biomarker testing can also be useful for several other types of cancer including melanoma and breast cancer.

Three key times you should consider asking your doctor about biomarker testing are:

  • When your doctor suspects cancer and you are getting a biopsy done.
  • If you have been diagnosed with cancer but did not get biomarker testing done.
  • If lung cancer reoccurs after treatment

Essentially, if you are diagnosed with lung cancer you should discuss the potential for biomarker testing with your doctor.

“I wish I had actually asked for the full biomarker testing to see what their report was and ask questions about it. Cancer runs in my family, but I had done genetic testing. I didn’t understand this was different testing.”

Read More about Terri’s lung cancer story

Which Types of Biomarker Testing Should I Be Asking For?

There are two types of biomarker testing that should be done if you’ve been diagnosed with or your doctor suspects lung cancer:

  • Driver Mutations – an error in a gene’s DNA
  • Expression of PD-L1 – an immunotherapy biomarker

Let’s dive further into the two types of biomarker testing to understand what they indicate and how they impact your treatment plan.

Driver Mutations

In order to understand driver mutations, it’s important to understand the basics of how genes and DNA work. 

DNA makes up genes. When everything is working normally each gene has its proper DNA code which then results in the production of proteins. 

mutation occurs when a gene has an error in its DNA. Mutations are normal and happen often. A single mutation likely won’t cause cancer; however, the accumulation of multiple mutations over time is what typically results in cancer. 

Mutations are often sorted into two general categories:

  • Somatic (acquired) – The mutation is limited to just the tumor and is not passed to offspring.
  • Germline (inherited) – The mutation is present in all cells of the body and can be passed to offspring. 

There are several different types of driver mutations that can result in cancer. Some of the most common ones include:

  • Activating Mutation – The protein is always active.
  • Fusion – The fusion of one gene with another.
  • Amplification – More copies of a gene than normal.
  • Deletion – Part of or the entire gene is missing. 

Research has so far found 20 different driver mutations commonly found in non-small cell lung cancer treatment and small cell lung cancer treatment. Much more research is needed to continue identifying the potential mutations and develop targeted therapies. 

Expression of Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1)

The testing of your PD-L1 levels is what helps identify if you need immunotherapy. According to the National Library of Medicine, a PD-L1 test helps measure the amount of PD-L1 on cancer cells. 

This is important because PD-L1 proteins are what prevent your T-cells, otherwise known as immune cells, from attacking the cancer cells. Essentially, the abnormal cancer cells are hiding behind the PD-L1 proteins to stop your body from doing its job.

To learn more about immunotherapy visit our FAQ page.

“If you catch a patient stage one, you can have a greater than 90% chance of curing that patient from lung cancer. So that’s what it’s all about.”

– Dr. Michael Gieske

Read more about Dr. Gieske’s fight for early lung cancer screening.

Are There Different Types of Biomarker Testing?

Yes, there are several different biomarker tests that can be done. The type of biomarkers and test that is performed depends on the type of cancer that you may have. 

Some common tests include:

  • Single Biomarker Test – Only looking for one single biomarker.
  • Multigene Test – Looking at a panel of several different biomarkers.
  • Whole-Exome Sequencing – Looking at all of the genes in your cancer.
  • Whole-Genome Sequencing – Looking at all of the DNA in your cancer.
  • Tumor Mutational Burden Testing – Looking at genetic changes in your cancer to determine if you need immunotherapy.
  • Liquid Biopsies – Assessing blood or other bodily fluids for biomarkers.

The type of biomarker that is run depends on your cancer type and what your doctor is trying to learn from the test. 

How is Biomarker Testing Done?

An important part of deciding if biomarker testing is right for you may be how the actual test is performed. The test can be done in one of three ways depending on the type of biomarkers that are being tested for:

  • If you are having surgery, the surgeon can take a sample of your tumor during the operation.
  • They may need to take a biopsy of your tumor if you aren’t having surgery.
  • Some biomarker tests can be completed using just a blood draw.

In some instances, you may need to get an additional biopsy done if the cancer is reoccurring, or they didn’t get enough tissue to complete the test.

What Will My Biomarker Test Reveal?

The results of your biomarker test may help identify the best course of treatment by indicating what type of mutation is causing your cancer or if you are a candidate for immunotherapy. If there is an FDA-approved drug to treat your results you may be able to avoid chemotherapy or even potentially surgery.

“Research is going to biomarker testing that’s going towards targeted therapy. That’s the future of cancer care. That’s not just about lung cancer. So as we make it more people more aware of biomarker testing that goes across all cancers, that’s an education that is critical research.”

Read more about Chris Draft’s experience with lung cancer and his efforts to build awareness.

Biomarker Testing Patient Stories

Learn about how biomarkers impact a cancer diagnosis and treatment from real-life patients.

Lung Cancer

Chris Draft



Background: Chris' wife Keasha passed away from stage 4 lung cancer one month after they married. He's been a passionate lung cancer advocate ever since.
Focus: Leading with love, making connections to grow lung cancer community, NFL liaison

Rhonda & Jeff Meckstroth



Background: Jeff was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and given months to live, but his wife, Rhonda, fought for a specialist that led to biomarker testing and better treatment options
Focus: Education of biomarker testing for driver mutations, patient and caregiver self-advocacy

Terri C., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, KRAS+, Stage 3A



Symptoms: Respiratory problems
Treatment: Chemotherapy (cisplatin & pemetrexed), surgery (lobectomy), microwave ablation, SBRT radiation

Stephen H., Non-Small Cell, ALK+, Stage 4 (Metastatic)



Cancer details: ALK+ occurs in 1 out of 25 non-small cell lung cancer patients
1st Symptoms: Shortness of breath, jabbing pain while talking, wheezing at night
Treatment: Targeted therapy (alectinib), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)

Shyreece P., Non-Small Cell, ALK+, Stage 4



Cancer details: ALK+ occurs in 1 out of 25 non-small cell lung cancer patients
1st Symptoms: Heaviness in arms, wheezing, fatigue
Treatment: IV chemo (carboplatin/pemetrexed/bevacizumab), targeted therapy (crizotinib, alectinib)
Breast Cancer
Francina B.


Francina B., Breast Cancer, Stage 2B



Initial Symptoms: None
Treatment: Surgery (lumpectomy, removal of cancerous sentinel nodes); Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, paclitaxel); Radiation

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Symptoms: Back and leg pain, lump in breast



Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, CDK4/6 inhibitors
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Cancer details: Relapsed but in remission after 2nd transplant
1st symptoms: Extreme fatigue, upset stomach, bad & persistent headaches
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