Sonja Rideout’s diagnosis of HER2-positive breast cancer – and later the news it had progressed to metastatic breast cancer – changed her life in ways she never imagined. Through uncertainty and evolving treatment plans, she found strength in the Race for the Cure community and has raised nearly $60,000 to help support others facing breast cancer.
A Life-Changing Gut Feeling
Sonja remembers the exact moment she knew she had breast cancer.
She had just returned from a fun-filled trip to Las Vegas with her mom, and she was at an appointment for a breast ultrasound following her annual mammogram. For Sonja, additional tests weren’t uncommon. She had a history of dense breasts.
As the technician conducted the ultrasound, Sonja watched the monitor. As the image appeared on the screen, her heart dropped. “My eyes got big and I thought, ‘That’s not supposed to be there,’” she said. “In that moment, I told myself, ‘You’re about to hear something that is going to change your life.’”
The Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The radiologist confirmed her suspicions after reading her results. He told her she’d need to return the next day to undergo a biopsy of the mass, which was two inches in diameter.
Her official diagnosis came on Oct. 19, 2022 – stage 2, HER2-positive breast cancer. “In that moment, my whole world changed,” she said.
Sonja’s treatment began with four months of chemotherapy, followed by a total mastectomy. After recovering from surgery, she underwent DIEP flap reconstruction. Next, she enrolled in a clinical trial investigating a new hormone therapy medication for her type of breast cancer.
“I was one of less than 5,000 patients picked for the trial,” she said. “We were given one of three drugs. I was randomly assigned anastrozole.”
Joining the Race for the Cure
While undergoing chemo, a colleague approached Sonja to offer support. “She wanted me to know that whenever I was ready to share my story and participate in the Komen Race for the Cure, she would be there by my side,” Sonja said. “Her confidence in me inspired me to keep fighting.”
In 2023, Sonja became a member of her employer’s Race for the Cure team. Through her efforts, she raised just over $6,200 – an individual record for her company. As a result, she earned recognition as a top fundraiser and an invitation to the Houston Race for the Cure Pink Honor Roll Dinner.
“I felt so free,” she said. “That was my first Race, and it really hit me as to how breast cancer has touched so many lives.”
The Shocking News: Metastatic Breast Cancer
Soon after her her first Race for the Cure, Sonja asked her oncologist if she should have a chest X-ray.
“My husband has a lung disease and came back from his cardiologist with news that he would need another stent put in,” she said. “I realized that I hadn’t had my heart checked in a while, and I wanted to make sure everything was working proper. I had no reason to think anything was abnormal. There were no signs. After asking some general questions, my oncologist moved forward with additional tests to help calm my nerves.”
Sonja was getting ready for the Pink Honor Roll Dinner when she received a call with the test results. Once again, her gut feeling was correct – the cancer had metastasized (spread) to her lungs and liver. “I was four hours from going to the dinner when the bottom fell out,” she said. “In the span of a four-to-five-minute phone call, I was told I had stage 4, metastatic breast cancer.”
A New Treatment Path
Sonja’s oncologist worked quickly to determine a new treatment plan for her metastatic breast cancer. As a result, she withdrew from the clinical study and underwent five back-to-back radiation treatments on her liver. She then began ribociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor designed to interrupt the growth of cancer cells. In addition, she received monthly shots of fulvestrant, a type of hormone therapy.
Thirteen months later, Sonja developed side effects from the medication. “One of the side effects is a cough. That cough just drove me insane,” she said. “But I was dealing with it, because it was killing the cancer.”
Fundraising Becomes Part of Healing
While Sonja was adjusting to life with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), she decided to take her fundraising for the 2024 Race for the Cure one step further. “I had a little more motivation because I was still reeling from the fact that the cancer had come back,” she said. “I hit the ground running again. Everyone was so generous and supportive.”
Sonja’s commitment paid off. In 2024, she raised over $19,000 and was recognized as the No. 2 individual fundraiser for the event. She had the opportunity to speak on stage at the 2024 Pink Honor Roll Dinner. “It was a very emotional dinner for me,” she said. “My goal was never to be a top fundraiser. My goal was to just have fun and fundraise for a wonderful cause.”
Activating Plan B: Back to Chemotherapy
As her side effects from the ribociclib continued, Sonja’s oncologist prepared her for the day they would have to transition her treatment plan. “It’s not a drug that you can stay on forever,” she said. “I had a Tempus test, which did DNA mapping to help determine the best treatment route for my type of cancer, and the test indicated immunotherapy as a good option.”
Sonja underwent additional testing, which brought some good and bad news. The good news: her PET scan showed no evidence of disease in her lungs and liver. The bad news: the cancer spread to her tailbone and thoracic lymph nodes next to her heart.
“We activated plan B, which was to go back to chemo,” Sonja said. “I’m on two different types of chemo – carboplatin and gemcitabine – and then I will get an immunotherapy treatment once a month. I’m going to chemo every single week right now. That’s just how aggressively we’re attacking this.”
A True Fundraising Legend
Undaunted by the new regimen treating her metastatic breast cancer, Sonja served as a team co-captain for the Houston Race for the Cure in 2025. She reached out to past donors, new donors, family, friends and co-workers.
“I work in finance, so I touch every department at my company,” she said. “I just asked and they all came through for me; I was never shy about asking for donations for Komen.”
Her method proved successful. She raised over $35,000 and earned the title of top fundraiser for 2025. “I never expected to be No. 1,” she said. “I’m so grateful that I’m here and I’m getting healthy. Breast cancer is just another bump in the road.”
Statements and opinions expressed are those 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.
