Breast cancer in a woman in her 20s treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and planned radiation story

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

After breast-conserving surgery and 16 cycles of chemotherapy, she was preparing to begin radiation therapy and coping with body-image changes and hair loss.

Stage II Breast Cancer: CL's Survivor Story

Patient Info: CL, Female, 50s | Stage II

CL completed chemotherapy and mastectomy for Stage II breast cancer, was no longer taking medication, and continued half-year follow-up with her doctor.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Clara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Clara, Female, 40s | Stage I

Clara completed treatment for Stage I breast cancer and focused afterward on nutrition, relapse prevention, staying healthy, and returning to family life.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Claritza's Patient Story

Patient Info: Claritza, Female, 50s | Stage III

Claritza was living with Stage III breast cancer more than 3 years after diagnosis after her initial plan changed from lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to immunotherapy and pain medication.

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Stage III Breast Cancer: Emilcen's Patient Story

Patient Info: Emilcen, Female, 50s | Stage III

Emilcen was still receiving treatment for Stage III breast cancer more than 3 years after diagnosis, after mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.

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Stage II Breast Cancer: Alba's Patient Story

Patient Info: Alba, Female, 50s | Stage II

Alba was undergoing Stage II breast cancer care, had chosen modern medicine after seeking a second opinion and trying alternative approaches, and was on hormone therapy while focusing on recovery.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Amy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amy, Female, Under 40 | Stage I

Amy had Stage I breast cancer treated with lumpectomy, avoided chemotherapy after the plan changed, and described optimism, recovery goals, and fear-of-recurrence support.

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Breast Cancer: Belsy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Belsy, Female, 40s

Belsy was declared cancer-free in March 2023 after breast-conserving surgery/lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, with no significant treatment side effects described.

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Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Tanya's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tanya, Female, 40s | Stage II

Biomarkers: Genetic testing negative; Oncotype DX score 27; MammaPrint low risk; ER-positive

Tanya had Stage II ER-positive breast cancer with a large lobular tumor found on MRI, underwent bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, completed 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and started tamoxifen.

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Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Nikoo's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nikoo, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: Peritoneum | Ascites | Possible bone

Nikoo’s early lobular breast cancer treated in 2003 with lumpectomy, radiation, and 5 years of tamoxifen recurred 19 years later as ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic lobular breast cancer involving the peritoneum, ascites, and possible bone.

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Stage IV HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jeri's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeri, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: Lymph node | Ovaries | Fallopian tubes | Uterus | Bone

Jeri was diagnosed with de novo Stage IV ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2-negative ILC involving lymph node, gynecologic organs, and bone; after progression on 2 estrogen-therapy-based combinations, a different drug stabilized the disease 10 months after diagnosis.

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Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lisa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lisa, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone

Lisa’s 2017 lobular breast cancer was found to be Stage II after bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction; despite tamoxifen, back pain 3 years later led to PET-confirmed metastatic ILC in the bones.

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Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Shay's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Shay, Female, 40s

Shay was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer at 40 after years of clear mammograms, underwent 3 surgeries, and was recovering with ongoing side effects while focusing on education, integrative medicine, and recurrence awareness.

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Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Kristel's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kristel, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

After double mastectomy and 25 rounds of radiation for Stage II invasive lobular carcinoma, Kristel moved into post-treatment support and created a virtual group for others with ILC.

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Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Katie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Katie, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Stomach | Pelvis | Spine

Katie was living with metastatic ILC involving the stomach wall, pelvis, and spine while taking ribociclib (Kisqali) with letrozole, with improved stomach findings and stable spine metastases after 6 rounds.

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Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Kerri's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kerri, Female, 40s | Stage III

After lumpectomy and double mastectomy for Stage III invasive lobular carcinoma, Kerri used her experience to advocate for better ILC awareness, imaging education, and support for newly diagnosed patients.

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Stage I Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Chickie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Chickie, Female, 70+ | Stage I

Biomarkers: Oncotype DX scores 16 and 17

Chickie had bilateral Stage I ILC treated with bilateral lumpectomy, clear margins, negative lymph nodes, low Oncotype DX scores that avoided chemotherapy, and photon radiation.

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Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lucy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lucy, Female, 40s | Stage III

Lucy was treated for Stage III invasive lobular carcinoma with double mastectomy, aggressive chemotherapy, and radiation, and later celebrated 20 years with no evidence of disease.

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Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Alma's Patient Story

Patient Info: Alma, Female | Stage II

Alma had Stage II invasive lobular carcinoma treated with lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and planned 10 years of tamoxifen, then found a local recurrence 4.5 years after diagnosis.

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Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Robbie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Robbie, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Estrogen receptor-positive / ER-positive

Metastatic Site: Bone; liver

Living with metastatic breast cancer involving bone and liver after earlier DCIS and Stage II ER-positive breast cancer; ongoing treatment at Mass General focused on stabilization and long-term disease management.

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Stage I Breast Cancer: Kevin's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kevin Jarvis, Male | Stage I

Biomarkers: Genetic testing inconclusive; receptor status not reported

Early male breast cancer treated with mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy, EC chemotherapy, paclitaxel/Taxol, and ongoing daily tamoxifen; latest source text describes good spirits and continued discussion of risk-reducing surgery, but does not explicitly state NED.

Stage I Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Patty's Patient Story

Patient Info: Patty Schone, Female, 60s | Stage I

Biomarkers: Hormone therapy used to lower estrogen; receptor results not otherwise reported

Recovering and continuing daily hormone therapy after double mastectomy, reconstruction, and 16 right-chest radiation treatments for left-breast DCIS and right-breast Stage IB invasive lobular carcinoma with lymph-node involvement.

How Learning To Ask For Help Can Make Life With MBC Easier

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Not explicitly reported; HER2-targeted treatment with Herceptin and Tykerb reported

Metastatic Site: Brain; liver

Living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer involving brain and liver; latest scans showed no evidence of disease, and she reported spending most of her Stage IV life in NED status.

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Breast Cancer: Genevieve's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Genevieve, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: 1987 tumor not hormone-receptive; 2017 tumor hormone-receptive. 2022 full marker panel not stated.

After breast cancer episodes beginning in 1987, another tumor in 2017, and cancer found again in 2022, PET scans every 3-4 months were clear and she described herself as in remission again as of May 2025.

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