Stage I Breast Cancer: Tamara's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage I
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery and radiation
Treatment course, step by step
- Tamara underwent a partial lumpectomy for Stage I breast cancer in 2019.
- She then received radiation to her left breast.
What happened, in summary
Tamara Mitchell had already faced other cancers when a routine mammogram in 2019 led to a diagnosis of Stage I breast cancer. She underwent a partial lumpectomy and then received radiation to her left breast.
Her breast cancer diagnosis became part of a longer experience with multiple cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and kidney cancer. That medical complexity added to a life already marked by major personal losses. Tamara had been working with a mental health counselor since before her first cancer diagnosis, and she credited counseling, her faith, and support from her daughter with helping her cope. She described learning to ask for help and to look for something positive even during difficult periods.
By 2026, Tamara’s care included annual breast cancer screening while her other health problems were also being monitored and treated. She continued traveling to U.S. national parks in her RV and adjusted her pace when fatigue appeared. After several cancer diagnoses, she said she felt more able to accept help and more focused on gratitude, joy, and peace.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by MD Anderson. 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