What happened, in summary

Chance was 24 and already knew she carried a BRCA1 mutation when she saw a lump protruding from her chest during a beach trip. A January 2021 MRI had looked normal, so the sudden change felt alarming. Her care team moved quickly: ultrasound, mammogram, MRI, and biopsy all followed, and on March 15, 2021, she was diagnosed with Stage II triple-negative breast cancer. Chemotherapy began 16 days later. Chance received 4 rounds of Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) and Adriamycin (doxorubicin) every other week. She was then supposed to receive 12 weekly rounds of Taxol (paclitaxel), but about 4 weeks in, her port catheter migrated into her tricuspid valve and triggered atrial fibrillation. Taxol was stopped, the port was removed, and she switched to carboplatin every 3 weeks for 4 weeks, finishing chemotherapy after about 16 weeks. On August 30, 2021, she had a double mastectomy with lymph node dissection and expanders. A methylene blue dye allergy caused skin necrosis, so the expanders were removed on September 4, followed by hematoma surgery on September 14. Radiation later reopened the scar, and reconstruction was deferred. Chance also chose a preventive total hysterectomy on October 12, 2021. As of February 2025, she was without current cancer and continuing close follow-up.