Breast Cancer: 732 Real Stories
732 stories match breast cancer. 559 of them mention surgery.
Stage III Breast Cancer: Sylvia’s Survivor Story
Sylvia found a breast lump during a self-examination in the shower and underwent several tests before being diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in November 2022. Having previously lost her mother to lung cancer, Sylvia found the diagnosis devastating and…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Carmen’s Survivor Story
Carmen, 56, is from Colombia, works in bacteriology, and has 1 child. She went to the doctor after a mass in her right breast began to grow and change the shape of the breast. She also noticed redness, swelling, nipple itching, and throbbing pain. She was…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Nelly’s Patient Story
Nelly, from Colombia, noticed movable breast lumps and pain before being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She initially felt optimistic and courageous, but deciding on treatment also brought anger, anxiety, fear, and discouragement. Her doctors…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Sarah’s Survivor Story
Sarah was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2022 after a radiologist noticed a dark lump during a routine mammogram. The diagnosis brought anger, fear, helplessness and grief, and she responded by making changes to her diet and exercise routine. Her…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Yurley’s Survivor Story
Yurley was 36 when she noticed that one breast had retracted inward and a lump was growing. She was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in October 2022. Unsatisfied with the information she initially received, she sought a second opinion before moving…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Antonia’s Survivor Story
Antonia was 39 and raising 2 children when she noticed a protruding mass in her breast, along with irritation and swelling. She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. The news left her frightened, confused and overwhelmed, with a strong sense of…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Liliana’s Patient Story
Liliana noticed a change in her nipple and a strong stabbing pain in her left breast. A preventive examination led to further evaluation, and a second opinion confirmed stage 2 breast cancer. Her doctor discussed a 90% five-year survival estimate. Liliana…
Read this storyInflammatory Breast Cancer: Nury’s Patient Story
In early June 2022, Nury was experiencing pain, hardening, and redness in the left breast, eventually affecting more than 60% of the breast. Repeated ultrasounds had been described as showing fibrocystic changes, but the symptoms continued. Nury paid for…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Tessa’s Patient Story
Tessa’s breast cancer was detected during a routine mammogram, when a small tumor measuring about 12 mm was found. The diagnosis came as a surprise, especially because Tessa was caring for an elderly mother at the time and felt there was little space in life…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Anna’s Survivor Story
Anna, 51, noticed a lump and a change in the shape of one breast before being diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, grief, isolation, and financial stress. Her first oncologist recommended lumpectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy…
Read this storyStage 0 Breast Cancer: Jacqueline’s Survivor Story
Jacqueline, 52, is from Ireland and was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer after taking part in a sleep apnea study. A PET scan from the study picked up an abnormality. At first, she was told it was a papilloma cyst, but it turned out to be Stage 0 breast…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: April’s Survivor Story
April was 32 when a small lump in her right breast led to a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis. She felt fearful, sad and alone, and the emotional impact continued well beyond the first months of treatment. After completing active treatment, April remained on…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Martha’s Patient Story
Martha noticed bleeding from her nipple and sought medical attention. After obtaining a second opinion because she wanted clearer information, she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis left her fearful, helpless, and worried, even after…
Read this storyStage II Breast Cancer: Cristina’s Patient Story
Cristina, 45, is a mother from Colombia who was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer after noticing subtle dimpling in the areola of her left breast. She initially paid little attention to the change because it was small and painless. A painful, swollen…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Lisa’s Survivor Story
Lisa sought evaluation after noticing an area of thickening in her breast. That area proved benign, but a mammogram found a deeper cancer that could not be felt. She believed the cancer might have been missed without the scan because she had not yet received…
Read this storyStage I Breast Cancer: Orla’s Patient Story
Orla was 7 months pregnant when she noticed a thick lump in her left breast. She initially thought the change was related to pregnancy, but a family history of breast cancer prompted her to arrange an appointment with her general practitioner. Testing led to…
Read this storyStage III Breast Cancer: Katie’s Survivor Story
Katie Robb Sewall was 27 when a double mastectomy in 2014 changed what she thought was stage 0 breast cancer into a Stage III diagnosis. Pathology showed the cancer had spread from the breast ducts into lymph nodes. Katie and her husband, Craig, had to move…
Read this storyStage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jacque’s Patient Story
Jacque, an academic advisor and mother of 2 grown children, found a hard, gritty, annoying lump under her left arm and breast in 2019. Her OB-GYN agreed it should be checked, but a mammogram and ultrasound were initially reassuring, and the radiologist told…
Read this storyBRCA Breast Cancer: Christie’s Patient Story
Christie Siebel learned through genetic testing that she carried a BRCA mutation after breast cancer had affected other members of her family. At age 30, shortly after the birth of her daughter, she noticed a breast lump while breastfeeding. A biopsy showed…
Read this storyTriple-Negative Breast Cancer: Sandra’s Survivor Story
Sandra Monsonís was 43 and had not had a medical checkup for more than 5 years when a friend encouraged her to see a gynecologist. She had some breast discomfort but did not feel a clear lump. That visit found a lump that became a triple-negative breast…
Read this storyStage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Martha’s Survivor Story
Martha had a dense area in her right breast that worried her throughout her 40s. Multiple mammograms over about 10 years were read as benign. At 49, another mammogram and an ultrasound were also considered benign, but Martha consulted a surgeon who agreed the…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Kathleen’s Survivor Story
Kathleen Shaffer was diagnosed with right breast cancer in early 2019. She had a lumpectomy and 2 lymph nodes removed in March, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. After finishing cancer treatment, she expected to move forward, but new pain and swelling…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Brian’s Patient Story
Brian Chrobak was 35 when he noticed a small lump behind his left nipple after a shower in January 2021. The lump changed size and began throbbing. After encouragement from his girlfriend, he returned for assessment, and testing and biopsy confirmed male…
Read this storyBreast Cancer: Theresa’s Patient Story
Theresa Reynolds was 85 when she learned she had breast cancer and needed a mastectomy. Her first instinct was to avoid treatment. Her mother had also had breast cancer, and Theresa remembered what that experience looked like. She worried about putting…
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