What happened, in summary

Tiffany Andrews was 35 when a lump in her right breast led to a diagnosis of Stage II breast cancer. Testing showed HER2-positive disease. She began treatment with 6 rounds of chemotherapy combined with HER2-targeted therapy, then underwent a mastectomy. After treatment, she was declared cancer-free and returned for regular surveillance.

In 2022, a routine scan showed that the cancer had returned in her lungs. A new biopsy showed HER2-positive, ER-negative breast cancer. Tiffany received another combination of chemotherapy and HER2-targeted treatment near her home, which controlled the disease for about 18 months. When the cancer progressed and a brain lesion appeared in 2023, she joined a clinical trial at MD Anderson. The trial uses tucatinib with T-DM1, and she continues traveling to Houston for treatment.

The ongoing treatment has caused fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, and other side effects, but Tiffany remains active and involved with her family. She has adapted her routines around treatment and travel and focuses on spending her time on people and activities that matter most to her. Her care is ongoing for metastatic breast cancer.