In December 2023, Alexis Ruggles was diagnosed with stage 3 triple positive breast cancer. This is her story in her own words.
An Amazing Day
It was my daughter’s 7th birthday and we were having an old-fashioned sledding and hot dog roasting party in the Vermont winter. We were having an amazing day. My friend, who had just turned 30 and who was battling stage 3 breast cancer, was there celebrating with us, too.
A Pea-Sized Lump
When everyone finally left for the evening, I was getting changed into comfy couch clothes. I happened to graze the side of my left breast and felt a pea-sized lump. I was instantly nervous, but wondered – was I being extra sensitive because of my friend? Or was this really something to be concerned about? I showed my husband and he said I needed to call my doctor.
It was a Saturday evening, so there wasn’t much to be done until Monday. The next day, we headed out Christmas shopping and it consumed me the whole time. I knew something was wrong. On Monday, I was at my PCP’s office. She ordered a diagnostic mammogram and a breast ultrasound. She gave me a long hug and the expression on her face only confirmed my feelings of fear.
A Mammogram & Breast Ultrasound
By Wednesday, I was at the hospital with my husband and our son, who was three at the time. My husband waited in the car with our son while he napped. Things quickly became dark. I knew from the woman doing the mammogram that something was wrong.
Next was the ultrasound. I was trying to be cheerful and make jokes like I usually do until the doctor came in and said, “I am 99.999% sure you have breast cancer.” The pea I felt was actually a long cylinder-shaped mass, and there was a large mass below it that had spread to my axillary lymph nodes.
Post-Christmas Biopsies
Biopsies were needed to confirm the diagnosis. I made it through Christmas with my three kids and stayed strong; they had no idea. But every night, I cried alone and to my husband, worried if I would be alive for the next holiday season. I just kept telling my husband, “I don’t want to die.” Growing up with a mother who was less than supportive and struggled with alcoholism and more, I just wanted to be the best mother I could be.
The team came in the morning after Christmas, on their days off, to do the biopsies. I was soon diagnosed with stage 3 triple positive breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Treatment
My treatment included chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. In early 2024, I started my first round of chemo, but I had an anaphylactic (allergic) reaction to it a couple of days later and was rushed to the hospital.
At this point, my treatment plan changed. I cold-capped and it was working phenomenally until I was switched to Taxol halfway through chemotherapy, at which point I started to lose my hair slowly. I finished chemo in May, and in June, I had surgery. I opted for a lumpectomy and double breast reduction because I didn’t want to be flat but also didn’t want implants. I also had 30 rounds of radiation.
Complications
I was part of a clinical trial and was switched from Phesgo to an antibody-drug conjugate TDM1 and a double-blind study pill. During this time, I started losing my vision. I thought I was going crazy, but ophthalmology confirmed that I indeed couldn’t see.
I had thousands of crystal deposits building up in my eyes. It was a mystery as to why. They stopped the TDM1 and put me back on Phesgo. The crystals stopped forming and slowly dissolved once I stopped the TDM1, and I am still followed by my ophthalmologist.
In January 2025, I finished Phesgo. I’m now on Zoladex and a hormone therapy for 4-5 more years.
Showing Up for My Kids
Somehow through it all, I managed to gather strength to show up for my kids, even while undergoing treatment for stage 3 triple positive breast cancer. I coached my daughters in softball and did as much as I could with them. I wanted life to be normal and did my best to make up for the days when it wasn’t.
Life Continues
Life went on. It was dark, scary, painful, lonely, sad and frustrating at times. But it was also beautiful, inspiring, motivating, clarifying and special at other times. This experience taught me so much.
It taught me the old cliche that life is too short. We say it, we think we understand it, but we really learn the lesson when life throws us a challenge like this. I used to think I had been through hard things in life already, but I had no idea.
Lessons Learned
I learned all of those big lessons from this huge challenge, and for that I am grateful. It brought amazing people into my life – and it excused people that don’t fit anymore. It brought my husband and me closer, my kids learned what strength looks like and we spread awareness about breast cancer in our community. I’m so grateful for my family, my friends and my dog, Timber.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
