Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Keely's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Subtype
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Biomarkers
- ER-negative|PR-positive|HER2-negative
- Treatment
- surgery and chemotherapy
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing
Treatment course, step by step
- A biopsy on April 17, 2023 confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma with a 1.9 cm mass.
- She underwent mastectomy, with the tumor measuring 1.2 cm when removed before chemotherapy.
- She then completed 6 months of chemotherapy.
- She is now taking a daily medicine planned for 10 years.
What happened, in summary
Keely first felt a lump in her left breast on March 4, 2023, while away for her daughter’s soccer tournament. She had never routinely checked her breasts, but that night she felt strongly prompted to do so. On April 17, biopsy results confirmed poorly differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma. The report described a Nottingham grade 3 tumor that was ER-negative, PR-positive, HER2-negative and measured 1.9 cm. Keely describes facing the diagnosis at age 40.
The news brought intense fear, but faith became central to how she approached treatment. Keely chose to focus on what she could control—her attitude, how she showed up each day, and her trust in God.
Her treatment included a mastectomy followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. She describes the tumor measuring about 2 cm initially, then 1.5 cm and finally 1.2 cm when it was removed before chemotherapy. Treatment brought major practical and physical demands, including a chemotherapy port and loss of her hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
Keely is now taking a daily medicine planned for 10 years. She continues to frame the experience through faith, gratitude, and a commitment to share her story with others facing uncertainty.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by breastcancer.org. 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