Reconstruction: 95 Real Stories

95 stories match reconstruction. 94 of them mention surgery.

Cancer Stories

Erica, who was diagnosed with Stage 0 Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 0 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Erica's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Erica Newbert Campbell, Female | Stage 0

Biomarkers: BRCA1/2-negative

As of June 2024, about 6 years after Stage 0 DCIS diagnosis, Erica described her body and mind as cancer-free after double mastectomy and reconstruction.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer: pathologic complete response to chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage II

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer, with pathogenic PALB2 c.1451T>A variant found in blood/buccal/tumor testing.

As of May 2024, more than 1 year after surgery, she was well and free of cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mastectomy, reconstruction, and preventive adnexectomy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Olivia, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Olivia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Olivia Franz, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Bones; distant lymph nodes

As of October 2023, Olivia continued to show no evidence of disease on scans while receiving maintenance trastuzumab and pertuzumab every 3 weeks and zoledronic acid every 3 months for bone health.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Melissa, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage I Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Melissa's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Melissa Berry, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: BRCA mutation reported; triple-negative breast cancer

As of July 2023, Melissa was a 10-year Stage I triple-negative breast cancer survivor with no recurrence reported.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Melissa, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Melissa’s Stage 1 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Story

Patient Info: Melissa Berry, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: BRCA-positive carrier status; ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative

Melissa described herself as a 10-year triple-negative breast cancer survivor and said she remained without evidence of disease, with annual oncology follow-up.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Stephanie, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Stephanie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: Oncotype DX score 7

As of July 2023, Stephanie was in ongoing survivorship after unilateral mastectomy for ILC, with no lymph node spread, no chemotherapy or radiation, and a planned 10-year tamoxifen course begun in January 2019.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Reconstructive surgery technique fixes tissue death after mastectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Hormone receptor-positive in both breast cancers

The reconstructive wound was completely healed at 2 months, and she continued tamoxifen with ongoing follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
Tara, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Tara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Tara, Female, 50s | Stage II

Biomarkers: Estrogen-based breast cancer

As of April 2023, Tara was in survivorship after bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders for Stage II ILC, with clear margins, clear lymph nodes, right-breast LCIS, and no chemotherapy because of cardiac risk.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Rare breast blood-vessel cancer (angiosarcoma) in a teenage girl

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Testing for Li-Fraumeni syndrome and POT1 mutation was inconclusive; no inherited cancer predisposition was established

She remained in remission 3 years after diagnosis and continued annual MRI surveillance of the reconstructed and opposite breasts.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Renée, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Renée's Patient Story

Patient Info: Renée, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Not genetically inherited; breast cancer linked by her team to prior doxorubicin exposure and total-body radiation

As of February 2023, Renée described stable health, working treatments, good bloodwork, and ongoing long-term hormone/anti-cancer therapy; she did not consider herself cancer-free and preferred survivor/thriver language.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Lucy, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lucy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lucy E., Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation; triple-negative breast cancer

As of January 2023, Lucy had been told she was all-clear/cancer-free after chemotherapy, had undergone double mastectomy with staged reconstruction planning, and was continuing close oncology reviews every 3-4 months.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Annette, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

HR-Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Annette's Patient Story

Patient Info: Annette La Fontaine, Female

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative

As of January 2023, Annette was in survivorship after bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction and was taking a daily aromatase inhibitor to reduce recurrence risk while rebuilding body confidence and emotional well-being.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Maiv, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Maiv's Patient Story

Patient Info: Maiv | Stage II

Maiv had completed active treatment and remained on hormone therapy at the time of her story.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Feyama, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Feyama's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Feyama Ashby, Female

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

As of September 2022, Feyama had completed chemotherapy, lumpectomy with lymph-node removal, reconstruction, and 6 weeks of VMAT radiation, and was entering close monitoring for 5 years before survivorship clinic follow-up.

MD Anderson
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
Christal, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage III Breast Cancer: Christal's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Christal Love, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: hormone-positive; HER2-negative

After chemotherapy complications, surgery, radiation, later preventive removal of the other breast and reconstruction, Christal remained cancer-free for more than 5 years as of June 2022.

City of Hope
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Daneen, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Daneen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Daneen, Female, 50s

Daneen underwent double mastectomy and reconstruction, started radiation and had been taking anastrozole for 2 years when she shared her story.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing / Survivorship
Simone, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Simone's Patient Story

Patient Info: Simone Saint Laurent, Female

Simone had moved into follow-up care and was considered to have a past history of cancer while continuing breast-reconstruction follow-up, with possible future revisions and yearly exams.

AACR
OutcomeNot reported
Jo, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jo's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jo, Female, 50s

Jo recovered well from bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. She remained on monthly Zoladex and daily anastrozole, with no chemotherapy or radiation required.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeCare Ongoing / Survivorship