Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: 453 Real Stories

453 stories match breast cancer and chemotherapy. 392 of them mention surgery.

  1. Stage II Breast Cancer: Cherie’s Survivor Story

    Stage 2 · Chemotherapy · cyclophosphamide

    Cherie was 57 when she felt a hard lump in her breast. After receiving a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis, she sought a second opinion from a more experienced doctor. She also researched her condition and found an estimated 85% 5-year survival rate for people…

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  2. Stage I Breast Cancer: Tina’s Patient Story

    Stage 1 · Chemotherapy · lumpectomy

    Tina sought medical care after noticing discharge from her nipple and was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, helplessness, worry, and grief. Her doctors recommended a lumpectomy, and she agreed to the surgery. Chemotherapy was…

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  3. Stage III Breast Cancer: Alexandra’s Patient Story

    Stage 3 · carboplatin · Chemotherapy

    Alexandra, 48, was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer after noticing a lump. She also saw a change in breast shape, skin irritation, thickening, and swelling. The diagnosis made her worried, frightened, overwhelmed, and nervous, but she trusted her doctor…

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  4. Breast Cancer: Vivienne’s Survivor Story

    Chemotherapy · Hormone Therapy

    Vivienne noticed that something was wrong with her breast in February 2021, when it became engorged and her nipple inverted. She sought medical care, and the evaluation eventually led to a breast cancer diagnosis. The news left her frightened, worried…

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  5. Stage III Breast Cancer: Kelly’s Patient Story

    Stage 3 · Chemotherapy · mastectomy

    Kelly was 41 when she shared her Stage III breast cancer experience. She had first noticed redness spreading across her right breast and was diagnosed in her mid-30s, around 2021. Her doctor discussed an estimated 5-year survival rate of 80%. The diagnosis…

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  6. Stage IV Breast Cancer: Rachael’s Patient Story

    Stage 4 · Chemotherapy · mastectomy

    Rachael found a breast lump during a routine self-check and was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2021. She also noticed changes in the size and shape of the breast and irritation or dimpling of the skin. The diagnosis left her numb, resentful…

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  7. Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Kelsey’s Survivor Story

    Stage 2 · HER2 Positive · Chemotherapy · mastectomy

    Kelsey was 45 when she noticed a lump in her left breast. Her family doctor referred her to the hospital for a mammogram, and she was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2021. Her record included HER2-positive disease, and trastuzumab was named because…

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  8. Breast Cancer: Maria’s Patient Story

    Chemotherapy · lymphadenectomy

    Maria’s doctors initially planned mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, and chemotherapy for her breast cancer. During the mastectomy, they found that cancer had reached lymph nodes, and the treatment plan had to change. Radiation therapy was later added. Treatment…

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  9. Stage II Breast Cancer: Erika’s Patient Story

    Stage 2 · Chemotherapy · lymphadenectomy

    Erika, 47, scheduled a mammogram because both her mother and grandmother had breast cancer. Doctors found a mass in her right breast, and she was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. The discovery made her angry, and the diagnosis left her numb and…

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  10. Stage I Breast Cancer: Mariana’s Patient Story

    Stage 1 · Chemotherapy · lumpectomy

    Mariana was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer through a health examination after also experiencing a pricking pain. Her family history included two cousins with breast cancer and two cousins with leukemia. She felt emotionally neutral when first given the…

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  11. Stage II HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Faith’s Survivor Story

    Stage 2 · ER Positive · Chemotherapy · mastectomy

    Faith, 37, was pregnant in mid-2021 when she told her obstetrician about lumps in her breasts. There was no unusual discharge or pain, but ultrasound and biopsy confirmed Stage II ER-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, sadness…

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  12. Stage II Breast Cancer: Marisol’s Survivor Story

    Stage 2 · Chemotherapy · Hormone Therapy

    Marisol found several large lumps in her right breast and was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis left her frightened, nervous, worried, and powerless. Following her doctor’s recommendation, she chose a plan that included mastectomy…

