What happened, in summary

Allison Rebello was 36 when a mammogram in 2011 showed invasive ductal cancer in her right breast. Further testing also found cancer in the left breast. She underwent a right mastectomy with reconstruction and a left lumpectomy followed by 6 weeks of radiation. Allison remained cancer-free for about 7 and a half years. In March 2019, after she slipped on ice and felt a snap in her neck, imaging revealed a fractured vertebra and showed that the breast cancer had returned. Further scans found metastatic disease involving her neck, spine, hip, ribs, and lungs. She underwent neck surgery and months of physical therapy, then began daily oral cancer therapy at home. By October 2020, at age 45, her cancer was stable and she was feeling well. Allison drew strength from several communities, including her care team, a group of younger women with metastatic breast cancer, and her dragon boat teammates. Even when neck surgery limited her paddling, the team continued to bring her onto the water.