What happened, in summary

Iris Lopez-Mendez first faced breast cancer in 2010 after feeling a lump in her right breast. Mammogram and biopsy confirmed Stage IIA breast cancer, and she was treated with lumpectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy. For years afterward, she kept up with bloodwork and annual mammograms and celebrated each year farther from treatment. Life moved forward: she retired in 2018, adopted her niece with her husband, and traveled with family. Then unexplained pain slowly became harder to ignore. In 2022, hip pain made walking difficult, and by 2023 she had been to the emergency room 3 times without a clear answer. During a later mammogram visit, she mentioned the pain and was sent to the ER to check for kidney stones. Imaging did find kidney stones, but it also showed lesions on her liver. More testing followed, and Iris learned the breast cancer had returned as Stage IV metastatic disease involving her spine, liver, and bones. As of August 2025, she was receiving systemic maintenance therapy, including a monthly injection, blood work, and heart checks every 2-3 weeks. Iris wanted others to know that persistent pain can matter and that self-advocacy can be lifesaving.