HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Joy's Survivor Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Biomarkers
- HER2-positive
- Treatment
- surgery and chemotherapy
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- She first underwent a lumpectomy, but review showed the removed tissue was a lymph node rather than the primary breast tumor.
- A second lumpectomy removed the tumor identified on MRI.
- She then received a year-long chemotherapy regimen.
What happened, in summary
Joy Albi was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer after a routine mammogram in November 2019 showed a small abnormal area. A biopsy confirmed cancer, and she underwent a lumpectomy in Cincinnati. When Joy later traveled to Boston to discuss joining a clinical trial, a review of her pathology slides raised an unexpected concern: the tissue removed during the first surgery appeared to be a lymph node rather than the primary breast tumor. An MRI then found the tumor that had been hidden in dense breast tissue. Joy underwent a second lumpectomy to remove it, and her Cincinnati oncologist planned a year-long chemotherapy regimen for the revised diagnosis. Treatment often left her tired, but travel and other activities were already restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped her slow down while receiving therapy. By the time of the story, Joy was in complete remission. The experience left her especially grateful for the second pathology review and additional imaging that clarified the true extent of her disease before systemic treatment continued.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Dana-Farber. 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