Stage IV HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Kate's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage IV
- Biomarkers
- HR-positive
- Sex
- Female
- Spread to
- lymph nodes near the lungs; chest wall and skin involvement
- Treatment
- chemotherapy
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing
Treatment course, step by step
- Chemotherapy started the day after the oncology visit in 2024
- Plan was 8 total treatments every 2 weeks across 2 chemotherapy phases
- White blood cell growth injection was used after treatment
- Double mastectomy and radiation were planned after chemotherapy
- Hysterectomy was also discussed because the cancer was hormone-positive.
What happened, in summary
Kate first felt a breast lump while breastfeeding. An ultrasound found a 4 mm mass, but she was told she was too young for a mammogram or biopsy and that it was likely a cyst. In November 2023, the lump had grown to 2-3 cm, but she was again told not to worry. By January 2024 it was 5-6 cm, yet no follow-up mammogram or biopsy was recommended.
In July 2024, Kate finally had a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy. By then, the mass was 15 cm and had invaded the chest wall, skin, and lymph nodes. Doctors first said it was at least Stage III. On Halloween, they confirmed Stage IV breast cancer, with cancer involving lymph nodes near the lungs. Her subtype was hormone-positive.
Kate met her oncologist on a Wednesday and started chemotherapy the next morning because treatment could not wait. The plan was 8 treatments every 2 weeks across 2 chemotherapy phases, followed by double mastectomy and radiation. A possible hysterectomy was also discussed because hormone production could matter for her cancer. Treatment caused hair loss by day 14 after the first cycle, fatigue, bone pain from the white blood cell growth injection, and chemo fog. As of January 2025, Kate was still in active treatment and focused on staying present for her 2 children.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by The Patient Story. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer