Stage III Breast Cancer: Yurley's Survivor Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage III
- Treatment
- chemotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- She received chemotherapy.
- She took olaparib as targeted therapy.
- She continues tamoxifen as hormone therapy while in remission.
What happened, in summary
Yurley was 36 when she noticed that one breast had retracted inward and a lump was growing. She was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in October 2022. Unsatisfied with the information she initially received, she sought a second opinion before moving forward with treatment.
Her cancer treatment included chemotherapy. She also took olaparib and tamoxifen, and she continues hormone therapy while her cancer is in remission. Treatment brought difficult side effects, including hair loss, hand-and-foot symptoms and feeling unusually warm. Yurley focused on better nutrition, regular exercise and hydration to help manage the physical effects.
Cancer also had a major financial impact. Chemotherapy-related symptoms kept her from working, her debts grew, and returning to work meant gradually rebuilding financial stability. Through treatment she remained focused on her husband and daughter, especially her wish to watch her daughter grow up and to share more travel and family experiences together.
Now Yurley describes herself as optimistic, hopeful and thankful. She encourages other patients not to hide from cancer and to accept support from the people who want to help.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Our Cancer Stories. 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