What happened, in summary

Cat was diagnosed with Stage IIB breast cancer after feeling a lump in her left breast. An ultrasound raised immediate concern, and biopsy confirmed cancer. She was diagnosed at the end of June and chose to wait until after a family trip and school commitments before surgery in August. Cat decided on a full bilateral mastectomy because of the cancer, calcifications, and her concerns about reconstruction symmetry. Surgery on August 1, 2018, included lymph node sampling and placement of tissue expanders. Pathology showed 2 separate tumors: a 5-cm invasive ductal carcinoma and a 3-cm in situ tumor. After surgery, an Oncotype result led her oncologist to recommend chemotherapy. Cat did 4 months of chemotherapy, though she did not remember the drug names. Severe bone pain after Neulasta led her team to halve the dose for later infusions. She did not need radiation. Reconstruction continued with exchange surgery to implants, followed by a fat transfer in May 2019. Because her tumor was ER-positive, she started tamoxifen and stayed on it for about 11 months, but side effects were difficult. As of June 2026, Cat described herself as cancer-free, while still dealing with chronic post-mastectomy pain and the emotional fear that cancer could return.