Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Rachel's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage I
- Subtype
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Biomarkers
- Genetic testing inconclusive; receptor status not reported
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and supportive care
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing
Treatment course, step by step
- Right breast invasive ductal carcinoma was found after delayed routine mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy
- Double mastectomy with drains was chosen even though cancer was only on the right side
- Chemotherapy included 4 rounds every 3 weeks with 2 infusion bags
- The second week included Neupogen injections
- Tamoxifen was prescribed as a daily pill for 10 years
- No post-treatment scans were done because her team felt all cancer had been removed during mastectomy.
What happened, in summary
Rachel’s Stage IB breast cancer was found after she delayed a routine mammogram for about 6 months. She had no symptoms, but 3D mammography showed a suspicious spot in the right breast. Ultrasound confirmed the finding, and biopsy showed infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Her cancer team met with her quickly, and she chose a double mastectomy even though the cancer was only on the right side. Genetic testing found something inconclusive, but not a clear result that could guide treatment. Surgery included removal of both breasts and placement of drains. Rachel stayed overnight, then recovered at home while adjusting to the physical reality of losing her breasts. After surgery, she received 4 rounds of chemotherapy every 3 weeks. Each infusion involved 2 bags, and during the second week of each cycle she gave herself Neupogen injections to support white blood cell recovery. Chemotherapy caused cloudiness, stomach problems, body aches, feverish feelings, hair loss, and fatigue. She did not have scans afterward because her team felt the mastectomy had removed all cancer. As of June 2026, Rachel was taking tamoxifen daily as a planned 10-year therapy and managing side effects including joint and muscle pain, weight gain, and early-menopause symptoms.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by The Patient Story. 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