Breast Cancer: Marissa's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Marissa Coreno was 27 when she felt a breast lump in June 2021. She was young, healthy, living independently, and had no family history of breast cancer, so she did not expect the lump to be serious. Diagnostic imaging at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital looked suspicious, and biopsy the following week confirmed cancer in her breast and lymph nodes. Her oncologist noted that she had no apparent genetic predisposition for breast cancer; tumor biomarkers are not reported in the story. Marissa started with chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. She then had bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction, followed by radiation therapy, which she completed in early 2022. After radiation, she received a newer breast cancer treatment approach using a CDK 4/6 inhibitor pill plus a bone-strengthening bisphosphonate medication. She also started estrogen-blocking therapy, which is ongoing and planned for 10 years. The last rounds of chemotherapy were especially hard: she felt awful, lost her hair, and did not want to leave home. Family support helped her through treatment, and a new relationship that began during chemotherapy later became her marriage. As of August 2025, Marissa was 31, had no sign of cancer, was thriving as a survivor, and was continuing long-term endocrine therapy.