Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Jessica's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Jessica Duemig was 32 when she woke with stabbing pain in her left breast and felt a small lump. At first, the lump was about the size of a pencil eraser, but within 1 month it had grown to the size of a large gumball. She decided to get it checked, and the evaluation led to a diagnosis of Stage IIA triple-negative metaplastic breast cancer. Her surgeon described it as early-stage but aggressive, and the care team treated it with curative intent. The cancer subtype was rare, making up about 1% of breast cancers. Jessica had a bilateral mastectomy with partial reconstruction during the operation, followed by 8 rounds of chemotherapy, and then reconstruction with implants. Chemotherapy drug names were not shared. During treatment, she used live videos in a Facebook group as an information hub for family and friends, sharing treatment days, hair loss, and milestones. She said she never considered the alternative to surviving and thriving. Her last chemotherapy treatment was on June 27, and she was officially considered cured in February 2020. As of October 2020, Jessica was using her story to encourage early detection, especially for younger women who are not yet getting routine screening mammograms.