What happened, in summary

Abigail Myers was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2014, just over a year after the birth of her son. Testing showed triple-positive disease, with estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Her initial treatment included a double mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. In May 2015, severe pain in her hip and neck led to the discovery that the cancer had spread to her bones, making it Stage IV. Radiation to the hip helped her regain the ability to walk. Over the next 8 years, Abigail received multiple HER2-directed treatments, including T-DM1, trastuzumab deruxtecan, and tucatinib through the HER2CLIMB clinical trial. She later needed brain surgery after the cancer spread to her brain. Treatment also brought hospital admissions for low blood counts and two broken feet. At age 39, Abigail continued to live with metastatic breast cancer while focusing on her son, travel, friendships, support groups, and staying active when her energy allowed. Her goal remained to see her son grow into adulthood.