What happened, in summary

Krista’s breast cancer journey began with her mother’s history. Her mother had breast cancer twice and later learned she carried a pathogenic ATM mutation. After her mother died, Krista chose genetic testing and found that she carried the same mutation, giving her a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. She began intensive screening with mammograms and breast MRIs alternating every 6 months while also considering preventive surgery. A routine mammogram looked normal, but breast MRI found an abnormality. Follow-up ultrasound and diagnostic mammogram did not look highly concerning, but Krista pushed for biopsy because the finding could affect her surgical plan. Two weeks before her planned preventive procedure, the biopsy confirmed Stage IA breast cancer. She already had a team in place, so she moved forward with double mastectomy and flap reconstruction on January 30, followed by a second surgery in April. Her cancer was hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative. Her Oncotype DX score was 1, so chemotherapy was avoided. Instead, her oncology plan included tamoxifen for 5 years, along with daily exercise to help manage side effects. As of May 2025, Krista was early in tamoxifen treatment and using her experience as a nurse, patient advocate, and nutrition student to help others make informed choices.