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  13. Stage II Breast Cancer: Shamala’s Survivor Story

    Stage 2 · Chemotherapy · Radiation

    Shamala found a small lump near her right breast and sought medical attention because it felt out of place. Testing led to a diagnosis of Stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, sadness and a strong sense of helplessness, but she focused on what…

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  14. Stage III Breast Cancer: Aurora’s Patient Story

    Stage 3 · Chemotherapy · lymphadenectomy

    Aurora, 41, was pregnant in 2021 when half of her breast became hard. She was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, a frightening and overwhelming experience that left her worried and powerless. She changed her diet after diagnosis and began eating…

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  15. Breast Cancer: Luz’s Survivor Story

    Chemotherapy · Hormone Therapy

    Luz sought medical care after developing arm and shoulder pain and noticing changes in the shape and size of her breast. With guidance from her doctor, she chose a mastectomy, lymph-node surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. Making the decision left her…

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  16. Breast Cancer: Martha’s Survivor Story

    Chemotherapy · Hormone Therapy

    Martha’s breast cancer was found during a regular examination after she experienced pain extending from her breast to her back, swelling, and a change in breast size. Her family history included a sister with breast cancer and a mother with liver cancer…

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  17. Stage III Breast Cancer: Beth’s Survivor Story

    Stage 3 · Chemotherapy · lymphadenectomy

    Beth, 41, followed her intuition after persistent breast pain continued beyond her menstrual cycle. She scheduled a mammogram, and by that evening she learned she had Stage III breast cancer. She had no other symptoms, so acting on that pain became a key part…

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  18. Stage IV Breast Cancer: Harper’s Patient Story

    Stage 4 · capecitabine · Chemotherapy

    Harper, 58, sought medical help after noticing a red patch on her breast. Testing at a hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand led to a diagnosis of Stage IV breast cancer. The news was overwhelming, especially because she had already lost her father and…

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  19. Stage II Breast Cancer: Ana’s Survivor Story

    Stage 2 · Chemotherapy · Hormone Therapy

    Ana was 57 and living in Colombia when she found a lump in her left breast while bathing. A general practitioner arranged a mammogram and then a biopsy, which confirmed stage 2 breast cancer. She was a stay-at-home mother of 3 and the head of her household…

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  20. Stage I Breast Cancer: Stella’s Patient Story

    Stage 1 · Chemotherapy · Hormone Therapy

    Stella sought evaluation after developing redness and flaky skin on her breast, especially because two maternal aunts had breast cancer. A mammogram led to a diagnosis of Stage I breast cancer. Fear, anxiety and worry were prominent at first, and she…

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  21. Stage I HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Betty’s Survivor Story

    Stage 1 · HER2 Positive · Antibody Therapy · Chemotherapy

    Betty, 59, sought medical attention after noticing white spots around her nipple. Testing showed Stage I breast cancer. The diagnosis was frightening and made her worry about dying too young, especially because cancer had affected other members of her family…

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  22. Stage III Breast Cancer: Angie’s Patient Story

    Stage 3 · Chemotherapy

    Angie was 40 when shooting pain in her breast and persistent fatigue led to a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. She was told that her estimated 5-year survival rate was 70%, a number that added to feelings of fear, worry and being overwhelmed. Chemotherapy…

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  23. Stage IV Breast Cancer: Stephanie’s Patient Story

    Stage 4 · Chemotherapy · Immunotherapy

    Stephanie, a Frenchwoman living in New Zealand, found a lump in her right breast in late November 2021. Mammography, ultrasound and biopsy confirmed breast cancer. She was 49 years old. The disease was initially thought to be Stage I, but MRI showed spread to…

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  24. Stage II Breast Cancer: Hwee’s Patient Story

    Stage 2 · Chemotherapy · Hormone Therapy

    Hwee Lin, 66, sought help after a sharp pain in her breast persisted and did not go away. Her general practitioner referred her to a local hospital for further evaluation, where she was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis filled her with fear…

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