Stage II Breast Cancer: Renée's Survivor Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage II
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy and reconstruction
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing / Survivorship
Treatment course, step by step
- Left unilateral mastectomy with removal of left axillary lymph nodes → 6 cycles of Taxotere plus Cytoxan over about 6 months → approximately 25 radiation sessions to the chest and part of the arm → long-term hormone/anti-cancer therapy.
- In April 2022, she underwent completion mastectomy and DIEP-flap reconstruction, followed by treatment for necrosis and staph-infection complications.
What happened, in summary
Renée had already survived acute myeloid leukemia and a bone marrow transplant when she noticed a change in the shape of her left breast at age 35. A dimple appeared, her nipple flattened, and urgent imaging and biopsies found stage 2 breast cancer involving regional lymph nodes.
Her earlier leukemia treatment limited how much additional doxorubicin she could safely receive, so the breast cancer plan had to be adjusted. She first underwent a left mastectomy with removal of the lymph nodes under her arm. After recovering, she completed 6 cycles of Taxotere and Cytoxan over about 6 months, followed by approximately 25 radiation sessions to her chest and part of her arm. She then began a long-term hormone-based anti-cancer regimen.
Renée was raising a 5-year-old daughter as a single mother during treatment. She explained cancer using the image of glue and glitter becoming messy and doctors helping create a clean space again. Hair loss was expected, but the emotional impact of returning to cancer treatment brought back memories of leukemia that she had not anticipated.
In April 2022, she had a completion mastectomy and DIEP-flap reconstruction. Healing was prolonged by tissue necrosis and staph infections. At the time of the interview, she described her health as stable and the treatment as working. She preferred the word “thriver” rather than calling herself cancer-free.
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