Stage III Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Marlena's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage III
- Biomarkers
- triple-negative
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- chemotherapy, surgery and radiation
- Outcome
- In Memory
Treatment course, step by step
- Marlena received chemotherapy before surgery.
- She then had a lumpectomy and removal of affected lymph nodes.
- Radiation therapy and capecitabine (Xeloda) followed to reduce the risk of recurrence.
What happened, in summary
Marlena Murphy was 40 when she found a lump in her left breast during a monthly self-exam in 2018. Mammography, ultrasound, biopsy, and MRI led to a diagnosis of Stage III triple-negative breast cancer involving nearby lymph nodes.
Marlena began chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery. She then had a lumpectomy and removal of affected lymph nodes, followed by radiation and capecitabine (Xeloda). Treatment caused neuropathy, lymphedema, fatigue, and “chemo brain,” and the schedule made it difficult for her to work and travel to appointments.
During treatment, Marlena began volunteering as a patient advocate. She later focused on cancer education in Black communities, discussing screening, clinical trials, transportation barriers, and protections for people who need time away from work for medical care.
During follow-up, Marlena noticed a small bump under her right arm, on the opposite side from her original breast cancer. Testing found cancer cells, and Marlena hoped the finding had been caught early enough to avoid another extensive course of treatment. She continued encouraging other patients to keep moving forward. She died on July 3, 2024.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by AACR. 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