HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Janella's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Janella Bustamante was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer in June 2021. Her cancer was described as fueled by estrogen, progesterone and the HER2 protein. She returned to Lima, Peru, for the first part of treatment and spent the following months undergoing lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. After radiation, her doctor cleared her to return to Florida so she could resume work at her travel agency and continue biological therapy in the United States. In winter 2022, Janella began follow-up care at Cleveland Clinic in Florida. Her biological treatment is described as targeted infusion therapy that attacks HER2 cancer cells. Chemotherapy drug names, a formal stage and metastatic disease were not specified. After completing the biological treatments, Janella continued seeing her oncologist and team every 3 months. As of October 2025, she described feeling great and proud of the strength she had built through diagnosis, treatment and life after cancer. She became an avid mountaineer after treatment, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and was training toward a goal of climbing Mount Everest in 2027. Her ongoing care was best described as survivorship with regular surveillance.