LIZ
DIAGNOSIS: Age 42 | Stage 2
GENETICS: No family history of breast cancer
BRCA: Tested negative for mutation
DIAGNOSED BY: Mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy
TREATMENT: Chemotherapy and bilateral mastectomies with implant reconstructions for symmetry
CANCER-FREE: 7 years
Liz was diagnosed with Stage II right breast cancer at the age of 42 with no family history of breast cancer.
A mass was seen on her screening mammogram and follow-up ultrasound, biopsy showed invasive ductal carcinoma grade II ER/PR positive and HER2 negative. An MRI showed additional masses which were biopsied and showed multicentric disease.
Breast cancers are defined as multicentric when two or more tumors are present in more than one quadrant of the same breast. Multicentric breast cancers are considered more aggressive than unifocal breast cancer because they are more likely to spread to the lymph nodes.
A mastectomy was recommended and Liz chose to have bilateral mastectomies with implant reconstructions for symmetry. She had bilateral skin sparing mastectomies with a sentinel lymph node biopsy and expander reconstructions (read more about types of mastectomies in chapter 8).
Expanders were later replaced with silicone implants and had 3D tattoos done to create new nipple and areolar complexes. Liz is considering having the implants removed and either going flat or DIEP reconstructions (see chapter 9).
Because her Oncotype score was 20, she was treated with chemotherapy. She started on Tamoxifen but was changed to Letrozole and Zolodex. She is now is on Tamoxifen and Zolodex.
The results of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test, combined with other features of the cancer, can help you make a more informed decision about whether or not to have chemotherapy to treat early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.
Liz is now 7 years cancer-free.
Liz was able to keep her hair when she did chemotherapy because she used Cold Caps during her treatments. She then founded Cold Capital Fund in 2018 to provide financial assistance to DC/MD/VA chemotherapy patients trying to prevent hair loss using scalp cooling/cold caps. Though FDA-cleared, the technology is still not covered by most insurers. To date, the non-profit organization has provided $125,000+ in assistance to over 150 patients and has received 500+ patient applications. Please consider donating at www.coldcapitalfund.org/donate. All donations are tax-deductible.
Read ‘No Longer Radical’ for more stories about women of all ages diagnosed with breast cancer and the different treatment options available.