Stage II Breast Cancer: Margaret's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Margaret was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in December 2015 after changes in her left breast were easy to explain away at first. In late 2014, she noticed that her nipple was inverting and that the breast seemed to be shrinking. She was training for half marathons and wondered if the change was related to weight loss or body-fat changes. Because her mother also had an inverted nipple that was not cancer, Margaret also wondered if it could simply be genetic. At an annual primary-care visit, she mentioned the changes. Her doctor did not feel a lump during the exam but still sent her for a mammogram. The first standard mammogram did not show a clear answer, but it led to a 3D mammogram. By the end of 2015, testing moved quickly: the 3D mammogram showed a tumor, biopsy followed the next day, and she was told she had breast cancer. The diagnosis was delivered in a way that felt cold and frightening, adding to the shock. Margaret later had genetic testing and said she did not carry the gene being evaluated. She went on to receive a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. As of June 2019, she was in remission and described herself as having reached the other side of treatment.