Breast Cancer: Sarah's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Biomarkers
- Hormone-dependent
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and complementary therapy
- Outcome
- Responding Well
Treatment course, step by step
- April 2019 hormone-dependent grade 1 breast cancer was diagnosed with several small nodules
- Three oncologists recommended breast removal, radiation, and possibly chemotherapy, but she declined that protocol
- June 2019 began metabolic/supportive approach with ultrasound monitoring, diet, activity, stress reduction, and complementary care
- January 2020 ultrasound suggested nodules were smaller and blood tests were good
- February 2020 oncologist prescribed hormone injections to stop menstrual cycles, plus cyclophosphamide and palbociclib
- During early COVID, she reduced dosing; Decapeptyl stopped menstrual cycles but caused menopause-like side effects
- June 2020 MRI showed the nodules were no longer visible.
What happened, in summary
Sarah was 53 when she was diagnosed in April 2019 with hormone-dependent, grade 1 infiltrating breast carcinoma. Several nodules measured 3 to 8 mm. After MRI, 3 oncologists recommended breast removal, followed by radiation and possibly chemotherapy. Sarah felt she could not accept that plan and looked for another path. In June 2019, she began a metabolic approach while continuing regular breast ultrasound monitoring. She changed her diet, reduced sugar, carbohydrates, and dairy, walked in nature, used stress-reduction practices, and built a support network around her choices. In January 2020, ultrasound suggested the nodules had decreased, and her blood tests were good. In February 2020, after 9 months, she found an oncologist willing to follow her. He prescribed hormone-suppression injections to stop menstrual cycles, cyclophosphamide 50 mg, and palbociclib 75 mg. When COVID-19 began spreading, Sarah reduced the doses, taking 3 cyclophosphamide tablets per week for 8 weeks and 2 to 3 palbociclib tablets. Decapeptyl injections stopped her cycles but caused hot flashes, mood changes, lower libido, and depressive symptoms. In June 2020, MRI showed that the nodules were no longer visible. Sarah’s story centers on individualized treatment decisions, close monitoring, and emotional self-advocacy.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Cancer et Métabolisme. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer