Stage IV HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Olivia's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Olivia Franz was 27 and breastfeeding her 4-month-old son when she noticed a painless lump in her left breast in mid-October 2020. An initial ultrasound suggested mastitis, but the lump and swelling grew during a week of antibiotics. A second ultrasound and biopsy confirmed breast cancer, and MRI plus PET imaging showed Stage IV HER2-positive inflammatory breast cancer with spread to her bones and distant lymph nodes. Olivia had already started TCHP chemotherapy locally before her first MD Anderson appointment in December 2020. That regimen included docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab and pertuzumab. MD Anderson confirmed the plan: chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Her tumor responded well, and her first post-chemotherapy scan on March 30, 2021 showed no evidence of disease. On April 20, 2021, she had a single modified radical mastectomy, with 37 lymph nodes removed. A little over a week later, pathology showed a complete response, meaning no invasive cancer remained in the breast. She then completed 5 weeks of radiation in May 2021 and later had DIEP flap reconstruction in May 2023. As of October 2023, Olivia still showed no evidence of disease, while continuing trastuzumab and pertuzumab every 3 weeks indefinitely and zoledronic acid every 3 months for bone health.