Stage II breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery, and hormone therapy story

What happened, in summary

A woman was 38 in June 2007 when her partner felt a large lump in her breast and encouraged her to make a hospital appointment. A mammogram did not show a problem, and the first doctor sounded reassuring, but ultrasound clearly showed the mass. Further testing led to a breast cancer diagnosis on July 4. Her plan started with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: 4 cycles, with an infusion once every 4 weeks. The first infusion came in late July. She had already told her workplace, so using a wig at work did not become a source of embarrassment, but she still needed to take about 1 week off after each treatment. Before chemotherapy, she had felt healthy and had no pain, so treatment made the illness feel suddenly real. After completing 4 cycles, she had breast-conserving surgery in mid-October. The tumor was directly under the nipple, and there was concern the nipple might not be preserved, but it was. No lymph node spread was found. She returned to softball soon after surgery and continued monthly visits for hormone therapy. During treatment, she married the partner who had first noticed the lump, supported by family and friends. Their decision to marry during treatment became part of how she kept looking toward the future, even while appointments and side effects shaped daily life.