Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Chance's Survivor Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage II
- Biomarkers
- ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative (triple-negative); BRCA1 mutation
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, risk reduction surgery and surveillance
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- Stage II triple-negative breast cancer diagnosed 15 March 2021 after biopsy on 10 March; BRCA1 mutation. Chemotherapy began 16 days after diagnosis: 4 rounds of Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) + Adriamycin (doxorubicin) every other week
- planned weekly Taxol (paclitaxel), stopped about 4 weeks in after atrial fibrillation triggered by migrated port catheter
- carboplatin every 3 weeks for 4 weeks
- chemotherapy completed after about 16 weeks
- double mastectomy with lymph node dissection and expanders on 30 August 2021
- expander removal on 4 September after methylene blue dye allergy/skin necrosis
- hematoma surgery on 14 September
- radiation therapy, with wound reopening and reconstruction deferred
- preventive total hysterectomy on 12 October 2021
- surveillance with oncology visits, Signatera testing, bone density testing, gynecology visits, and breast/chest-wall exams.
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.
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