Breast Cancer: Genevieve's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Genevieve first found breast cancer in 1987, at age 40, after noticing a small hard lump in her right breast. Surgery removed the tumor and lymph nodes while preserving the breast, and pathology showed an aggressive non-hormone-receptive cancer. She received radiation, then monthly chemotherapy, and after 5 years was declared in remission. She stayed in remission for 30 years. In 2017, routine imaging in France found a new tumor in the same breast. This time she needed the entire right breast removed and chose dorsal-flap reconstruction. The tumor was hormone-receptive, so she started letrozole and later had reconstruction refinements, including nipple tattooing and reduction of the left breast. In late 2021, she became worried about hard nodules in the reconstructed breast. A biopsy confirmed cancer, and surgery took place at the end of March 2022. A port was placed, and she received weekly Taxol for about 4 months, stopping after 15 doses because of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. She also received Perjeta and Herceptin, then switched to Phesgo injections from October 2022 onward. She continued hormone-blocking therapy, including letrozole and later anastrozole. As of May 2025, PET scans every 3-4 months had remained clear, and she described herself as in remission again.