What happened, in summary

Langley Perer was 35 when she was diagnosed in 2017 with ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS. Genetic testing showed that she had inherited a BRCA mutation, and she underwent a double mastectomy in Los Angeles. In 2020, Langley began feeling generally unwell. About a year later, a drooping left eye, blurry vision, and severe headaches led to brain imaging that showed several abnormalities. A biopsy confirmed that breast cancer had spread to her brain. Further imaging found metastatic disease in her bones and in the leptomeninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Her Dana-Farber team recommended a PARP inhibitor because of the inherited BRCA mutation. Langley remained on the treatment for a year. Follow-up scans showed that the cancer was in check without progression, and some lesions had started to shrink. She focused on staying well enough to see her young son and daughter grow up, including milestones such as her daughter’s graduation and her son’s first guitar solo.