Stage IV Breast Cancer: Linda's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage IV
- Sex
- Female
- Spread to
- Bone: humerus/shoulder region
- Treatment
- surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and bone strengthening
- Outcome
- Responding Well
Treatment course, step by step
- January 2019 breast cancer diagnosed after mammogram and biopsy
- lumpectomy
- 10 radiation treatments over 2 weeks
- anastrozole stopped because of extreme joint pain
- tamoxifen
- nearly 5 years later, recurrence confirmed by biopsy and PET scan showed spread to bones after humerus fracture/bone deterioration
- reverse shoulder replacement
- letrozole plus Verzenio
- infusions every 2 months to strengthen bones; scans showed no tumor growth and bone scarring/healing after 1 year of treatment.
What happened, in summary
Linda Norman was approaching her 60th birthday in January 2019 when a routine mammogram found a small mass in her left breast. Biopsy confirmed breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy, then 10 radiation treatments over 2 weeks. Anastrozole caused extreme joint pain, so she switched to tamoxifen and returned to work. For almost 5 years, life felt normal. Then she developed breast pain and discomfort. Ultrasound and biopsy confirmed recurrence, and a PET scan was ordered to see whether the cancer had spread. While waiting for results during a family visit, Linda fell, broke her humerus, and learned the bone was badly deteriorated. Her doctor then called with the PET scan results: the cancer had spread to her bones. Treating the damaged shoulder required a reverse shoulder replacement, followed by recovery and physical therapy. Her oncologist started letrozole plus Verzenio, and she also received infusions every 2 months to strengthen her bones and prevent more fractures. As of August 2025, Linda was 1 year into treatment. Her scans showed the tumor had not grown, and scarring on the bone suggested healing. Exercise and physical therapy became central to managing fatigue, pain, and daily life with metastatic breast cancer.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Susan G. Komen. 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