Shortly after the birth, Kate received amammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy.
I thought,Wait a second.
Im 37 and just had a baby.
How is this possible?I also really had no idea that breast cancer is still so deadly.
Kate started chemotherapy in January 2020 at the same time news of the COVID-19 pandemic broke.
Kate underwent chemo and a double mastectomy alone.
Kate requires no further treatment, although shes closely monitored today.
Without research, Kate could have had a different outcome.
Unlike more common and less aggressive forms of the disease, triple-negative breast cancer lacks numerous targeted treatments.
Kate credits research for the fact that she had options and didnt need radiation.
“I would like for women who come after me to not have to have aggressive chemo.
I would like for people who are diagnosed to not be afraid that theyre going to die.
When my own girls start breast screenings, I would like for them to have more options.
In the meantime, the pea-sized lump got larger and became very hard.
Amanda received blood work and an ultrasound of the lump.
After reviewing her blood work, her doctor ordered a liver ultrasound.
I was preparing for all of this, not realizing that metastatic is a different treatment plan.
My doctor treats it like its a chronic disease, like diabetes or high blood pressure.
Technically, theres no cure, and Ill be on medicine for the rest of my life.
But I can still live an amazingly full life because of research, and I am grateful.
Now shes being treated with chemotherapy.
All of this wouldn’t be possible without research.
Research is the reason were seeing extended life for women who have later-stage diagnoses.
Its the reason that were detecting breast cancer earlier.
Melissa immediately got tested too.
I didnt even want to wait until I got back to start my screenings, Melissa told BCRF.
I was like, This needs to happen now.
During a mammogram and breast MRI that followed, Melissa’s doctors found a tiny, suspicious area.
She had a biopsy about a month later.
That biopsy revealed that she indeed had breast cancer.
She is now on hormone therapy to prevent recurrence.
Melissa credits breast cancer research for their positive outcomes.
Research is the reason my cancer was caught this early, she told BCRF.
It gave me and my doctors information so they could give me a treatment plan to survive this.
Doctors gave my mom and I good advice so we could make decisions.
