Stage III Breast Cancer: Susana's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Susana’s breast cancer was found after a mammogram was moved forward when she raised concerns about changes while breastfeeding her 2-year-old child. Imaging revealed a 4.5 cm breast mass and 3 affected lymph nodes, leading to a Stage III breast cancer diagnosis in January 2024. The news brought fear, helplessness and grief, especially because Susana had already lost two aunts to cancer. Doctors recommended chemotherapy and surgery. At the time of the story, Susana was receiving docetaxel chemotherapy, while the specific type of surgery had not yet been decided. Treatment caused diarrhea, fatigue and hand-and-foot syndrome, which Susana managed with prescribed medicines. Cancer also created financial strain, including difficulty paying for food and taxi travel for medical care. Susana continued trying to eat more healthily and focused heavily on caring for the children and home. Relationships changed during treatment, but time with the children became more important and family trips increased. More than a year after diagnosis, Susana still experiences sadness but also describes optimism, confidence and hope while treatment continues.