Stage II BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Rachel's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage II
- Biomarkers
- BRCA2 mutation
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, genetic testing, hormone therapy and risk reducing surgery planning
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing
Treatment course, step by step
- Stage II breast cancer diagnosed after a lump in April 2020
- MRI found additional suspicious spots in the left breast
- left mastectomy recommended; BRCA2 result confirmed Rachel’s decision to pursue double mastectomy
- gynecologic risk-reducing surgery discussed/planned because BRCA2 raises ovarian cancer risk
- tamoxifen ongoing 4.5 years after diagnosis. Chemotherapy and radiation are not stated for Rachel.
What happened, in summary
Rachel Zitofsky was 38 when she noticed a lump and was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She went to MSK Commack and met with a breast surgeon to plan treatment. MRI showed additional suspicious areas in her left breast, so mastectomy of that breast was recommended. Because Rachel was young and had a strong family cancer history, she also had genetic counseling and comprehensive genetic testing. The results showed a BRCA2 mutation, which increased her risk of a second breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Rachel had already been leaning toward double mastectomy, and the BRCA2 result confirmed that choice. The care team also discussed removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes as risk-reducing surgery because screening has not been proven to lower ovarian cancer mortality in BRCA2 carriers. Chemotherapy and radiation were not described for Rachel. At 4.5 years after diagnosis, Rachel felt good and was taking tamoxifen to help keep potential cancer cells at bay. Her diagnosis also changed her sister Leah’s care: expanded testing found Leah carried the same BRCA2 mutation, leading to preventive surgery that uncovered stage 0 DCIS. Rachel’s cancer became lifesaving information for both sisters.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Memorial Sloan Kettering. 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