What happened, in summary

Valiente, a mother from Colombia, found a painless lump in her right breast. Evaluation by oncology and breast specialists, including MRI, confirmed Stage III breast cancer. The diagnosis led her to make major lifestyle changes, including exercising twice as often and eating more healthfully.

Valiente underwent a radical mastectomy with breast reconstruction. The reconstruction did not succeed because she developed an infection after tissue expanders were placed. She then completed 20 radiation treatments. Burning skin and weight fluctuations were the treatment effects that troubled her most, and she tried to manage them through better nutrition. After treatment, she was not taking cancer medication.

Cancer did not disrupt Valiente’s close relationships, and she said her family began taking trips more often. She hoped to become more financially organized with her daughter and wanted to see her daughter build a successful professional career. Her main ongoing fear was that the cancer could return. She relied on her faith in God to manage that fear. Although the treatment period included surgical complications and radiation side effects, Valiente described completing treatment and continuing to look ahead to family goals.