Stage III HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Christine's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Christine Elliott was 31 when she noticed a large, hard, fixed breast lump while lying in bed. She had also felt tired, pale, stressed, and increasingly anxious, but the visible divot and the lump made her seek care. Imaging, biopsy, and MRI showed Stage III breast cancer with a tumor nearly 8 cm and at least 2 lymph nodes involved. She was told it was not early stage, but that it was curable. Because she and her husband had been trying to start a family, fertility preservation became an urgent part of the plan. Before chemotherapy, she completed embryo freezing and had 2 healthy embryos. Christine’s cancer was estrogen receptor-positive, so she was concerned about the estrogen involved in fertility treatment, but moved ahead after discussion with her team. She started chemotherapy on Sept. 9, about 1 month after diagnosis: 4 rounds of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide over about 2 months, followed by 12 weekly rounds of paclitaxel. The tumor shrank from nearly 8 cm to 1.2 cm, allowing her to choose lumpectomy instead of mastectomy. Radiation followed surgery. As of May 2023, Christine was about 3 years from diagnosis and in survivorship, still processing radiation burns, surgical scarring, weight gain, body changes, and the emotional aftermath of treatment.