Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: LaShae's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage II
- Subtype
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Biomarkers
- ER-positive; comprehensive genetic panel negative
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy and ovarian suppression
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing
Treatment course, step by step
- Small movable breast lump first noticed, then larger and painful by late 2023
- January 2024 wellness visit led to ultrasound and mammogram showing multiple masses and calcifications across all 4 quadrants
- biopsy, breast MRI, and PET scan; disease localized to breast and nearby lymph nodes
- simple mastectomy with flat closure on her 27th birthday; 2 lymph nodes positive
- MammaPrint high risk for recurrence
- chemotherapy underway; Zoladex used to preserve ovarian function
- radiation and 5-10 years of hormone therapy planned because the cancer was ER-positive.
What happened, in summary
LaShae, a PhD student in cancer prevention research, first noticed a small movable breast lump but pushed it aside while trying to keep up with graduate school and powerlifting. By late 2023, the lump had grown and become painful, so she finally brought it up during a wellness visit in January 2024. Her doctor ordered both an ultrasound and a mammogram. Imaging showed multiple masses and calcifications throughout all 4 quadrants of the breast, and biopsy confirmed cancer. Breast MRI showed disease in the breast and lymph nodes, while PET scan results were a relief because the cancer was localized to the breast and nearby lymph nodes. LaShae had a simple mastectomy with flat closure on her 27th birthday. After surgery, 2 lymph nodes were positive, and MammaPrint testing showed high risk for recurrence, so chemotherapy became part of her treatment plan. She was also taking Zoladex to preserve ovarian function for future fertility. Because her Stage IIB cancer was ER-positive, radiation and 5 to 10 years of hormone therapy were also planned. As of May 2025, LaShae was undergoing chemotherapy while continuing to powerlift in Miami, stay connected to research, and advocate for adolescents and young adults with cancer.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by The Patient Story. 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