Stage II Breast Cancer: Sarah's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Sarah found a lump in her right breast along with swelling in her right armpit and was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. She initially felt vulnerable and powerless, although she also held onto some optimism about treatment. Her first treatment plan included mastectomy with lymph node removal, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy. The plan later changed, and her care team decided to focus only on chemotherapy. As treatment progressed, Sarah experienced diarrhea, hair loss and nausea. She tried to manage these effects by improving her diet and using medication for symptoms. Treatment also reduced how much she could exercise, although she continued working toward healthier eating and lower alcohol intake. Family remains central to what she wants after treatment. Sarah hopes to move house, get a new car, plan holidays and return to wild and cold-water swimming. She especially wants more time with her grandchildren, including trips to the theatre and ballet. Her biggest fear is missing time with them, but she remains hopeful that treatment will be successful and that she can move forward with her life.